Referent

Overview

Referent is AI-native practice management software for solo lawyers and small law firms. It puts agents to work on recurring practice administration while reserving consequential actions for lawyer approval. That division is promising for firms seeking operational help, but its invitation-only access and narrow firm focus make it a less certain fit for teams needing an established, broadly scoped system.

Made by AI Lawtech Sp. z o.o., which has been building AI legal technology since 2022, Referent covers intake, matter administration, email, deadlines, billing preparation and follow-ups. It is not an accounting system, so billing preparation should not be mistaken for a replacement for accounting software.

Key features

Intake and matter work

The intake workflow screens inquiries, opens matters and prepares engagement materials for lawyer review. That can help a small firm connect an initial inquiry to subsequent matter administration without handing final client-facing steps to an agent. Intake forms are supported.

Email, voice and approvals

After an inbox is connected, Referent files emails, attachments and context to the appropriate matter. Users can also direct work by voice. These capabilities aim to reduce routine filing and coordination, though actions that are client-facing or otherwise high-risk still require explicit lawyer approval. An audit trail records every action, giving lawyers a way to review what agents did.

Connected services and data protections

Referent works with Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Drive. Outlook and Microsoft 365 are marked as coming soon on its homepage, so firms that depend on them should not assume those integrations are ready. Its MCP server connects with ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Hermes, Gemini, OpenClaw and other MCP-compatible apps.

Data is hosted on Google Cloud Platform with US and EU regional residency, AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.2+ in transit, encrypted backups and separate workspaces for each firm. Referent says it does not train AI models on client or matter data and has zero-retention, no-training agreements with its model providers. SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are in preparation, not certifications. Customers can export data, and Referent says deleted data is removed without shadow copies or training archives.

Pricing

Referent uses a freemium model and offers a free plan at free, with AI usage included and no credit card required. For a solo lawyer or small firm assessing agent-assisted workflows, that removes a subscription charge and usage allotment as initial barriers. A free trial is also offered, but no trial length or separate terms are given.

The free plan includes intake forms and a mobile app. Its stated inclusions do not give a seat count or other usage caps, so larger teams should confirm whether it can accommodate their needs before relying on it. A paid plan is not described; there is no basis to compare paid tiers or their limits.

Platforms

Referent is available on web, Android and iOS. Its phone apps let lawyers review agent work, approve actions and check matters, making mobile oversight part of the product rather than an afterthought. Firms relying on Outlook or Microsoft 365 should weigh the fact that those integrations are still marked as coming soon.

Who it's for

Referent is best suited to solo practitioners and small firms that want agents to handle routine intake and matter administration while lawyers keep control of critical actions. It is a poor fit for firms that need a full accounting system, and invitation-only access may rule it out for teams that need to adopt software immediately.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Agents cover several recurring practice tasks, from intake through follow-ups, with lawyer approval reserved for sensitive actions.
• Pros: Every action is recorded, while mobile apps support reviewing and approving work on Android and iOS.
• Pros: The free plan includes AI usage without a credit card, lowering the cost of evaluating the product.
• Cons: Private beta or invitation-only access limits who can adopt it.
• Cons: It is aimed at solo and small firms, and it is not an accounting system.
• Cons: Outlook and Microsoft 365 integrations are not yet ready, and SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are still in preparation.

Alternatives

For a broader set of legal CRM options, browse Legal CRM Software.

Choose Senitix CRM instead if a web-based CRM with a free plan capped at two users, 1,000 contacts, 1,000 leads, 250 deals, one pipeline and 0.5 GB of workspace storage better matches your needs.

CRMforLaw is another option for firms considering a paid legal CRM with a free plan.

Consider CosmoLex instead if you need a paid practice-management product with time tracking, invoicing, online payments and trust accounting; its Launch plan starts at $49 a month per user.

Nexl CRM is another paid option with custom pricing.

TimeSolv is another paid option for firms comparing time and expense tracking software.

Actionstep is another paid practice-management option, priced per user with implementation fees.

Lawmatics is another paid option for firms comparing client intake and lead-management software.

For case and contact management with task management, a client portal and statute alerts, consider CasePeer; its Basic plan is $79 a month per user.

Verdict

Referent is worth considering for solo lawyers and small firms that want agents to take on routine practice work without surrendering lawyer control of critical actions. Its included AI use on the free plan strengthens the case for trying it, but invitation-only access, its limited audience and the absence of accounting functionality are good reasons to look elsewhere if those constraints do not fit.