Sometimes, when software is created for the legal profession, legal technology founders assume it’s a one-size-fits-all proposition. Law firms are law firms, right? Wrong. The reality is that business workflows can be very different from one practice area to the next. This variation is all the more significant when a firm focuses on a single area of law.
For example, bankruptcy firms are not even remotely similar to personal injury firms. The differences can be stark, ranging from client intake processes and deadlines to client communication preferences and billing processes.
Practice areas dictate workflows and can sometimes require bespoke software specifically designed to address unique challenges, including rules-based calendaring and court docketing needs, structural billing requirements, document automation tools and more.
In the next few columns, I’ll focus on practice area-specific software and compare the choices available. Artificial intelligence is increasingly impacting legal tools, so when applicable, I’ll discuss newly released AI software or features for each practice area as well.
In this column, I’ll provide an overview of tools for immigration lawyers. The more efficiencies they have built into their practices, the more legal assistance they’re able to offer. These practitioners have been on the front lines this year and need all the help they can get.
Choosing the right immigration tools
There are many tools built specifically for immigration practitioners, and you’ll want to carefully vet products to determine if they include the functionality that solves your firm’s workflow challenges.
When researching software, don’t take the salesperson’s word about features. Instead, you’ll want to take advantage of free trials so that you can input a few cases and test out the software. This way, you can ensure it fits into your firm workflows, has a user-friendly interface and is intuitive for everyone who will be using it.
One key feature immigration firms need is automated forms. Ideally, the tool will offer live U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updates, ensuring that all immigration forms are updated. Make sure to ask pointed questions about the forms and whether they’re automatically or periodically synced.
Also, inquire about AI features, both current and planned. Many platforms now include AI-enabled optical character recognition capabilities that facilitate document summarization. If other AI features are offered, take them for a test drive to determine how effective and accurate the output is.
Another area to vet carefully is translation. Most robust tools will offer translation features, but some simply rely on Google Translate on the backend. Accurate translation is essential in immigration practices, so confirm that you fully understand the languages available for interpretation and the quality of the language translation provided.
Finally, because most legal software tools are typically cloud-based, your firm’s data will be entrusted to a third party. Ethical obligations require that you thoroughly vet the cloud technology providers that will host and store your law firm’s information. Determine how data will be handled, where the cloud servers are located, who will have access to it and under what circumstances, and how often and when it will be backed up—among other things.
If the software includes AI features, you’ll also want to explore other issues, including accuracy rates, how the company will protect your firm’s data and whether data inputs will be used to train AI models to improve responses.
Immigration law practice management options
Before researching immigration-specific tools, consider the practice management software your firm is already using to determine if there are immigration features available. Some platforms, including Clio, MyCase and Filevine, offer immigration tools through add-ons or integration. These features are typically available at an additional cost. Even so, since your firm is already using the software, it could ultimately cost less than investing in an entirely new immigration tool.
However, it’s essential to ensure that the functionality offered is sufficient. If not, you’ll want to consider one or more of the options below to fill those workflow gaps. If pricing is available for these immigration-specific options, it will be listed below.
For practice management software designed specifically for immigration law firms, there are many options. This software has features built in that streamline immigration practice workflows, which often include document automation for immigration forms, e-filing capabilities, multilingual client communication features, compliance tracking and more.
Some of these tools incorporate generative AI features into their platforms. Accordingly, when vetting these tools, ask questions about current features and those on the near-term roadmap so you fully understand the direction the software is headed.
First, there’s LollyLaw, which is an immigration practice management solution with features that include e-filing, billing, an immigration form library and client portal capabilities. It offers a free 7-day trial, no credit card required.
Docketwise is another option. It provides immigration case management with intelligent form automation, client intake, calendaring, billing, client relationship management tools, professional language translation, and robust reporting. An AI writing assistant is currently available, and AI data capture functionality is available to beta users. It has three pricing plans, starting at $69 per user per month, with a 15% discount for annual billing.
Next is LawLogix, immigration case management software, which was acquired by Equifax in 2022. The platform includes I‑9/E‑Verify compliance workflows, intelligent immigration forms, client portals, deadline management and e-filing functionality.
Another option is BlueDot, software powered by natural language processing that streamlines workflows and client interaction. The company recently released a new offering, VisaGenius, that automates immigration law workflows.
CampLegal is a customizable immigration case management platform that includes automated workflows, case milestones with tasks, lead management tools and USCIS syncing with PDF forms. It integrates with LawPay for payment processing and QuickBooks for accounting. Pricing starts at $80 per user per month, and a ChatGPT integration is offered as part of the Pro pricing plan.
Next, Mitratech INSZoom is an immigration-focused case and document management system that includes a questionnaire and forms library, data entry automation from USCIS receipts, case tracking and compliance. The software includes some AI features, namely an AI digital assistant and the recently released GovNoticeIDP, an AI-powered tool that streamlines the processing of USCIS government notices.
Finally, Infotems is a cloud-based immigration case management system that integrates with OpenAI technologies. It offers automated immigration form drafting, multilingual questionnaires, e-filing, and secure billing and payment processing powered by LawPay.
Other immigration tools
VisaLaw.ai is an AI assistant for immigration lawyers. It offers petition drafting, document analysis, certified translations and immigration AI chat. Pricing starts at $220 per user per month with an 18.2% annual discount.
Another option to consider is AILaw.ai, an immigration case management and AI-powered paralegal service platform. The case management tool assists with tasks like automated form filing, document drafting, and workflow automation. The AI-powered paralegal function completes tasks that include reading documents, drafting petitions and correspondence, and filing forms. Pricing for case management starts at $3,000 per year, plus a $99 setup fee while the pricing for AI-paralegal features varies depending on the type of case.
Next, Lista.io provides step-by-step standard operating procedure workflows for employment-based immigration cases. Pricing starts at $20 per user per month, with additional fees for specific immigration case workflows.
Last, but not least, DraftyAI, an AI-driven immigration drafting tool that assists with the creation of documents, including USCIS cover letters, court briefs, support letters, employment petitions, and more. Pricing starts at $79 per month, which allows you to draft up to five legal drafts and 20 expert letters. There is a free trial, no credit card required, that enables you to draft a limited number of documents.
No matter what type of immigration software your law firm requires, there’s bound to be a tool that fits the bill. From AI-powered document drafting and USCIS integrations to customizable intake forms and immigration-specific workflows, today’s platforms can help streamline operations, increase efficiency and expand your firm’s capacity to serve clients more effectively, increasing much-needed access to justice.
Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York-based attorney, author and journalist, and she is the principal legal insight strategist at Affinipay. She is the nationally recognized author of Cloud Computing for Lawyers and is a co-author of Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier, both published by the American Bar Association. She writes regular columns for ABAJournal.com and Above the Law, has authored hundreds of articles for other publications, and she regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law and emerging technologies. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @nikiblack, or she can be reached at [email protected].
