Without a Trace: Relational Databases Make Everything Better

March 31, 2026 - Law Practice Management

I’m not even exaggerating a little bit when I say that one of the reasons I left law practice was we could never find anything! That was because when I started out as a lawyer, paper files were still the norm. Now, relational databases were available – they just weren’t in vogue yet.

Today there’s no excuse for avoiding the use of relational databases in law practice.

I remember trying to screw around with Microsoft Access databases back in the day. These days, there are some great off-the-shelf, fully-formed products that you can lean on to help you organize your law office. At this point, most law firms have deployed a case management software or law practice management software. That’s how you corral your client matters. However, far fewer law firms have adopted and implemented a customer relationship management software (CRM), which offers similar functionality for leads. If you are missing the CRM, button that up ASAP. If you’re missing both, well – what are you waiting for? The combination of these two platforms will provide an effective method for organizing all of your contacts.

From there, you can expand your use of relational databases. Technically, your accounting software is one. You could also get into project management software and document assembly tools as well – which can not only be organized around client matters, but which can also be integrated with your case management software to boot.

If you feel like your law firm is out of control, it’s probably because you’re relying on spreadsheets and document files to create some coherence. But relational databases take most of the work out of this type of organization.

Can you relate?

. . .

If not, maybe it’s time to start talking more about your law firm technology platform. Contact us to get started!

The Wyoming State Bar offers free law practice management consulting services through Red Cave Law Firm Consulting.

To request a consult, visit the Wyoming State Bar’s law practice management page, and start running your law firm like a business.