In these times, it is imperative for every industry and establishment to catch up with the advancement of technology. The legal system is not left out of the conversation as there are a plethora of ways lawyers can use technology to advance their processes, eliminate bottlenecks, and upscale overall productivity and quality of services.
that can be improved with technology include client intake, case management, as well as fees, and payment tracking. This post focuses on “automated document generation” as one of the key benefits of technology in the legal space: we will expatiate on the advantages of automating your legal documents and then recommend a brilliant AI software for you to try out. Without further ado, let’s get into it! Areas of legal practice
Why Document Automation?
Automation refers to using machines or technology to execute repetitive and redundant tasks. It reduces human error in processing and improves accuracy, precision, and overall quality of work.
In legal parlance, document automation refers to the use of specialized AI software to categorize legal data and generate templates for drafting new legal documents on a large scale. Any good lawyer knows how tedious manual document processing can be, given that each client tenders a unique legal issue, requiring unique solutions and services. Deploying document automation software makes manual document processing redundant and file sorting absolutely stressless.
In the paragraphs below, we’ve itemized six valid reasons why you need a document automation software to supplement your legal expertise:
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Saves Time
Legal document automation helps save time as you can quickly gather and create templates for various documents that can be reused by simply editing the variables. This reduces time spent editing and formatting documents by over 70 percent, generating drafts in minutes.
For example, the client's name and date for most standard documents are done manually on word processors like Microsoft Word. However, document automation software can replace the variables with new information for new clients.
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Improved Efficiency
Legal document automation improves the efficiency and productivity of lawyers by reducing time spent on many non-billable tasks. This expands the capacity of attorneys, giving them time to focus on billable tasks that bring in revenue. This is especially helpful in smaller firms where administrative tasks take up most of their time.
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Greater Accuracy
The possibility of error resulting from human input can be significantly minimized with automation. For example, errors like duplicate entries mistyped case details, and copying and pasting the wrong client information can be mitigated by automating your documents.
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Eliminates Tedious Tasks
The average lawyer spends less than a third of their working hours performing their principal legal duties, while the remaining hours are spent drafting, organizing, and analyzing paperwork. With the legal document, automation attorneys can eliminate time-consuming tasks in their work schedule.
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Consistency
Using software and tools for legal document automation helps maintain a standard of service for your clients. In addition, automating legal documents allows lawyers to outsource unspecialized tasks at a lower cost rather than employing individual contractors, hereby increasing their profit margins.
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Improved Customer Service
With the age of technology, clients appreciate a smooth and easy consultation and communication process. As a lawyer, you can spend more time researching and advising your clients, giving them value for their money. In addition, the responsiveness of your firm to clients in the drafting and generating documents or onboarding process boosts the customer experience.
Aspects of Legal Workflow That Can be Automated
Besides automating legal documents in your firm, other tasks that can be automated to improve quality of service and customer experience in legal enterprises include:
Client Onboarding
As you sometimes get a second chance to make a first impression, the sequence of steps involved in introducing your clients to your services can be automated to simplify their journey and provide a consistent experience that boosts customer satisfaction. In addition, the efficiency of your onboarding process can transition enquiring clients to paying clients.
Automation of the client onboarding process includes simplifying the contact process, automated welcome messages or emails, data collection through micro surveys, data verification, scheduling follow-ups, and offering resources and support options.
Client Reviews
Client reviews are social proof of the quality of your service, authenticity, and trustworthiness. Automation of the collection of feedback or reviews from clients can be cumbersome, especially on the clients' end; however, automation can make the process faster. With input from one click, your client can drop a review through single-question surveys and star ratings.
Client Communications
Client communications can be automated to send scheduled or automatic updates across multiple channels improving customer outreach and client-firm relationships. For example, automated messages informing clients on case updates, meeting reminders, complaints or delays, free legal tips and guides, frequently asked questions, and customer support.
Electronic Signatures
In legal processes, signatures are usually crucial in drafting documents and agreements. Within your law firm, some documents will need the authorization of senior personnel. Automated systems allow for data collection and collection of electronic signatures from personnel with security features that store records of who signed and when those documents were signed. It also improves the process of bulk distribution of signatures on documents.
Invoicing
Automation can help track fees and payments and streamline the invoicing process. It can also send payment reminders to notify clients of pending charges. This software can also create payment portals for clients making the payment process less tedious.
Why Choose NextChapter?
If you run a firm where your staff carry out unspecialized, time-consuming, routine tasks, consider automation. But there are many factors to consider in choosing the right AI software for your organization.
Asides from your firm’s specific needs and budget, you must consider the time and effort needed to set up the program, how the software tool fits into your existing workflow, and the security of the software. Among the many AI tools on the market, NextChapter provides state-of-the-art technology that allows for seamless document automation alongside other necessary legal services. Below are reasons why you should try out NextChapter AI tool:
Unlimited Cloud Storage
Most cloud-based services offer expanded storage space with an increased fee, but with every NextChapter plan, you get unlimited cloud storage. So no matter your project, you don't need to worry about how much data they are being saved, and data retrieval is just as easy.
Automated Communication
NextMessage is NextChapter's inbuilt custom texting app, and it's your go-to tool for sending out reminders and communicating with clients on the go. NextMessage is a convenient and secure messaging tool that stores communications between lawyers and clients without third-party applications.
Create and Merge Documents
NextChapter provides ready-made forms in different aspects of law with custom tags that automatically draft documents for your clients. Lawyers can create as many templates or forms as possible with unlimited storage. In addition, the client's documents can be arranged in any order, and pdfs can be merged and exported as one document.
Mailing Integration
With the client information gathered and NextChapter mailing integration, the time spent compiling your mailing list and sending targeted emails is easier and faster without third-party apps. In addition, it helps send automated emails or newsletters to new clients or birthday and holiday messages to existing clients, which helps boost the client relationship.
Client Relationship Management Tools
Nurturing your clients' relationships and saving your interactions have always been challenging. NextChapter helps lawyers track the progress of cases, set up meetings with their clients, and schedule tasks all in one software. In addition, the client relationship management tools provided can be customized to suit the area of law under which your client's case falls.
Workflow Automation
Your processes are more organized with your task lists, document checklists, in-app client texting, automated document generation, time and payment trackers, document storage, case management, and more all-in-one software.
In Conclusion
One concern people have with using technology is expressed in the question: "Will it replace lawyers?". The answer is no; automation doesn't replace you as a lawyer, as it doesn't possess your unique skill set, experience, or expertise. Instead, it eliminates redundant tasks, allowing you to focus on your practice and take on more clients with an efficient workflow. NextChapter can help make you a more efficient lawyer in this digital age.