If you are part of the legal world, you must be no alien to the mind-numbing mundaneness of creating and drafting accurate and compliant legal documents. Adhering to legal terminology, stringent formatting standards, and maintaining utmost accuracy - an arduous undertaking.
This is, particularly true when you’re juggling multiple responsibilities.
It is in these circ*mstances that legal document generator software offers a much-needed reprieve. These solutions automate and standardize the document creation, ensuring accuracy and compliance, and have become indispensable tools for law firms, corporate legal departments, and individual practitioners alike.
Today, many legal document generator software options are available in the market. It can be overwhelming to determine which software is the best fit for your specific needs.
To help you, we’ve reviewed some of the popular legal document generator software based on their features, pricing, and ease of use.
What is legal document generator software?
Legal document generator software, also known as document automation software or contract lifecycle management (CLM) software, is a solution designed to streamline and automate the process of creating, managing, and storing legal documents.
This software leverages features like pre-built templates, automation, artificial intelligence, and seamless integration capabilities to quickly generate a wide range of legally binding documents without errors and ensure compliance.
Instead, legal professionals can upload a template for a contract or a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). These templates can be easily customized to meet specific requirements, and once finalized, they can be used to generate similar documents in the future, saving valuable time and effort.
By adopting legal document generator software, law firms, and legal departments can deliver accurate and compliant documents while managing increasing workloads and tight deadlines. All this while, reducing costs and mitigating non-compliance risks.
What features your legal document generator software must have?
- Extensive template library: An expansive and regularly updated library of pre-built templates for various legal document types can be handy for legal professionals. Instead of creating everything from square one, having these templates on hand lets legal professionals save a ton of time and effort by filling in the blanks and customizing what they need.
- Clause management: Tools for creating, storing, reusing, and sharing custom clauses and provisions across your team, with version control. Having a centralized clause library ensures all your documents stay consistent and error-free. Plus, it's a huge efficiency boost to easily pull in frequently used clauses instead of rewriting them each time.
- Powerful automation: Automation features that can populate documents with data from your CRM, databases, and more, following predefined rules and logic. So you don't have to worry about manual data entry.
- Integration capabilities: Seamless connectivity with all the other tools your legal team uses, like practice management software and file storage. With this integration, all your tools can work hand-in-hand, boosting productivity and saving you time.
- Workflow management: Collaboration tools that facilitate the entire document review, approval, and e-signature process for your team, clients, and stakeholders. These workflows keep everyone on the same page and ensure documents flow seamlessly without delays or hiccups.
- E-signature integration: The software you choose should have built-in e-signature capabilities or a pre-built integration with e-signature platforms like Docupilot to make getting signatures a breeze. With this feature, legal firms can eliminate the need for printing and overnighting physical documents, making their operations more environmentally friendly.
- Security and compliance: The legal document generator software should prioritize security and compliance with industry regulations and standards. It should include features like encryption, secure access controls, and audit trails, and comply with relevant data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.) and legal industry standards. So, you can safeguard the confidentiality of your sensitive client and case information, mitigating potential risks and costly penalties.
Top Legal Document Generator Software: A Quick Overview
| Software Name | Starting Price (Monthly) | Free Trial | Key Features |
| Rally | $99 | Available |
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| HotDocs | $33.33 | Not available |
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| Clio Draft | $70 | Not available |
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| Gavel | $83 | 7-days free trial |
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| Knackly | $100 | Free trial available |
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| Docupilot | $29 | 30-day free trial |
|
6 Best Legal Document Generator Software
1. Docupilot
Who is it for: For Lawyers who want an affordable document automation solution without sacrificing ease of use, integration, and security.
Docupilot is a comprehensive and affordable legal document generator software that’s known for its intuitive interface and advanced condition-based document generation capabilities.
With Docupilot, you can easily share documents with clients, or whoever needs access to those documents securely, and you decide who can see, edit, or manage the document through the access controls feature.
Docupilot integrates with the popular legal practice management software, Clio, allowing you to auto-populate document templates with client cases and data. And makes signing easy by integrating with your favorite signing tools, including Docusign, Signnow, and Yousign.
Key features:
- Intuitive template builder: A drag-and-drop custom template builder that enables users to build dynamic templates.
- Template library: Centralized template library with strict version control and role-based access controls.
- Automated document delivery: When a document is generated (e.g., invoice, contract), users can choose to have it automatically delivered via email or uploaded to cloud storage. Additionally, documents can be routed for e-signatures via native DocuSign integration.
- Bulk Document generation: You can generate multiple documents simultaneously by pulling data from sources like CRM or Clio to fill merge fields.
- Integrations: Connects to over 70 popular business apps through pre-built integrations and the Zapier connector.
Pros:
- Lawyers with non-tech backgrounds can easily learn and use it.
- Affordable pricing
- Offers various security measures including encryption, password protection, access control, and more
Pricing:
You can try Docupilot for free for 30 days. Pricing is credit-based; you spend one credit per document created or delivered. This provides a transparent way of tracking usage and managing costs. With six pricing tiers, there's a suitable plan for you, whether you're a solo practitioner or part of an established firm:
2. Rally
Who is it for: Law firms and legal service providers of all sizes.
Rally streamlines legal workflows for businesses and their lawyers with an intuitive interface. It combines document automation with comprehensive contract management in a single platform. The user-friendly design extends to their client portal, enabling seamless collaboration, e-signatures, and online payments. Rally offers a robust suite of features, including a template library and CRM integration. However, its pricing might be steeper than competitors focused solely on legal document generation.
Most important features and who it benefits:
- Customizable client portal: Personalized, user-friendly interface for client e-signatures and payments.
- Powerful search: Quickly locate any document, regardless of age or location.
- Smart client intake: Cloud-based forms and questionnaires to gather client information, feeding directly into the automation system.
- Extensive template library: Wide range of pre-made templates for various legal documents, including employment contracts, NDAs, and shareholder agreements.
- Organized document management: Easily categorize, store, and retrieve documents and associated contacts.
Pros:
- Ready-to-use, customizable templates
- A client-accessible platform for collaboration and self-service
- Integration capabilities
- Strong security features
Cons:
- No built-in Word editor or add-on, making template creation difficult
- Higher cost compared to competitors
- Less robust automation capabilities (i.e., lacking logic functions and certain field types)
Pricing
Rally offers a free trial and three pricing plans which include:
3. Hotdocs
Who is it for: Small to mid-sized law firms.
HotDocs, a veteran in the document automation industry since 1993, and caters to businesses of any size or type. According to their research, HotDocs is found in more than 60% of the law firms that use document generation software. The solution offers on-premise, cloud-based, and hybrid deployment options.
Key features
- Extensive integrations with business systems (BPMs, CRMs, ECMs, document/risk management)
- Template-based document assembly with client data input through interviews
- Customizable templates with conditional text areas
- Cloud-based solution with offline access capability
Pros:
- Long-standing reputation in the industry
- Wide range of integrations
- Comprehensive template customization options
Cons:
- Complex set up
- The user interface is not as intuitive as its competitors
Pricing
Available on request
4. ClioDraft
Who is it for: Clio Draft (formerly Lawyaw) caters to solo practitioners, and small and mid-sized legal practices seeking a user-friendly document automation solution.
Clio Draft is renowned for its intuitive interface and minimal learning curve. Acquired by Clio, a legal software powerhouse for client management, casework, and billing, Clio Draft seamlessly integrates with their existing platform This makes it ideal for law firms seeking a straightforward document automation tool within a familiar ecosystem.
It is a cloud-based legal drafting software that transforms traditional document drafting by leveraging the power of automation.
Key features:
- Effortless template creation: The dedicated MS Word add-in empowers users to build and customize templates with a point-and-click approach. Clio Draft even allows for the reuse of elements like cards, fields, and logic chains from existing templates to expedite the creation of new ones.
- Pre-built library: Gain access to a comprehensive library of up-to-date court forms spanning across 50 US states, all included for free.
- Advanced customization: Clio Draft offers granular control over templates. Update pronouns, add or remove clauses, and adjust formatting to precisely tailor documents to each client's or case's specific needs.
- Streamlined e-signatures: Clio Draft integrates e-signature functionalities, allowing both clients and legal professionals to sign documents electronically, accelerating the overall process.
Pros:
- Seamless Integration with Clio Manage
- Efficient Template Creation through Element Reuse
- Low-Code Functionality for Easy Customization
Cons:
- Lacks Client-Facing Features
- No Guided Interviews Available
Pricing:
Clio Draft is charged based on seat and fillable court forms.
5. Gavel
Who is it for: It was founded by lawyers and purpose-built for lawyers and offers a short learning curve.
Gavel.io, formerly known as Documate, is a powerful and user-friendly no-code document automation software. Its standout feature is a Microsoft Word add-on that enables non-programmers to easily create and automate documents from scratch. It has a Word plug-in that makes automating existing templates a breeze. The software's versatility is extended through its native integrations with Clio (a legal practice management system), e-signature tools like HelloSign, and Zapier for connecting with a wide range of other applications.
Key features:
- AI-assisted workflow creation: An AI tool called Blueprint suggests workflows based on specific rules, streamlining the onboarding process.
- Template uploading: Users can easily import and automate their existing document templates.
- Marketplace: Sell or access paid and free white-labeled document templates and workflows.
Pros:
- A secure portal for clients is available
- Customer service team is responsive.
Cons:
- No pre-built template library
Pricing:
Gavel offers a free trial with a three-tier pricing plan
6. Knackly
Who is it for: Attorneys who create complex documents, such as those for estate planning, family law, and loan creation.
Knackly is an emerging player in the legal document automation software market, steadily gaining traction among legal professionals. This versatile platform assists in creating and automating a wide array of legal documents, including Bills of sale, Business proposals, Financial declarations, Litigation letters, Promissory notes, Wills, Regulatory agreements, Powers of attorney (POA), various types of contracts and more.
What sets Knackly apart is its innovative approach to document creation. The software enables law firms to significantly speed up their document preparation process by allowing clients to input their information through user-friendly, step-by-step online forms. This data is then seamlessly integrated into the appropriate documents for each stage of the client's case, saving time and reducing errors.
For firms looking to streamline their workflow, Knackly offers native integration with three popular case management systems: Clio, Filevine, and Curo365.
Key features:
- Reusable information: Knackly allows users to reuse information more easily and quickly than other solutions.
- Guided interviews: Knackly automates document creation using client responses to guided interviews. Its Intake Builder feature intelligently selects relevant questions for each document, saving time and minimizing errors.
- Conditional logic: Users can incorporate conditional logic into templates to ensure that the right questions are asked based on the template's logic.
Pros:
- Exceptional customer service
- Low-code features
- Offers Zapier integration
Cons:
- Complex set-up - there’s a bit of a learning curve
- Lacks native word editor
Pricing:
Knackly’s base plan is $100/per month for up to 4 users.
Putting it all together
As we've explored in this comprehensive review, the legal document generator software market offers a variety of powerful tools to streamline your document creation process.
When choosing the right software for your needs, consider:
- Your specific document types and complexity
- The level of automation you require
- Integration capabilities with your existing systems
- Ease of use for both your team and clients
- Pricing structure and how it aligns with your budget
Remember, the best choice will depend on your individual practice or business needs. Take advantage of free trials when available to get hands-on experience with these tools.
Ultimately, investing in the right legal document generator can significantly boost your efficiency, reduce errors, and allow you to focus more on serving your clients.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):
1. How can legal document generator software benefit my law practice?
These tools can save time, reduce errors, ensure consistency, and allow for easy customization of documents, ultimately improving efficiency and potentially reducing costs.
2. Are these software solutions secure enough for handling sensitive legal information?
Most legal document generators offer strong security measures such as encryption, access controls, secure data centers, and compliance certification. However, it's crucial to verify the specific security features and compliance certifications of any software you're considering.
3. How do I choose the right legal document generator for my needs?
Consider factors such as the types of documents you frequently create, automation capabilities, integration with your existing systems, ease of use, customization options, and pricing. It's often helpful to try demos or free trials before making a decision.
