Law firm management platform Actionstep’s new AI-based tech will fast-track time recording and decrease error.
Actionstep has revealed the next-generation time capture module, designed, it said, to help mid-size law firms record billable work more accurately and with less effort.
One of the most persistent and costly challenges for contemporary law firms, Actionstep said, is incomplete, delayed time capture that necessitates extra time and effort to make it ready to send out.
This process, the provider said, is not only a cause of lost revenue, but something that’s been used for decades. Trace reduces manual administration and the potential for error.
Features such as passive, AI-enabled activity capture, precision time tracking, matter mapping, narrative generation, off-platform capture, and flexible rate card improvements address issues relevant to firms, providing a direct impact on client service and financial performance.
Trace works by leveraging AI to capture work as it happens across everyday legal tools, including Outlook, Microsoft Word, PDFs, and common websites. The next-generation features not only detect activity but also automatically comprehend the work, map to client and matter, and then draft time entries that are bill-ready for review.
Importantly, human judgement remains at the forefront, integrating tech to work with professionals, not instead of.
“With Trace, time capture happens seamlessly in the background,” said Triona Buckley, chief product officer at Actionstep.
Acquiring time capture start-up “Traced” and working with its founder, Aiden Bub, accelerated the new software.
Buckley said: “We identified Traced as the best option for Actionstep to add to our broader advanced time capture capabilities given its midmarket focus, depth of features and product maturity.”
According to the platform, this contributed to the continued pursuit of software that is workflow embedded and targets efficiency and quality.
Buckley said: “It’s a win for everyone who tracks time at law firms, and a meaningful leap forward for our customers who already rely and love our core time capture features today.”
According to Actionstep, demand for effective time capture is growing. In its 2025 US Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report, operation inefficiencies were cited as one of the major challenges, with 35 per cent of mid-sized firms ranking it among the top technology investment intentions.
Firms that want to operate in the 21st century will embrace such technology, which, as the platform highlighted, is just one part of Actionstep’s operation and profitability solution development.
The software announcement is the latest of a series of product launches, the most recent being the business intelligence module Acumen.
Trace will be available to Actionstep customers as an add-on module this month, and a full release is planned for April.
Amelia is a Professional Services Journalist with Momentum Media, covering Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily and Accounting Times. She has a background in technical copy and arts and culture journalism, and enjoys screenwriting in her spare time.
