Best Legal Document Automation Software

Lawyers often find themselves buried under a mountain of paperwork that needs to be created and updated regularly. If you could reclaim some of that time, your law firm could operate more efficiently — and cater to a larger client base.

That’s where the best legal document automation software comes in.

What is legal document automation software? 

Cloud-based legal document automation software revolutionizes the way legal professionals work, from solo practitioners to large law firms, in-house counsel, and legal departments in organizations. This innovative tool automates document creation and management, replacing manual processes with a smart digital system.

Legal professionals utilize this software for various tasks such as creating documents, managing litigation documents, conducting legal research, and more. By streamlining workflows, reducing human error, ensuring compliance, and saving time and resources, this technology allows legal professionals to prioritize providing top-notch client services over administrative duties.

Imagine the amount of time and effort you can save with Smokeball's top-notch legal document automation software. Say goodbye to late nights spent drowning in paperwork. Our software is tailor-made to simplify your daily tasks, cutting down on the time spent creating, editing, sharing, and signing court forms.

The importance of legal document automation systems

Embracing modern solutions is essential in the ever-evolving legal sector, using technology to ease the burden on legal professionals. This automation is now indispensable in the legal world, simplifying processes — and improving efficiency and quality of work.

Compared to standard document software, legal document automation software offers advanced capabilities tailored to the complexities of legal work. It automates legal-specific tasks such as creating customized legal documents from templates, filling out forms automatically, and tracking changes in legal documents.

Types of legal software

There are primarily two types of legal document automation software:

1. Standalone document software focuses solely on document creation and automation, significantly enhancing the efficiency and productivity of your legal practice.
2. Legal practice management software with built-in document automation and management software offers a wide range of tools for case management, time tracking, billing, scheduling, and more. 

Legal Document Automation vs. Legal Document Management

If your business is considering transitioning from old systems to new digital processes, there are three key distinctions between the two that should be understood: 

1. Document automation not only saves time, but it also significantly boosts productivity. 
   ‍While document management simplifies document organization and access, document automation revolutionizes the document creation process, making it much faster and efficient. For instance, a government client using document automation for cooperative agreements reduced the time taken from weeks to days, saving 204,000 hours annually. Another legal company streamlined contract writing with document automation, processing over 300 contracts monthly.‍
2. Document automation is a game-changer when it comes to reducing errors. 
   Document management is great for organizing and accessing documents quickly, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee accuracy. With manual creation, there's always a risk of human error. On the other hand, document automation actively reduces risk by turning static documents into dynamic templates that are easy to update, review, and process. In fact, one banking client saw a 100 percent reduction in errors and saved millions of dollars annually by using automated documents to cut down their draft and review process from two hours to twenty minutes.‍
3. Document automation improves the customer journey. 
   When supporting customers, it's crucial for your team to have easy access to essential documents, and this is where online document management comes in handy. However, if you're looking to transform the way your business caters to its customers, document automation is the key. For instance, a content management provider successfully cut down the time needed to create client agreements and deliver them to prospects by implementing document automation. Another company utilized document automation to swiftly produce straightforward documentation that simplifies clients' comprehension of their agreements.

Benefits of Document Automation Software for Law Firms

Legal document automation offers numerous benefits to legal practices. By using these tools, you can save time and focus on providing better legal services. Here are some of the top reasons to consider using it in your practice:

• Automating documents is a time-saver
  ‍Law practices spend a significant amount of time on routine drafting. With document automation software, like Clio Draft, you can enter information once and apply it to multiple documents, saving valuable time. Creating a template set allows for auto-population of information, further increasing efficiency.
• ‍Avoid mistakes with document automation
  Mistakes can happen when juggling multiple clients and tasks. Document automation software helps prevent errors by automatically filling in client or matter information, reducing the risk of misspellings or other mistakes.
• ‍Law firms benefit from document automation
  Delegation and oversight can be time-consuming, but document automation software provides access to templates for all members of the firm. This allows for more focus on billable tasks and easier collaboration, regardless of location.
• ‍You can focus on the big picture, not the details
  By automating legal drafting, document automation software frees up time for attorneys and paralegals to focus on more important tasks and even allows for more time outside of work.

How to choose the right document automation software for your law firm

• Budget: Consider your budget when choosing software for automating legal document creation and management. Look for software that offers additional features bundled together to maximize cost-effectiveness, such as Clio's document automation management software paired with a document management system.‍
• Time and effort: Factor in the cost of switching to new software, including the time spent transitioning between different applications. Ensure that the document assembly software integrates seamlessly with your existing document management system and legal practice management software to avoid wasting time switching back and forth.‍
• Ease of use: Save time and effort by selecting a document automation system that is easy to set up and intuitive to use. Consider how much time you are willing to invest in the setup process, whether you need to hire someone for assistance, and the complexity of the system that best suits your needs.‍
• Integrations: Evaluate how well the document management system aligns with your current workflow, including applications, processes, tasks, deadlines, and procedures. Choose software that seamlessly integrates with your existing workflow to enhance efficiency and productivity.

A platform designed for growth

Level up your firm when you connect Smokeball to your favorite tools. Visit the Smokeball Marketplace to learn how this integration will provide valuable insights into your practice, making it a smooth and efficient process. Additionally, our email integrations enable seamless access from anywhere.

Why Choose Smokeball Legal Document Automation Software?

Thousands of attorneys trust Smokeball legal practice management software to bring their law firms into the modern age. Nowadays, we assist countless legal professionals in a wide range of practice areas to effectively manage their firm — and we're just getting started! Ranked #1 in G2's best practice management software list, Smokeball offers amazing features, service, and results. Join other satisfied law firms who are experiencing increased productivity and profitability. 

Check out Smokeball, the top choice for legal professionals! Find out what makes Smokeball stand out from the rest:

• Made by attorneys, for attorneys
• Cloud technology
• Community
• Award-winning client support

Learn more about why lawyers choose Smokeball or schedule a no-obligation demo with an expert.