Document automation reduces the repetitive, time-consuming aspects of recycling previously used documents and forms. In the legal field, document automation is most commonly used to prepare fundamental legal documents—such as pleadings, letters, and contracts—where it eliminates the need to manually type (and retype) oft-recurring information. This information may include client names, addresses, or phone numbers, as well as dates and any other details that are repeated throughout the document. For small firms, who simply can’t stack up to large firms in total number of employees or available budget, document automation is even more valuable.
Reduced Labor Costs
Hiring additional employees to perform this monotonous task would hardly put a dent in the multi-million-dollar budget of a large firm. With a fraction of the budget, small firms are not afforded such a luxury. On the other hand, it would be inefficient for any existing members of a small firm’s already limited number of staff to allot several hours per day to manually performing this work. By utilizing document automation, small firms can produce more with less—increasing productivity and decreasing labor costs.
Avoid Common (and Embarrassing) Mistakes
Efficiency and cost-savings aside, perhaps the most attractive attribute of document automation is its elimination of human error. Document automation can’t guarantee a perfect result every time. However, it can significantly reduce common mistakes—inevitable for even the keenest of eyes after manually keying information for hours— such as failing to replace a previous client’s name and contact information or incorrectly dating the document. Avoiding common mistakes, especially in documentation, is a surefire way for small firms to appear professional to clients.
Introducing human error into your legal documents may not be the only common mistake your firm is making. Here are five other easily avoidable mistakes that small law firms make.
Increased Profitability
With a limited number of employees, small firms are restricted in the amount of work they can take on. By implementing a document automation system, and in turn decreasing the time it takes to prepare documents, your firm has the potential to take on more work than ever before. In addition to taking on an increased workload, document automation enables you to quickly carry out a previously tedious and time-consuming task, allowing jobs to be completed more rapidly. The quicker one job gets done, the quicker another can begin. In a field where time is money, document automation can considerably increase a small firm’s profitability.
For small firms, who may generate a high volume of standard, less complex documents, document automation offers a multitude of benefits. Eliminate the eye strains, headaches, and other pain points associated with manually preparing your legal documents. Get in touch with our consultants today to begin saving your firm time and increasing your profitability with document automation.
