FilePro End-of-Life: What to Do Before 31 December 2026
Actionstep is retiring FilePro on 31 December 2026. If your NZ law firm is still on FilePro, here's what the deadline means and how to plan the move. LawMaster is not affected.
Correction, 7 October 2026: An earlier version of this post said Actionstep had set 31 December 2026 as the end-of-life date for both FilePro and LawMaster. The title, summary, FAQs and body all repeated that, and it was wrong about LawMaster. Actionstep has confirmed the date applies to FilePro only. LawMaster has no sunset date and is still being developed and supported, and we've corrected the post throughout. The post was first written in May 2026, so check current timelines with Actionstep before making decisions. Valley IT advises on IT and system fit, not on legal obligations. Firms should consult their own legal advisors for any compliance-related questions.
If your NZ law firm is still on FilePro, you have until 31 December 2026 to move. Actionstep owns FilePro and has set that date as its end-of-life. After it, vendor support ends and security patches stop, which turns the system into a compliance and insurance liability.
A migration can take months depending on complexity. If you have not started, the window is now.
What the deadline means
After 31 December 2026:
- Vendor support ends
- No further security patches or bug fixes
- Data export and migration assistance from Actionstep may narrow
- Running unsupported software creates cyber insurance and compliance exposure
Who is affected
FilePro is mainly an Australian product. It came from a Perth-based company with over 400 Australian law firms as customers, so NZ firms on it are a smaller group. But they exist, and the deadline applies to them just the same.
LawMaster firms aren't affected. Actionstep also owns LawMaster and has confirmed there is no sunset date for it. The platform is still being developed and supported.
How do I decide what PMS to migrate to?
A practice management system migration decision is not straightforward, and the right system will depend on your current technology practices and your future goals. The main alternatives are LEAP, OneLaw, and Actionstep — our OneLaw vs LEAP comparison covers how the two most common options stack up on trust accounting, document automation, and contract terms. Independent advice before committing to a vendor will help you structure the evaluation and ask the right questions in demos.
A note on timeline
The instinct with a hard deadline is to rush. That typically produces worse outcomes.
- Start your evaluation now if you have not
- Aim for a vendor decision end of July
- Target go-live at least by November. Allow a buffer of time before December deadline
Getting independent advice
Valley IT offers vendor-neutral consulting for NZ law firms moving off FilePro before the end-of-life date. No referral fees, no commercial relationships with any PMS vendor.
If your firm is still on FilePro, book a free consultation. We can help you structure the evaluation and run vendor demos with you.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the FilePro end-of-life deadline?
- Actionstep has set 31 December 2026 as the end-of-life date for FilePro. After that date vendor support ends and security patches stop, so running it past that point creates compliance and insurance risk for NZ law firms. LawMaster has no end-of-life date. Actionstep has confirmed it is still being developed and supported.
- Is LawMaster going end of life?
- No, this only applies to FilePro.
- What should NZ law firms on FilePro migrate to?
- The main alternatives are LEAP, OneLaw, and Actionstep. LEAP suits document-heavy and conveyancing practices that want maximum automation out of the box. OneLaw suits firms where NZ trust accounting fit is the primary concern. Actionstep suits firms with more complex matter workflows. The right choice depends on your practice areas, firm size, and trust accounting requirements. Get independent advice before committing to a vendor.
- How long does a PMS migration take for a NZ law firm?
- A typical PMS migration takes three to six months from vendor selection to go-live. The timeline depends on data complexity, how much historical data needs to be migrated, and how much system configuration is required. Trust accounting data migration and reconciliation is usually the most time-consuming part and should be planned carefully with your trust account supervisor.