FilePro & LawMaster End-of-Life: What to do before 31 December 26'
Actionstep acquired FilePro and LawMaster and is winding them down with a hard deadline of 31 December 2026. If your firm is still on either system, here is what you need to know and do now.
If your NZ law firm is still on FilePro or LawMaster, you have until 31 December 2026 to move. Actionstep acquired both systems and has set that date as end-of-life. After it, vendor support ends, security patches stop, and running either system becomes 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
Both FilePro and LawMaster are primarily Australian products. FilePro was a Perth-based company with a customer base of over 400 Australian law firms. LawMaster, headquartered in Queensland, ran a dedicated New Zealand website and claimed to service NZ firms alongside Australia for more than 30 years. NZ firms on either system are a smaller cohort than their Australian counterparts, but they exist.
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 navigating the FilePro and LawMaster end-of-life. No referral fees, no commercial relationships with any PMS vendor.
If your firm is still on FilePro or LawMaster, book a free consultation. We can help you structure the evaluation and facilitate vendor demos.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the FilePro and LawMaster end-of-life deadline?
- Actionstep, which acquired both FilePro and LawMaster, has set 31 December 2026 as the end-of-life date for both systems. After that date, vendor support ends and security patches stop. Running either system beyond that point creates compliance and insurance risks for NZ law firms.
- What should NZ law firms on FilePro or LawMaster 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.
This post describes the situation as understood at time of writing (May 2026). Verify current timelines directly 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.