What is Time59
Time59 is a web-based legal billing and time tracking application geared toward solo attorneys and small law firms. It focuses on capturing billable time and expenses, producing compliant invoices, and maintaining trust account balances without per-user fees or complex setup.
Compared with broader practice-management suites such as Clio and CosmoLex, Time59 concentrates on billing and accounting rather than full case or document management. This narrower scope reduces complexity and training time for firms that only need reliable billing, trust accounting, and reporting.
Time59 does billing very well for small teams and solos: it supports hourly and fixed-fee models, LEDES invoicing for e-billing, payment processing integration, and a flat annual price that covers unlimited users. That combination makes it a practical choice for small firms that want focused billing functionality without paying per-user subscription fees.
How Time59 Works
Time59 runs entirely in a web browser so there is no desktop install or manual updates to manage. Users create matters and clients, enter time and expenses through simple forms, and apply those entries to invoices with a few clicks.
Trust accounting and client funds are tracked inside the same system so payments applied to trust accounts update balances automatically and reduce manual reconciliation work. Invoice generation can use LEDES formats for e-billing or standard PDF invoices for clients.
Payments can be processed via integrated payment processors, which transfers posted payments into client ledgers and reduces receivable balances. Reporting tools provide detailed billing and trust reports for accounting and compliance purposes.
Time59 features
Time59 combines core billing functions with trust accounting, LEDES invoicing, payment processing, and exportable reports. The product emphasizes straightforward workflows for lawyers who want accurate billing without a full practice management suite.
Let’s talk Time59’s Features
Hourly and Fixed Fee Billing
Time59 supports both hourly rate entries and flat-fee billing, letting you mix billing models within a single matter. Time entries carry over into invoices automatically, reducing duplicate data entry and lowering the risk of missed billable time.
Trust Accounting
Built-in trust accounting tracks client funds separately from operating funds, posts transactions against trust ledgers, and includes reporting to help maintain compliance. The system automates calculations that otherwise require manual ledger work.
LEDES Invoicing
Time59 can generate LEDES-formatted invoices for firms that submit to corporate e-billing systems. That makes it suitable for matters where outside counsel must comply with standardized billing imports.
Payment Processing Integration
The software integrates with payment processors so you can accept credit card payments and apply them directly to invoices or trust accounts. That capability shortens time to payment and simplifies receivable management.
Automatic Interest Calculation
Interest on overdue invoices can be calculated automatically according to configured rates and applied to outstanding balances. This reduces manual follow-up and helps ensure late-payment terms are enforced consistently.
Expense Tracking and Invoicing
Time59 records case-related expenses, assigns them to matters, and includes them on client invoices without separate spreadsheets. Expense categories and descriptions help improve reimbursement accuracy and case-level profitability analysis.
Comprehensive Reports
The reporting suite includes billing, accounts receivable, trust balances, and time summary reports useful for month-end accounting and client statements. Reports can be exported for external accounting or audit purposes.
Data Export and Backup
Users can export billing data and reports for use in accounting systems or for backup. The web-based architecture also includes server-side backups and encryption to protect data integrity.
Phone and Email Support
Time59 provides phone and email support to help with onboarding and day-to-day questions, which is useful for small firms without dedicated IT resources.
With these features, Time59 delivers focused billing and trust accounting capabilities that reduce manual work and support compliance for small law practices.
Time59 pricing
Time59 uses a simple flat-rate subscription model aimed at small firms and solo attorneys. The offering is a single annual plan with unlimited usage and no per-user licensing fees, which keeps ongoing costs predictable as a firm adds staff or users.
Annual Billing:
Unlimited Plan – $199/YEAR (unlimited users, time entries, invoices, LEDES support, trust accounting, export tools, phone and email support)
For more details about what is included and to start a trial, view the Time59 subscription options.
What is Time59 used for
Time59 is used primarily to capture billable time and expenses, generate invoices, and manage client trust accounts for compliance. Small law firms and solo practitioners rely on it to replace spreadsheets and manual ledger systems for billing and reconciliation.
It is also used by firms that must submit LEDES invoices to corporate clients, and by practices that want straightforward payment processing tied directly to invoices so collections happen faster. The flat annual price makes it attractive for firms that expect steady or growing headcount without higher software costs.
Pros and Cons of Time59
Pros
- Flat-rate pricing: Offers a single annual fee of $199/YEAR that covers unlimited users, which keeps subscription costs predictable for growing small firms.
- Legal trust accounting: Built-in trust ledgers and reporting reduce the compliance burden and help avoid manual trust reconciliation errors.
- LEDES and payment support: LEDES invoicing and integrated payment processing simplify billing to corporate clients and speed collections.
- Device-agnostic web app: Runs in the browser on Mac, PC, tablets, and phones without installs or manual updates, which lowers IT overhead.
Cons
- Focused scope: Time59 focuses on billing and accounting, so firms that want integrated case management or document management will need additional tools.
- Limited public API information: There is no widely published developer API for advanced custom integrations, which can limit automated workflows with other practice tools.
- Single-plan model: The single flat plan is simple but may lack tiered options some firms want when they need advanced integrations or enterprise services.
Does Time59 Offer a Free Trial?
Time59 offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required. The trial provides full access to the billing, trust accounting, and invoicing features so firms can test real-world workflows before committing to the annual plan. To start the trial, visit the Time59 free trial page.
Time59 API and Integrations
Time59 does not publish a widely advertised developer API for public integrations, but it supports payment processor connections and exports that integrate with accounting workflows. The product is designed to work with processors commonly used by law firms, which simplifies payment handling.
Payment processing and third-party connections are practical points of integration; for example, Time59 users often connect to processors such as LawPay’s payment services to accept client card payments. Data export features allow CSV or ledger exports for import into general accounting packages.
10 Time59 alternatives
Paid alternatives to Time59
- Clio — Cloud-based practice management with integrated billing, case management, and client intake tools aimed at firms that want an all-in-one solution.
- CosmoLex — Combines legal billing, trust accounting, and basic practice management with built-in bookkeeping features for small to mid-size firms.
- Bill4Time — Time and billing software with project tracking, expense management, and invoicing designed for legal and professional services.
- MyCase — Practice management with billing, document management, and client communication features focused on small firms.
- PracticePanther — Offers billing, workflows, and integrations for law firms that want practice management plus billing in one product.
- Timeslips — Time tracking and billing software with a long history in legal and professional services billing workflows.
- Rocket Matter — Practice management and billing platform that includes time capture, payments, and reporting for boutique firms.
Open source alternatives to Time59
- ERPNext — Open-source ERP that can be configured for time tracking and invoicing; requires setup and customization to meet legal trust accounting needs.
- Odoo (Community) — Community edition of Odoo offers invoicing and accounting modules that can be adapted for legal billing workflows with technical configuration.
- Dolibarr — Open-source ERP/CRM with modules for time tracking and invoicing; suitable for firms that can self-host and customize their workflows.
Frequently asked questions about Time59
What is Time59 used for?
Time59 is used for legal time tracking, billing, invoicing, and trust accounting. Solo attorneys and small firms use it to capture billable work, create invoices, accept payments, and maintain client trust ledgers.
Does Time59 support LEDES billing?
Yes, Time59 supports LEDES formatted invoicing. That lets firms submit standardized e-billing files to corporate clients and outside counsel portals.
How much does Time59 cost per year?
Time59 is a flat annual subscription of $199/YEAR which covers unlimited users and usage. This single-price model avoids per-user charges common with many competitors.
Can Time59 process credit card payments?
Yes, Time59 integrates with payment processors to accept credit card payments and apply them to invoices and trust accounts. Many users connect to legal-focused processors such as LawPay for secure card acceptance.
Does Time59 offer a free trial?
Time59 provides a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. The trial includes access to billing, trust accounting, LEDES invoicing, and payment processing features so firms can evaluate real workflows.
Final verdict: Time59
Time59 is a focused, affordable billing and trust accounting solution for solo attorneys and small law firms that want reliable invoicing without per-user fees. Its web-based interface, LEDES support, and integrated payment options make it practical for firms that primarily need billing functionality and compliance features.
Compared with a full practice management platform such as Clio, which charges per-user monthly fees and adds case and document management, Time59’s $199/YEAR flat price is significantly lower for small teams. However, firms that require integrated matter management and advanced integrations may prefer a larger suite, while Time59 is ideal for teams that want straightforward, low-cost legal billing and trust accounting.
Overall, Time59 is best for solo practitioners and small firms that need solid billing and trust accounting without the complexity or per-user costs of larger practice management systems. To evaluate it in your workflow, start a trial at the Time59 sign-up page.