things they tell
no one else.
That information
belongs on
your server.
Not Google's.
We build law firms and solo attorneys a private, sovereign practice management system — matter tracking, time billing, client document sharing, and automated follow-up. No Clio subscription. No DocuSign fees. Your data on your infrastructure.
Confidentiality is not a preference.
It is a duty of your license.
The ABA Model Rules and your state bar rules impose affirmative obligations around client data. Most attorneys comply in their conduct — and then store everything on Google Drive. These are not the same thing.
The confidentiality question
Google Drive, Gmail, and Dropbox are governed by their own terms of service — not yours. What they do with your data, and your clients' data, is their decision.
The Google model problem
Google's core business is data. When your client's financial records, case strategy, and personal communications sit in Gmail and Drive, they sit on infrastructure built to extract value from data. That is a conflict of interest worth naming.
Competence includes technology
Comment 8 to ABA Model Rule 1.1 requires lawyers to keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.
Every matter. Every hour. Every document. One system.
ERPNext is configured as a full matter management system. Cases become projects. Time entries become invoices. Documents live in Nextcloud — organized by matter, accessible only to you and your client.
Where your client data lives is a professional decision
Most attorneys haven't asked the question because the default is convenient. But convenience and confidentiality are not the same standard. Here is what the default actually looks like — and what the alternative is.
This is not a legal opinion on compliance. It is a practical observation: your clients' most sensitive information deserves to live on infrastructure you control, governed by terms you understand.
Gmail stores your client communications
Your confidential client emails live on Google's infrastructure, subject to their data processing terms, their government compliance obligations, and their model training decisions.
Mailcow — private email on your server
Your email server, your domain, your encryption. No third party indexes your inbox. Client communications stay between you and your client.
Client files in Google Drive or Dropbox
Case files, financial documents, medical records, deposition transcripts — stored on platforms whose terms of service you did not negotiate and cannot control.
Nextcloud — private document vault, per matter
Each matter gets a Nextcloud folder. Your client gets a portal login to access their documents. Nothing leaves your server.
DocuSign stores your signed documents
Engagement letters, retainer agreements, settlement docs — signed on DocuSign's servers and stored there indefinitely under their terms.
Documenso — legally binding, on your server
Open-source e-signatures. Legally enforceable. Unlimited documents. Stored in your Nextcloud matter folder. No DocuSign subscription.
Track hours, generate invoices — no Clio required
ERPNext includes full timesheet tracking, per-matter billing rates, and invoice generation built in. Log time against a matter, set your hourly rate, generate and email an invoice — all in one system. No separate billing software. No per-user fee.
Clio runs $49–$129 per user per month. At a two-attorney firm, that's $1,176–$3,096 per year for billing software alone. ERPNext replaces it as part of your flat monthly rate.
- —Per-matter hourly rates
- —Timer or manual time entry
- —Invoice emailed directly from ERPNext
- —Stripe payment link embedded
- —Full accounting in the same system
A complete private practice system — built for attorneys
Matter tracking in ERPNext
Every matter is a project. Tasks, deadlines, notes, contacts, time entries, and documents — all linked to a single matter record. Your entire practice visible from one dashboard.
- Custom matter stages and statuses
- Task assignment and deadline tracking
- Notes and activity log per matter
- Client contact records linked to matters
Private client document portal
Each client gets a Nextcloud portal login. They see only their matter folder — documents you've shared, nothing else. No email attachments. No shared Drive links that expire.
- Per-client portal access
- Organized by matter folder
- Upload and share documents securely
- Full audit trail of access
Documenso e-signatures
Engagement letters, retainer agreements, settlement documents — templated in Documenso, triggered by n8n, signed on the client's phone. Legally binding. Stored on your server. No per-envelope fees.
- Template library per document type
- n8n triggers signing workflow automatically
- Client signs on phone — no app required
- Signed doc saved to matter folder
Time tracking & invoicing
Log time against any matter, set per-matter billing rates, and generate itemized invoices directly from ERPNext. Email them with a Stripe payment link. No Clio. No separate billing software.
- Per-matter hourly or flat-fee billing
- Timesheet logging — timer or manual
- Itemized invoice generation
- Stripe payment processing
Private email — Mailcow
Your own mail server, your domain, your inbox. Client communications stay on your infrastructure — not indexed by Google, not subject to Gmail's data terms, not stored by a third party.
- Private mail server on your VPS
- Custom domain email
- Integrated with ERPNext CRM
- Encrypted — nobody else sees it
Automated client communication
n8n handles routine touchpoints — matter status updates, document signing reminders, invoice follow-ups, and post-matter check-ins. Consistent communication without manual effort.
- Document signing reminders
- Invoice follow-up sequence
- Matter milestone notifications
- Post-close referral touchpoint
What a solo attorney typically pays — and what replaces it
Legal software vendors know attorneys are price-inelastic. They charge accordingly. Here is a representative stack and what we replace it with.
| Tool | Function | Monthly cost | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clio Manage | Matter + time + billing | $49–$129/mo per user | ERPNext |
| DocuSign | E-signatures | $45–$130/mo | Documenso |
| Google Workspace | Email + file storage | $14/mo per user | Mailcow + Nextcloud |
| Dropbox Business | Document storage | $20/mo per user | Nextcloud |
| Mailchimp / Constant Contact | Client newsletters | $20–$75/mo | Mautic |
| Zapier | Workflow automation | $29/mo | n8n |
| Subtotal | $177–$397/mo | ||
| Digital Sovereignty | All of the above | $349/mo flat | Unlimited users |
Get a free Practice Blueprint
Every practice is different — practice areas, billing models, document workflows. We map out exactly how yours would run on a sovereign digital architecture: what replaces what, what gets automated, what it costs. No commitment required.