Legal template builders can be game-changers for businesses and individuals looking to quickly and affordably manage their legal affairs. With a legal form builder (also known as a contract template builder), people can create high-quality legal documents and access legal advice at a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer.
Benjamin Michael
Attorney, Michael & Associates
The following section will explore the advantages of using legal templates, how to get the most out of them, and how they compare to working directly with a lawyer.
Founder and CEO of LegalEase Citations, Ethan Isaacson, enumerates several reasons legal template builders are a must-have in the modern business world. “These legal document builders (contract template builders) streamline the work by automating paperwork and document assembly, making it easy for users to understand and complete the legal process.” Additionally, when templates are up-to-date and accurate, designed by professionals, they can reduce or even replace the need for lawyers in many cases.
Ethan Isaacson
Founder & CEO of LegalEase Citations
Legal document builders can help simplify and speed up the legal process. Having quick access to customizable templates makes it easy to draft documents, research laws, and create contracts. Andrew Pickett, trial attorney at Andrew Pickett Law, PLLC, says, “Legal template builders help streamline the legal process by providing access to ready-made documents that can be used as starting points for your work.”
Andrew Pickett
Owner at Andrew Pickett Law, PLLC
Additionally, some template-building websites have access to legal experts who can explain potential contracts in detail and advise on which template may best suit an individual’s needs.
According to Jessica Livingston, attorney and partner of Shipkevich PLLC, if the generated document is legally sound, then “the legal process of drafting and reviewing is streamlined in that no attorney time is required to review and draft the document.”
Benjamin Michael
Attorney, Michael & Associates
“Legal document generators provide many benefits over traditional legal services,” says Ben Michael, founder of Michael & Associates, Attorneys at Law. “For starters, they are much more affordable than hiring a lawyer, allowing small businesses and entrepreneurs to save on costly legal fees and access professional legal documents at a fraction of the price.”
Jessica Livingston
Attorney & Partner of Shipkevich PLLC
Not only do legal template builders allow small businesses and entrepreneurs to access professional legal documents at a fraction of the price, but lawyers themselves also use templates. According to attorney Bridgette Williams, these builders can “assist attorneys with drafting various documents for pre-litigation and during the litigation process.”
For example, she says, “Legal templates for items such as letters of representation or other motions may provide a basic shell for the starting point of each document.” So, contract template builders “help the attorney manage time around repetitive and always necessary tasks” and allow lawyers to focus on essential things.
Although legal document builders (or creators) can be beneficial, it is vital to use them correctly to get the best results. Ben Michael shares his three steps to master the work with any template:
First, ensure that you input all the information required by the builder; otherwise, the builder may not be able to generate an accurate template.
Second, take your time when filling out the builder form — rushed entries can lead to mistakes that may invalidate your template.
Third, review your template carefully before using it. Check thatif you are using the right template for your needs.
Some of the most crucial things to remember before and while working with a legal template builder include doing research, finding feedback, and performing a quality check.
Jessica Livingston explains the importance of preparation: to get the most out of a legal template builder, you need to spend enough of your own time doing your research. The more you know about the type of legal document at issue and the subject matter at hand, the less likely you are to make a mistake and produce a document that contains critical errors or omits key provisions which will harm you legally.
Jessica Livingston
Attorney, Partner of Shipkevich PLLC
Such “long” preparation is required only once when you are just getting acquainted with the system. This is what differentiates templates from lawyers — with templates, you need to spend time once, setting up and clarifying everything. Then it will take less than 10 minutes to print a new document.
There are hundreds of legal template builders available — another sign that the service is popular — so it may take time to find the right one. However, one of the most reliable options is to find reviews from real people or even attorneys who share their thoughts on template builders.
Andrew Pickett states that reviews are “helpful in finding a reliable builder that suits your needs ”as they provide insight into the quality of work and customer service.
Even though Ethan Isaacson uses and recommends a legal template builder, he reminds us not to forget to double-check all legal documents, even made with the most modern and accurate legal document builder.
Ethan Isaacson
Founder & CEO of LegalEase Citations
Jessica Livingston shares the same opinion. “Once you have generated a document, I recommend seeking an attorney’s advice before putting the customized document to use.” She also acknowledges that “the attorney should not need to spend as much time reviewing the document since you have already put in the time to do your research and document generation.”
Legal template builders are a great way to supplement your legal services in 2023. Utilizing these legal document template builders allows you to access pre-drafted and customizable documents, get valuable legal advice, and save money on costly legal fees — all without hiring an attorney. Services like Lawrina Templates allow people to eliminate the hassle of some of the traditional legal processes and maximize their time and money.
Inna Chumachenko is the Content Lead at Lawrina. She is responsible for managing all the content found on the blog, guides, and other website pages. Inna has a degree in philology and a vast interest in law. In her role at Lawrina, Inna oversees the content team, establishes collaborations with writers, and curates content from various contributors.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the content for Lawrina, please feel free to contact Inna directly via email at i.chumachenko@lawrina.org or connect with her on LinkedIn.