Business Central for the legal industry

Manage matters, streamline finance, and improve visibility across your legal operations with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

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Why the legal industry needs Dynamics 365 Business Central

Legal practices depend on accurate financial management, strong matter oversight, and reliable reporting. When information is spread across different systems, small issues become operational delays. Business Central brings everything together in one connected system so firms and legal teams can work with clarity and confidence.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a modern ERP system that brings financial data, matter-related information, reporting, time recording, billing, and operational processes into a single platform. Instead of juggling multiple tools, legal teams can use one system that improves control, reduces manual effort, and supports a more predictable workflow. If you want a single source of truth for your firm or legal department, Business Central is a strong foundation to build on.

 

Meet Business Central: an ERP for the legal industry

An ERP designed for legal work can transform how your organisation runs. Here is how Business Central supports legal operations.

Unified operations

Business Central brings finance, matter-related data, billing, time recording, and vendor management together in one place. This makes it easier for partners, legal operations, and finance teams to work from consistent information and reduce time spent reconciling systems.

Better decision-making

Real-time dashboards and reporting tools help leaders spot performance trends, track profitability, and identify operational pressures early. These insights support more accurate planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.

Scalability as your practice grows

Whether your organisation is growing headcount, adding new practice areas, or expanding internationally, Business Central adapts easily. It supports cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployments, giving legal teams flexibility as they scale.

Cost control and efficiency

By automating manual work such as invoicing, approvals, expense capture, and reconciliation, Business Central reduces admin-heavy tasks. This helps firms redirect time toward fee-earning work and increase operational efficiency.

Compliance and secure data handling

With built-in security, audit trails, and advanced permissions, Business Central supports regulatory and professional obligations. The platform helps legal practices maintain accuracy in financial reporting while protecting sensitive client data.

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Discover how Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central works

Why your business needs an ERP

82%

of businesses are utilising an ERP

1 in 5

businesses are dissatisfied with their current ERP

96%

of businesses say using an ERP has contributed to achieving business outcomes

Data taken from a survey we commissioned in December 2024

ERP designed for the legal industry

Law firms and legal teams face challenges such as tracking time accurately, maintaining financial clarity, managing disbursements, and keeping matters under control. Dynamics 365 Business Central addresses these points directly with tools tailored to the way legal professionals work.

Time recording and billing

Give partners and fee-earners visibility into matter financials, budgets, timelines, and related documents. This reduces risk and improves control across the lifecycle of every matter.

Matter management

Capture billable time accurately, streamline approval processes, and manage complex billing requirements such as fixed-fee, hourly, and blended rate models. This helps boost revenue confidence and reduces billing disputes.

Financial management and compliance

Access real-time financial data, manage trust accounts, and produce compliant reports quickly. This gives finance teams the ability to respond to leadership and auditor requests without delays.

Why legal organisations choose Dynamics 365 Business Central

Matter budgeting

Set clear budgets, monitor spending, and track profitability for each matter. This keeps partners informed and supports financial predictability.

Disbursement and expense tracking

Record disbursements as they occur, link them to the correct matter, and avoid missed costs. This improves billing accuracy and strengthens recovery rates.

Client and vendor management

Store all client and supplier information in one system, ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations. This supports a more consistent client experience and simplifies vendor approvals.

Document and workflow automation

Automate everyday tasks such as approvals, notifications, and document routing. This helps legal operations maintain strong governance without increasing admin.

Data-led insights

Use analytics tools to understand utilisation rates, revenue performance, matter profitability, and team capacity. Leaders can use this data to build stronger planning processes and improve operational results.

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Download our report

The Dynamics of Success

Get a better understanding of the benefits of using a CRM system - allowing businesses like yours to overcome fragmented systems and disconnected workflows. Don't just read about them either, our report provides you with actionable insights and practical recommendations so that you can begin to make data-led decisions.

the-dynamics-of-success-report-download-1

Download our report

The Dynamics of Success

Get a better understanding of the benefits of using a CRM system - allowing businesses like yours to overcome fragmented systems and disconnected workflows. Don't just read about them either, our report provides you with actionable insights and practical recommendations so that you can begin to make data-led decisions.

the-dynamics-of-success-report-download-1

Transform your legal operations with Business Central

In the legal profession, clarity and efficiency matter. Business Central unifies your financial processes, matter data, and operational workflows into a system that supports accuracy and growth. Whether you are a law firm or an in-house legal team, the platform helps you work with structure and confidence.

To learn more about Business Central, or see what an ERP for the legal industry looks like, get in touch via the short form.

Frequently asked questions

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for the legal industry?

It is an ERP system that helps legal organisations manage financials, matters, billing, time recording, and reporting from one connected platform.

Can law firms use Business Central for matter management?

Yes. Business Central can track budgets, spending, documents, timelines, and financial performance for each matter.

Does Business Central support time recording?

Business Central can capture time entries and integrate with specialist time recording tools, helping firms build an accurate view of billable work.

Is Business Central suitable for both large and small legal practices?

Yes. The platform scales easily and can be configured for small practices, mid-sized firms, enterprise law firms, and in-house departments.

How does Business Central help improve billing accuracy?

It connects disbursements, time entries, and financial data so billing teams can produce accurate invoices with fewer manual steps.

Does Business Central support legal compliance?

With audit trails, permission controls, and secure data handling, Business Central helps legal organisations maintain compliant financial processes.

Can Business Central integrate with legal case management software?

Yes. Business Central can integrate with leading case and document management tools to unify financial and operational data.

Is Business Central cloud-based?

Business Central offers cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployment options, giving legal teams flexibility in how they operate.

How long does it take to implement Business Central for legal?

Implementation times vary based on size, integrations, and requirements. A specialist partner can offer clear guidance once needs are defined.

What benefits does Business Central bring to legal finance teams?

Finance teams gain a single source of truth, improved reporting, streamlined billing, stronger compliance, and a more predictable financial workflow.