Behind the Scenes: How We
Fix Broken Legal Tech Setups
Author:
Eveliina Fallini, Actionstep Consultant
Most law firms don’t start with a clean slate when it comes to legal tech. By the time we’re called in, the firm has usually already invested in a system — often Actionstep — but something isn’t working. Maybe it wasn’t set up right. Maybe the firm outgrew the original configuration. Or maybe the person who built it is long gone, and nobody really understands how to fix what’s broken.
I’ve been in those trenches. Before joining Mauve Morpho, I was the in-house Actionstep power user at my law firm, responsible for refining the system and training new hires. Now, as a consultant, I’m on the other side of the equation — helping law firms fix the problems they didn’t even know they were signing up for when they first adopted legal tech.
Here’s what that looks like in practice and how we turn a frustrating tech setup into one that actually works for the way you run your firm.
The Common Tech Messes We Walk Into
When we get called in to fix an Actionstep system, we typically see the same core problems:
Data isn’t where it should be. Firms that migrated from another platform often end up with fields that don’t match, missing records, or duplicated data that causes confusion.
The workflows don’t match reality. A system might have been designed with one practice area in mind, but as the firm evolved, it no longer fits the way attorneys and staff actually work.
Nobody knows how to fix it. The person who set it up may have left the firm, leaving behind a system that feels more like a black box than a useful tool.
Key functions are missing. Firms expect Actionstep to do everything they need, but sometimes, a specific function — like interest calculations or bulk rate updates — isn’t built into the system.
We’re usually brought in at the “we’re about to rip this out and start over” stage. But most of the time, the system doesn’t need to be scrapped. It just needs someone who knows how to rework it the right way.
Case Study: Fixing a Broken System Mid-Project
One of the trickiest situations is stepping into a legal tech project that’s already in motion but going sideways. We recently helped a firm that had hired a different consultant to set up their Actionstep system — but as the firm got deeper into using it, they realized it wasn’t actually built to match their needs.
The Problem:
The initial setup had overcomplicated workflows that didn’t align with how the firm actually handled cases.
Key automations were missing or misconfigured, leading to time-consuming manual workarounds.
The system felt clunky and frustrating, leading to resistance from staff who were supposed to be using it daily.
The Fix:
We stripped out the unnecessary complexity and built clean, intuitive workflows that followed the firm’s actual processes.
We worked with the firm’s team to identify their most time-consuming tasks and built custom automations to handle them.
We provided hands-on training to ensure attorneys and staff actually felt comfortable using the system.
The Result:
By the end of the project, the firm wasn’t just “making do” with Actionstep—they were actually excited to use it because it made their work easier instead of harder.
Building Better Solutions: The Multi-Tool and Beyond
Of course, sometimes the problem isn’t a bad setup — it’s that a feature the firm needs doesn’t exist yet. That’s where our custom-built solutions come in.
One of the biggest gaps we’ve seen in Actionstep is the lack of bulk editing capabilities for things like matter rates or interest calculations. Instead of making firms manually update every single record (which, let’s be honest, no one actually does), we built a tool that makes those updates instant and painless.
Introducing the Multi-Tool
The Multi-Tool is designed to fill in the gaps that Actionstep doesn’t natively cover. Right now, it includes:
✅ Mass matter rate updates – No more clicking into every single matter to adjust rates one at a time.
✅ Interest calculations – Automatically apply interest to overdue invoices with correct rates and rules.
✅ Other batch updates – Modify key fields across multiple matters with just a few clicks.
This tool is all about making life easier for firms that love Actionstep but need a little more
Final Thoughts: The Value of Getting It Right
Most law firms don’t need more software. They need better setups that actually work for their business. Whether that means cleaning up a broken system, integrating key tools like Lawmatics, or building something entirely new, the goal is always the same:
✅ Reduce manual work
✅ Make legal tech work for the firm, not against it
✅ Help attorneys and staff focus on their cases, not their software
If you’re dealing with a frustrating legal tech setup, we’re here to help. Whether you need a quick fix or a full system rebuild, let’s talk about what’s possible. Because no firm should have to fight their own technology.