Using Document Automation Saves a Huge Amount of Lawyer Time
A survey just released by Epoq, the developer of the Rapidocs document automation system that is built-in to the DirectLaw virtual law firm platform provides support for the proposition that lawyers can save a huge amount of time in creating a first draft of a document by using a document automation system.
A time study was done for a will, power of attorney, and employment agreement. The amount of time saved range from 80 minutes for the will to 101 minutes for the employment agreement in terms of getting to a first draft.
The study refers to the Rapidocs LawDraft system as an intermediate step. The Rapidocs LawDraft system is the equivalent of the AttorneyWorkSpace functionality in the US version of the DirectLaw System.(DirectLaw is offered to law firms in both the US and the UK).
The AttorneyWorkSpace functionality enables a paralegal to type data into an on-line questionnaire from a client's paper intake questionnaire. This intermediate functionality also saves attorney time, but not nearly as much as the alternative of having the client type their own data into an online questionnaire through the web browser.
By restructuring the work process and work flow around a web-based interface, it is possible to enable the client to do part of the work. This results in a huge increase in productivity. The consequences could be lowering fees to clients, or increasing law firm profit margins. Non-law firm providers, such as LegalZoom and our own affiliated company, SmartLegalForms, are using document automation technology to create competitive advantage over law firms. Law firms need to catch up, or they will continue to lose market share to disrupters.
To download the entire survey, click here.
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