The questions to ask to make documentautomation your firm’s competitive advantage 1.Does every document need drafting from scratch? 2.Which types of documents are prime candidates for automation? 3.Are your documents and systems organized in a way that supports 4.How do you ensure quality control across large volumes of documents? 5.How do you build client trust and satisfaction? 6.How should you address common challenges, measure ROI, andmaintain continuous improvement? Drafting legal documents has always been the breadand butter of legal work, but the more time you spend onthis type of task, the less you can devote to higher-valueactivities. Crafting documents from scratch each time,or relying on old and outdated templates, is laboriousand often delivers inconsistent or incorrect results. Slow accurately. Document automation tools can help youcapture and codify the knowledge embedded within your “Thomson Reuters documentautomation has saved us $7.9 millionin operating expenses in mostlyfixed-fee work. This is the amount oftime/money saved in billable time. In Even with complex documents, many law firms are realizingthat the “artisan” approach to drafting is not alwaysnecessary. By automating the drafting of documents yougenerate repeatedly, first drafts that meet your firm’s bestpractices could be ready in minutes instead of hours.This is because the documents are based on dynamic - Global Large Law Firm Not all contracts are suitable for document automation,especially if they are very detailed or unusual. However,many types of contracts and agreements are very similar,with only a few tweaks needed to tailor them to a client’srequirements. So, there’s often no need to reinvent the wheel. Given that lawyers typically spend more than half (56%)of their time drafting, according to research by ThomsonReuters®, giving them back even a small portion of theirday could make a significant difference in productivityand profitability. No wonder document automation toolsare gaining traction across many practice areas. If your When implementing any new software solution, planningand preparation are key. It’s important to carefully evaluatehow you can use it, determine where it will add the mostvalue, identify areas where it should not be used, and assess Accelerating work delivery provides better visibilityand predictability, helping you forecast your resources What practice areas are more likely to automate their documents? Document automation: a checklist Ask yourself:How frequently do you create the same(or very similar) documents, and how much do they changeeach time? What tasks do your lawyers spend the mosttime on, and are they able to focus on legal work theyenjoy? How much time are your lawyers currently spendingon drafting new documents? How long is the response 1.Does every document need drafting from scratch? How often have your lawyers started drafting a document ora template from scratch and thought, “Haven’t I done this athousand times already?” Have you and your team ever felt HighQ users report that they cangenerate first drafts of documentsup to72% fasterfrom a single 2.Which types of documents are prime candidates It’s important to assess carefully which types of documentsare suitable for automation and which are not. Then startwith those that are going to be the easiest to replicate and/or that your firm is creating most frequently. Focus first onareas where there is scope for standardization, documents 2024 Thomson Reuters HighQ Customer ROI Report When lawyers are repeatedly creating similar documentssuch as contracts or putting together a suite of documentsusing the same details — for example, leases andrelated agreements involving the same parties — it canbe frustrating and dull. That time could be better spenton more fulfilling, value-adding work. When clients are Think about which documents require the most consistentoutput, for example because they are high risk or becausematter requirements rarely change. Identify whichdocuments are required at volume and prioritize those that By automating the document creation process, the volumeof mundane tasks will be reduced, and lawyers can focuson more important, challenging, and satisfying work. Thisleads to better client service and experiences. Clientsare not interested in the process; they’re concerned withthe quality of the result and the efficiency with which it “We are building in automation andtemplates, wherever we can. Weare working on 10% margins; it isimperative that we find cost saving You’ll also have happier lawyers as they’ll be able toconcentrate on the work that really makes a difference andbuild up their skills faster by undertaking a broader rangeof tasks. And if guidance and best practices are embedded - Mid-sized law firm This means that document management and documentautomation solutions — as well as other key technologiessuch as practice or matter management systems orcollaboration tools — must b