8 Best Legal Document Automation Software in 2024

Advantages of Automating Legal Documents

Automation comes with many obvious benefits, such as time savings, reduced costs, and more efficient workflows. However, it’s still worth looking into each potential advantage to see the importance of finding a solution that works for you.

Let’s dive into the key benefits of legal document automation:

1. Time Savings

Automating legal documents allows you to drastically cut down the time spent on repetitive tasks like drafting, reviewing, and revising.

Instead of manually creating each document from scratch, automation tools let you generate them in just a few clicks.

This efficiency frees up valuable hours, allowing attorneys and staff to focus on higher-value tasks like strategizing, client meetings, or case analysis.

2. Increased Accuracy

One of the biggest advantages of document automation is the reduction of human error. Automated systems make sure that documents are consistent and error-free, as they pull from pre-approved templates and standardized language.

This minimizes the risk of mistakes such as typos, omissions, or incorrect information, which can be costly and time-consuming to correct.

3. Cost Efficiency

By speeding up the document creation process, automation helps reduce labor costs associated with manual drafting.

Fewer hours spent on routine paperwork translates to lower operational expenses, which can make your practice more profitable. This cost efficiency is especially beneficial for small and mid-sized firms looking to maximize their resources.

4. Improved Client Service

With the time saved through automation, legal professionals can dedicate more attention to client needs.

Faster document turnaround times and reduced errors lead to a better client experience, improving satisfaction and potentially increasing client retention and referrals.

5. Consistency and Standardization

Automation ensures that all legal documents adhere to the same format, style, and standards.

This consistency not only enhances the professionalism of your documents but also ensures compliance with legal requirements.

Standardized templates make it easy to maintain a uniform appearance across all your firm’s documents, reducing the need for constant oversight.

6. Better Security and Compliance

Legal document automation tools often come with built-in security features like encryption and access controls.

These tools ensure that sensitive client information is protected and that your documents comply with industry regulations.

This added layer of security is a must for maintaining trust with clients and avoiding legal repercussions.

7. Scalability and Flexibility

As your firm grows, the volume of documents you need to manage will also increase. Automation provides the scalability needed to handle this growth without overwhelming your team.

Additionally, many automation tools are flexible, which allows you to customize templates and workflows to suit specific practice areas or client needs.

Best Legal Document Automation Software Tools of 2024

Now that you know the key advantages that legal document automation software can bring to your law firm, here are the best options you can choose from:

1. Briefpoint

Briefpoint is one of the leading document automation software specifically designed for legal practices. Over 500 law firms currently trust it to streamline the drafting of routine discovery responses and request drafting tasks, allowing attorneys to save time and focus on higher-value tasks.

As a specialized solution for the legal sector, Briefpoint automates requests for admission, requests for production, and interrogatories. These documents are time-consuming, but the document automation tool automates the process using the power of machine learning.

A standout feature of Briefpoint is Briefpoint Bridge, which simplifies client communication. This feature lets you collect client responses with ease.

It translates requests into plain English, sends them to your clients, and automatically integrates their responses into your discovery documents.

Briefpoint lets you schedule a demo to test its software at your firm. The solution is appropriate for people of all technical skills with almost no learning curve, saving an average of 87% of time spent on each document.

View Briefpoint’s pricing here.

Pros

• Briefpoint significantly reduces the time spent on drafting discovery responses and other repetitive legal documents, which allows attorneys to focus on higher-value tasks.

• Designed with legal professionals in mind, Briefpoint has a user-friendly interface that requires minimal training, making it accessible to users of all technical abilities.

• Briefpoint is tailored specifically for the legal industry, with features that automate complex documents like requests for admission, requests for production, and interrogatories.

• The platform leverages AI to scan and analyze documents and auto-populate information, which minimizes manual input and potential errors.

• By automating routine tasks, Briefpoint can lead to significant cost savings per attorney, improving the overall profitability of your practice.

 2. Clio

Source: Clio.com

Clio is a market leader in law office management and offers various legal document automation features as part of a suite of services.

The tool gives you control over your practice from a single dashboard, eliminating the need for complex integrations or straddling workflows. 

Clio includes templates for legal documents, including letters, contracts, and pleadings. The drag-and-drop interface makes customizations and edits straightforward, avoiding the need for technical knowledge. 

Furthermore, the software operates practice-wide via the cloud. Team members can access it anywhere, facilitating remote work and out-of-hours services. 

That said, it is not perfect. While Clio offers some document automation, it is a tacked-on feature. Developers felt they had to include it after other vendors introduced more advanced solutions. Therefore, it doesn’t offer the customization features required for highly specialized needs. 

Pricing can also be an issue. The subscription fee is per user, with some plans over $125 a month for every account you add.

Furthermore, it makes you pay extra to access integrations, which is problematic if you have invested heavily in your software stack already. 

Pros

• Clio offers a wide range of features beyond document automation, including case management, billing, time tracking, and client relationship management, making it an all-in-one solution for law firms.

• Clio operates entirely in the cloud, allowing team members to access the platform from anywhere, which is particularly useful for remote work and out-of-office access.

• The platform has an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface, so it’s easy for users of all technical levels to navigate and use.

• Clio integrates with a broad range of other software, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and various legal research tools.

• Clio offers customizable templates for a variety of legal documents, which simplifies the process of creating and managing legal paperwork.

Cons

• Clio’s pricing can be on the higher side, especially for smaller firms. The subscription model charges per user, which can add up quickly if you have a large team.

• While Clio includes document automation, it’s somewhat basic compared to specialized tools. For firms that need advanced document automation capabilities, Clio might fall short.

• Some key integrations require additional fees, which can further increase the overall cost of using Clio.

• Despite its user-friendly design, the comprehensive nature of Clio means there’s a learning curve, particularly for users unfamiliar with practice management software.

• Some users have reported performance issues, such as slow loading times and occasional glitches, which can be frustrating when working on time-sensitive tasks.

• The extensive features and functionalities may be overkill for solo practitioners or very small firms, who may find it more complex than necessary for their needs.

3. DocuSign

Source: DocuSign.com

DocuSign Signature doesn’t quite fall into the category of legal document automation software, but law offices use it extensively, so it is worth mentioning here.

Teams find it helpful to enable attorneys and clients to sign documents and track their progress over time. As such, it saves time compared to conventional paper-based signing workflows.

Other benefits include its mobile-friendliness, integration across platforms and reasonably advanced security. 

Other solutions offer far more time-saving features. It also focuses on electronic signatures. While you can make edits, doing so is cumbersome. 

Finally, you will need to pay a subscription if using the solution for high volumes of documents (a guarantee in most legal practices). Therefore, it is not a free tool, despite seeming like one. 

Pros

• DocuSign is widely recognized for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for both legal professionals and clients to sign documents electronically without any technical hurdles.

• As one of the most popular e-signature platforms, DocuSign is trusted by millions of users worldwide, which helps ensure compatibility and familiarity for clients and other parties involved.

• DocuSign is mobile-friendly, allowing users to sign documents and track their status on the go via smartphones and tablets, which is particularly useful for busy legal professionals.

• DocuSign integrates seamlessly with a wide range of applications, including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and many legal practice management tools, enhancing workflow efficiency.

Cons

• While DocuSign excels at electronic signatures, its capabilities for full-scale document automation are limited compared to specialized legal document automation tools.

• For law firms handling a high volume of documents, DocuSign’s pricing can become expensive, as it charges per envelope (a set of documents sent for signing).

• DocuSign offers limited document editing features, making it cumbersome to make significant changes or customizations within the platform before signing.

• Although basic features are easy to use, more advanced functionalities, like conditional fields and custom workflows, may require additional training or time to master.

• DocuSign is not tailored specifically for the legal industry, meaning it lacks some of the specialized features and templates that other legal-focused platforms might offer.

4. PandaDoc

Source: PandaDoc.com

Another piece of legal document automation software is PandaDoc. Like Clio, it is an all-in-one platform, letting you generate documents, collect e-signatures, and leverage analytics.

Developers claim it can speed up paperwork by 40% (approximately two working days per week). 

PandaDoc isn’t a legal-specific document automation platform but specializes in this area. Law firms can look forward to spending up to 80% less time creating documents, thanks to its template library and drag-and-drop editor. 

It also has tools for expediting contract creation, avoiding the need to cut and paste (or even write) by hand. Built-in commenting assists with edits and helps to speed up negotiations for teams involved in commercial law. 

The reason some teams avoid PandaDoc is the software’s complexity. While it offers a feature-rich interface and client experience, it also demands a steep learning curve.

To the developer’s credit, they provide instructions and training, but wading through this involves additional time investment. 

Moreover, integrations with the software are challenging. Hiring an outside firm to complete them is often necessary. 

Pros

• PandaDoc offers a comprehensive solution that includes document creation, e-signatures, and workflow automation.

• PandaDoc provides a wide range of customizable templates, allowing users to quickly generate professional-looking documents tailored to their specific needs.

• The platform supports real-time collaboration, enabling multiple team members or clients to comment, edit, and negotiate documents simultaneously.

• The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, making it easy for users of all technical levels to create, customize, and manage documents without extensive training.

• PandaDoc integrates with various CRM, payment, and productivity tools, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Stripe, enhancing its functionality and making it easy to incorporate into existing workflows.

Cons

• Despite its user-friendly interface, PandaDoc’s extensive features can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time and effort to fully understand and utilize all the available tools.

• PandaDoc’s pricing can be confusing, with different plans and add-ons that can quickly increase costs, especially for firms that need access to advanced features.

• While PandaDoc is powerful for general document automation, it is not specifically designed for the legal industry, which means it may lack some specialized tools and templates that legal professionals require.

• Some users report difficulties integrating PandaDoc with other niche legal software, which can limit its effectiveness for firms that rely heavily on specific legal tech tools.

• PandaDoc is heavily marketed toward sales and marketing teams, meaning some of its features and workflows are more tailored to those areas rather than to legal or other specialized fields.

5. HotDocs

 Source: Hotdocs.com

HotDocs is also a strong contender for best legal document automation software. The tool claims that it enables law practices to process documents up to 90% faster than manual generation (including industry-standard cut-and-paste methods).

Again, the goal is to help you focus on your clients instead of creating tedious documents. 

HotDocs is an established legal document automation software player with a proven track record and broad user base. Law offices use it for its hundreds of pre-built templates for various legal specialties and its flexibility. 

The tool can also integrate with other legal software and CRMs, reducing implementation complexity. You can even use it offline – great for professionals on the subway or far from WiFi. 

Even so, HotDocs still has weaknesses. While it can generate complex documents, it often lacks visual appeal. Law practices sometimes feel disappointed that they don’t look professional enough.

Furthermore, updating templates with scripts is time-consuming. The AI won’t do it for you, no matter how nicely you ask. 

Finally, there’s a steeper learning curve than many of the more straightforward options on the market. Therefore, it is more geared towards law firms with significant technical expertise and large budgets. 

Pros

• HotDocs is a well-established player in the legal document automation space, with a long history of serving law firms, financial institutions, and government agencies.

• HotDocs offers a vast library of pre-built templates for various legal documents, which can be customized to suit the specific needs of different practice areas.

• The platform allows for the automation of complex legal documents, including the ability to create sophisticated templates with conditional logic, which reduces manual drafting time and errors.

• HotDocs integrates with other legal and business software, including case management systems and CRMs, allowing for a seamless flow of information and better workflow efficiency.

• Unlike some other document automation tools, HotDocs can be used offline, which is beneficial for legal professionals who need to work without a constant internet connection.

Cons

• HotDocs is powerful but can be complex to set up and use, particularly for those who are not technically inclined. The advanced features require significant training and experience to master.

• The platform can be expensive, particularly for smaller firms. The initial setup, customization, and ongoing maintenance costs may be prohibitive for those with limited budgets.

• Some users find the user interface to be less modern and intuitive compared to newer document automation tools, which can affect the overall user experience.

• While HotDocs is effective at generating documents, the output may lack the polished, professional look that some firms desire. Customizing templates to improve visual appeal can be time-consuming.

• Updating or modifying existing templates can be cumbersome, especially for users who are not familiar with the system’s scripting and logic features. This can lead to inefficiencies when changes are needed.

6. Bryter

 Source: Bryter.com

Bryter goes even further, claiming users can save 95% of their time on manual work with its document assembly software.

The solution helps law practices automate routine document drafting, remove errors, reduce risks, and get data-driven insights.

Systems prevent internal clients from generating inaccurate documents while eliminating mistakes with standardized templates. 

Bryter’s main selling point is its no-code client portal approach. As such, it positions itself as the brand for the average law office. The intuitive decision-tree structure and user interface mean that most professionals with experience working on computers can use it. 

Teamwork is also straightforward on the automation platform. Cloud-based collaboration features enable teams of any size to work together to process paperwork faster. 

With that said Bryter’s document automation capabilities are somewhat limited. While the decision-tree functionality helps with legal decision-making, it focuses more on interactive approaches than traditional, bread-and-butter document generation. As such, some legal practices find it limiting.

It is also a newcomer to the market and doesn’t have the same pedigree as many more established platforms. As such, the community support base is smaller than the more prominent names.

Pros

• Bryter is a no-code solution, meaning you can build and automate legal processes without needing any programming skills. This makes it accessible to legal professionals who may not have a technical background.

• The platform is designed with ease of use in mind, featuring a decision-tree structure that simplifies the creation and automation of legal documents and processes.

• Bryter allows users to automate a wide range of legal tasks, from document assembly to client intake processes, making it a versatile tool for various legal applications.

• Bryter supports cloud-based collaboration, allowing teams of any size to work together on automating workflows and documents, which can improve efficiency and reduce errors.

Cons 

• While Bryter is powerful for process automation, it is a general-purpose tool and may lack some specialized features or templates that are specifically tailored to the legal industry.

• Although it’s a no-code platform, creating more complex workflows or automation may require a deeper understanding of the tool, which could pose a challenge for some users.

• Bryter’s pricing may be on the higher end, particularly for smaller firms or solo practitioners who may not need all the advanced features it offers.

• As a relatively new player in the legal tech space, Bryter might not have the same level of community support or third-party integrations as more established platforms like HotDocs or Clio.

• Bryter excels in automating processes and workflows, but it may not offer the same depth in document automation as some other specialized legal tools, which could be a limitation for firms focused heavily on document generation.

7. Formstack

 Source: Formstack.com

Formstack rounds out our list of the best legal document automation software. This established player offers solutions that eliminate paperwork, automate documents (including personalized contract agreements and NDAs), collect e-signatures, and improve collaboration.

You also get security-related tools, such as controlling who can access paperwork via logic and routine tools. It also meets various legal standards, such as GDPR, PCI, and HIPAA, for any legal firms working with sensitive information. 

Formstack regularly collects data on the time its tools save its team members. Most can cut 17 hours or more from their week using the solution. 

That said, it remains a form-building tool, not exclusively for legal automation. Its document generation capabilities are also surprisingly basic for such a professional tool.

Unlike Briefpoint, it doesn’t make extensive use of AI to highlight and track documents as negotiations unfold, making it less practical for legal firms wanting to eliminate the most time-consuming elements of their work. 

Finally, integrating it with niche legal applications is challenging. It doesn’t work seamlessly with all platforms. 

Pros

• Formstack is known for its powerful and easy-to-use form-building capabilities, allowing users to create and customize a wide range of forms, including those for legal document automation, client intake, and more.

• Formstack offers tools to automate the creation of documents like contracts, NDAs, and agreements, helping law firms reduce manual paperwork and streamline processes.

• Formstack integrates with a variety of applications, including CRMs, payment processors, and email marketing platforms, which enhances its functionality and fits into existing workflows seamlessly.

• The platform is mobile-optimized, allowing users to create, manage, and complete forms and documents from any device, which is convenient for on-the-go legal professionals.

Cons

• While Formstack is versatile, it is not specifically designed for the legal industry, so it may lack some specialized features and templates that other legal document automation tools provide.

• The document automation capabilities, while useful, are more basic compared to platforms that are solely focused on legal document automation, which might be a drawback for firms with complex needs.

• Formstack’s pricing can be complicated, with different plans and add-ons that can increase costs, especially for firms that need access to advanced features or higher usage limits.

• Although the form builder is intuitive, some of the more advanced features, such as complex workflows or integrations, may require additional time and effort to master.

8. Gavel