Filling Station: How to Prepare Your Law Firm for Document Assembly

Most law firms that aren’t yet into it, want to get into document assembly – because they understand the advantages related to quicker document preparation = more work volume, or more time off. 

 

But, a lot of those potential document assembly users get caught in the starting blocks – because they don’t know to prepare toward the launch of a document assembly software.  If that sounds like you: here’s how to proceed. 

 

First, identify all of your document templates (or, precedents).  You know, the types of forms you create all the time.  Then, organize them in order, from most-used to least-used. 

Second, identify the fields, in each of those documents.  What is the information that you replace each time?  Names, dates, locations, etc. – that’s what the sofware’s going to fill in, moving forward. 

 

Third, identify the logic in each of those documents.  Those are the clauses that change, based on the client’s particular situation – that’s what the software going to determine (based on your, or your client’s, answers to questions), moving forward. 

 

Now, start with the most-used documents, and build down from there.  And, even if you’re not coding the documents yourself, there are contractors who can help with that process – and, that process will go a lot smoother (and, will be a whole lot cheaper), if you prepare in this wise. 

 

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If practice automation is in your future plans, reach out + we can talk it all over! 

Through a unique partnership between the bar association and Jared Correia's Red Cave Law Firm Consulting, National Creditors' Bar Association members have access to experienced law practice management consultants at a special discount rate.

To get started, visit Red Cave's NCBA landing page, and start running your law practice like a business.