# Law Firm Document Automation Readiness Checklist

Use this as a lead magnet draft for lawyers who are considering document automation but are not sure where to start.

## 1. Pick the first workflow

Start with one repeatable document set:

- Engagement letters and fee agreements
- Estate planning packets
- Family law intake and financial affidavit prep
- Immigration questionnaires and supporting-document packets
- Business formation documents
- Demand-package shells for PI or med-mal matters
- Closing letters, declination letters, and payment-plan notices

**Rule of thumb:** if the firm creates it at least monthly and copies from an old matter, it is a candidate.

## 2. Confirm the source data

Before choosing software, identify where the answers come from:

- Client intake form
- Internal staff questionnaire
- Attorney notes
- Existing matter fields in Clio, MyCase, Smokeball, Filevine, or another case system
- Uploaded documents
- Payment or engagement status

If the data is scattered, the first project is intake cleanup, not automation.

## 3. Score the workflow

Give each item a 1–5 score:

| Question | Score |
| --- | --- |
| How often do we create this document? |  |
| How much staff/attorney time does it take? |  |
| How damaging are errors or stale language? |  |
| How consistent are the questions and clauses? |  |
| How easy is it to test with old matters? |  |

Prioritize workflows with high volume, high pain, and predictable logic.

## 4. Clean the template first

Before building automation:

- Remove duplicate templates
- Confirm the current approved language
- Mark optional clauses
- Identify required client inputs
- Identify attorney-review points
- Decide who owns future changes

Automation makes good templates faster and bad templates faster too.

## 5. Choose the software fit

Use this shortlist logic:

- **Gavel:** client-facing questionnaires and custom legal document workflows.
- **Smokeball:** document automation inside a broader practice-management system.
- **WealthCounsel:** estate planning / elder law-specific drafting workflows.
- **Clio or MyCase templates:** firms that want lighter document workflows inside the main matter system.
- **Zapier / Make / Notion:** lightweight handoffs and internal checklists, not a substitute for secure legal drafting governance.

## 6. Pilot before rollout

Pilot plan:

1. Build one document or packet.
2. Test with three historical matters.
3. Have one attorney review output quality.
4. Have one staff member try the workflow without help.
5. Track time saved and corrections needed.
6. Only then expand to the next packet.

## 7. Questions to ask vendors

- Who owns template maintenance after setup?
- Can staff edit questionnaires without a developer?
- Can it pull matter data from our practice management system?
- How are drafts reviewed before sending to clients?
- Does it support e-signature or hand off cleanly to our e-signature tool?
- What happens when laws, clauses, or firm language change?
- How are client answers stored and protected?

## CTA draft

Want a practice-area-specific software shortlist? Visit LawyerSoftwareToolbox.com and choose your practice area before booking demos.