CARET Legal is an award-winning, cloud-based legal practice management platform from CARET (formerly AbacusNext and Zola Suite), headquartered in Del Mar, California. Designed for modern law firms and legal professionals, CARET Legal streamlines core practice functions—case management, billing, accounting, document automation, client communication, and payment processing—into a unified, intuitive SaaS solution. CARET as an organization serves more than 10,000 legal and accounting firms globally, with a strong focus on empowering professionals to be more productive, client-centric, and efficient
CARET traces its roots back to 1983 with the founding of AbacusNext, an early leader in legal case management software. CARET Legal as a product line originated from Zola Suite, founded in 2015, before merging with AbacusNext in 2021. In the last decade, significant growth has come through expanded product offerings, a major rebrand to CARET in 2023, and the adoption of a unified technology platform for legal and accounting practice automation. The company has consistently grown its user base, now serving thousands of firms and supporting 201–500 employees, with continued expansion fueled by strategic mergers and acquisitions.
CARET Legal delivers an extensive suite of features designed to cover every aspect of law firm operations:
Case/matter management
Document management and automation (including HotDocs integration)
Time tracking, billing, and trust accounting
Comprehensive accounting tools (with QuickBooks integration)
Workflow automation, calendaring, and task management
Secure client portals and two-way messaging
CRM and contact management
Integrated payment processing (APX)
Advanced analytics, reporting, and business intelligence dashboards
API and flexible third-party integrations
Recent innovations have centered around:
Enhanced AI-powered document automation and legal summarization tools
New payment options like "Firm PayNow" to streamline client payments
Updates to mobile and client portal functionality
Deeper analytics, customizable dashboards, and improved business intelligence
CARET fosters a culture defined by innovation, inclusiveness, and customer-centricity. Core values include:
Succeeding together: emphasizing teamwork and partnership.
Embracing progress: continual adaptation and iteration.
"Care big": putting people (both clients and staff) first and investing in growth and well-being.
CARET Legal serves a diverse user community:
Small to mid-sized law firms, enterprise legal departments, and legal administrators.
Over 10,000 firms utilize CARET’s suite worldwide, making it one of the most widely adopted solutions in legal practice management.
The platform is trusted across multiple practice areas, and is known for user-driven innovation with robust onboarding, ongoing education, and 24/7 customer support.
