Why Investing In Legal Drafting Automation Software Is Indeed The Right Call?

A lot of law firm executives we’ve talked with say that they see the value in software that automates business processes. 

That said, they often use generic words and trivial explanations as to why their firm would actually benefit from a series of custom-made document templates. 

“People will probably see that we value their time if we accomplish tasks faster. This will likely improve the customer experience” – said one exec Peter talked to last week. 

“Our team is struggling to put more time towards billable hours. Automation should help with that” – said another executive a few weeks prior. 

While there is nothing inherently wrong with these statements as, well, both are true, they have opened our eyes to why the legal industry struggles to adopt new technologies: a lot of lawyers don’t understand the real value behind a complex approach to automation. They understand that looking into new technologies is a business necessity, but they aren’t quite sure as to how software can help them here and now. 

That’s why we have decided to talk about the primary reasons why investing in legal drafting automation solutions is indeed the right call.

Efficiency

Yes, a document template will remove the need for you to draft basic types of documents like NDAs from scratch. But so will a properly formatted doc file you’ve saved on your computer or in the cloud. The need for custom documents that are riddled with complex conditional calculus (like the distribution of shares) is where automation truly shines. 

A well-crafted template will remove the need to rely on any third-party tools be it Excel with its complicated formulas or a calculator. The math is done within the app for you leaving no room for error. 

Fewer man-made errors

The simplest of errors or typos in Excel are known to cost companies thousands if not millions of dollars. Be it an error made in creating a document from scratch or even copy-pasting from an external source – there’s always a risk of something going downhill. 

In turn, automation roots out the probability of a slip-up making sure you have one less thing to worry about.

Improved onboarding

Based on how a document automation solution is crafted, it can serve as a unified knowledge base holding all of the necessary templates your firm works with. This is an incredibly useful feature to have for the times when a new lawyer joins the team. 

On the other side of the coin – when an employee decides to move on – their decision will not put a dent in your company’s know-how. 

Branding consistency

From what we’ve heard from our clients, maintaining a strong brand identity is pivotal to most law firms. Document templates standardize your approach to documentation. They make sure that the tone, voice, and wording of your firm remain consistent from case to case. 

By the way, a clever automation solution does not restrict itself to documents only. You will be able to stay consistent in every form of content you produce. This includes everything from a new employment contract to emails, press releases, and marketing materials. 

A finger on the pulse

Clever integration into your CRM or any other Business Intelligence solution can show you detailed stats regarding everything from employee performance to detailed analytics on what works best (or what needs tweaking) in your firm’s overall strategy.  

Affecting the Bottomline

Saving the best for last, a drafting solution will save your lawyer’s time. The time they will be able to put towards working on other, more critical matters or keeping closer contact with existing customers, or even attracting new clients. 

Gain an edge

Despite the obvious benefits automation brings to the table, most law forms stick to archaic business practices. In simpler words, the legal industry – as a whole – lags behind when it comes to automation. 

What this means is that the early adopters will get an upper hand over their competitors. Which side in this arms race would you like to choose?