CaseDesk

CaseDesk is legal practice management software for licensed attorneys, covering work from intake through post-judgment, including docketing, deadlines, conflicts, evidence, documents, research, drafting and billing. Its purpose-built matter fields and tools span 106 practice areas. The deadline engine calculates jurisdiction-specific dates, accounts for court days and holidays, and cites the governing rule. CaseDesk also includes a 13,400-entry legal reference library and live CourtListener search. Gmail and Outlook messages enter a review queue, where users decide whether to file them to a matter. Case data is stored locally in a SQLCipher-encrypted database by default; optional Cloud Sync stores encrypted ciphertext, while document files remain on users’ computers. The app can work offline, with connections for enabled integrations and version checks. Beta access is free for 90 days per machine, followed by two weeks of read-only access for exporting data. CaseDesk Pro Monthly is $29 a month per attorney; annual Pro is $290 a year per attorney.

CaseDesk combines matter workflow tools with deadline calculations, legal references and encrypted local storage. Attorneys should account for the beta period and choose between monthly and annual Pro pricing if they need continued access.

CaseDesk is aimed at licensed attorneys who need matter management, docketing and legal research tools. Its local data storage and optional encrypted Cloud Sync may suit attorneys choosing between offline work and syncing.

CaseDesk is legal practice management software for attorneys handling matters from intake through post-judgment work. It is best suited to licensed lawyers who want docketing, deadlines and matter tools alongside local data storage. Its breadth is compelling, but the beta expiry and per-attorney pricing deserve careful consideration.

Overview

CaseDesk brings together matter management, legal research, drafting and billing, with purpose-built fields and tools across 106 practice areas. That range may suit practices that would rather keep several parts of a matter workflow together than rely on a docketing-only product. It is explicitly positioned for licensed attorneys, not general-purpose task management.

The breadth comes with an important operating distinction: the main app can work offline, while phone access runs in a browser and reads encrypted Cloud Sync. Attorneys who need a native phone app should not assume that companion is equivalent.

For focused comparisons, see Legal Docketing Software and Legal Practice Management Software.

Key features

Deadlines, docketing and research

The deadline engine calculates jurisdiction-specific dates, accounts for court days and holidays, and cites the governing rule for each result. National rules coverage, docket monitoring, rules-based dates and filing alerts make it more than a date calculator. Rule citations help attorneys check the basis for a deadline, though they do not replace professional verification.

A 13,400-entry legal reference library and live CourtListener search add research access within the workflow. The value is strongest for lawyers who want those resources near their matter tools; readers seeking a dedicated research platform may prefer a specialist alternative.

Email, integrations and AI

Gmail and Outlook messages enter a review queue, where users decide whether to file them to a matter. That approval step offers control over what becomes part of a case record, though it also leaves classification work with the user. Integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, Anthropic, OpenAI, Stripe, QuickBooks Online, Twilio, Box, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, CourtListener and PACER RSS.

Users can run a local AI model or connect their own Anthropic or OpenAI key; the maker says local-model processing stays on the user’s machine. This gives technically comfortable users a choice of processing approach rather than bundling a single AI service.

Security and offline use

Case data is stored locally in a SQLCipher-encrypted database by default, with optional field-level and file-level encryption. Optional Cloud Sync stores encrypted ciphertext on infrastructure operated by the maker, which says it cannot decrypt the data; document files remain on users’ computers. The privacy policy says only a document’s SHA-256 fingerprint is sent to public calendar servers when fingerprints are anchored to Bitcoin through OpenTimestamps.

The whole app does not require internet access to work offline. Connections are used for enabled integrations and version checks. The phone companion, by contrast, reads end-to-end-encrypted Cloud Sync in a phone browser; iPhone and Android store apps are under review.

Pricing

CaseDesk’s beta build costs nothing, with no credit card required and no stated beta end date. Each build runs free for 90 days from first run on a machine, then provides two weeks of read-only access for exporting data. That is useful for evaluation, but it is not a permanent free working plan.

CaseDesk Pro Monthly costs $29 a month, cancel any time, with a new key emailed each month. CaseDesk Pro Annual costs $290 a year, billed annually with automatic renewal and two months free. Both are per attorney; one licence covers that lawyer’s own installations. They remove beta expiry, include optional end-to-end-encrypted Cloud Sync and priority support. Annual billing suits attorneys comfortable with a continuing commitment; monthly billing costs more over a year but offers an easier exit.

A separate CaseDesk Pro entry also gives a $290 a year price, billed annually with automatic renewal, for one attorney and one licence key per year. For either annual option, the renewal term is material. Support comes from the practicing-attorney builder, with replies potentially taking a business day; priority support is included with the monthly and annual Pro plans.

Platforms

The main product lists Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. The phone companion runs in a browser, rather than a native store app, while the beta plan specifically names Windows, Linux and macOS. That makes desktop use the clearest fit for the current beta offering.

Who it's for

CaseDesk is a strong candidate for licensed attorneys who want matter management, deadline calculations, research references and encrypted local storage in one professional tool. It is less suitable for a team seeking a multi-attorney licence: Pro pricing is per attorney, and one licence covers one lawyer’s own installations. Attorneys who need permanent free access, native phone apps or support faster than a potential business-day reply should weigh those constraints before committing.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Deadline calculations account for court days and holidays and cite the governing rule, helping attorneys review how dates were reached.
• Pros: Local encrypted storage, offline operation and optional ciphertext-only Cloud Sync give users meaningful control over how case data is kept.
• Pros: The 106 practice areas and broad matter workflow can serve firms whose work extends beyond docket tracking.
• Cons: The free beta expires after 90 days per machine, followed by read-only access for only two weeks.
• Cons: Pro licences are per attorney, so a team needs to account for each lawyer rather than assume one shared firm licence.
• Cons: Phone access is browser-based, and the support reply may take a business day.

Alternatives

Choose CourtDrive if a firm licence for up to three users and a 250-upload allowance matter more than CaseDesk’s broader practice workflow; its Basic plan is $35 a month and charges 15 cents per upload above the included amount. Choose eLaw Case Tracking if per-case court tracking for Florida Circuit Courts or New York State Supreme and Civil Courts is the priority; its listed eWatch prices are $$3.50 and $5 per case per month, respectively.

Deadlines.com may suit readers comparing a docket and deadline-focused service with nationwide coverage. Lexis+ is an alternative for readers seeking a legal research subscription. LitDocket is another case-management option, while AnchorLex, Docket Alarm and DocketBird offer alternatives for docket-related workflows.

Verdict

Attorneys who want an offline-capable practice tool with rule-cited deadline calculations, legal references and encrypted local case data should put CaseDesk on their shortlist. Its strongest case is the combination of broad matter coverage and user-controlled storage. Look elsewhere if the 90-day beta limit, per-attorney Pro pricing or browser-based phone companion conflicts with how your practice needs to work.