More time on the file, less on the paperwork around it.
Small law practices lose hours to intake, filing and follow-up that no one bills for. The work is repeatable and rule-based, which makes it a good fit for careful automation, as long as confidentiality and professional judgment stay with the lawyer.
Where the hours go
- Collecting the same information from every new enquiry
- Filing emails and attachments to the right matter
- Chasing clients for documents and signatures
- Rebuilding time entries and invoices from scattered notes
What stays with a person
A lawyer decides how to handle every matter, reviews every document and communication that goes out, and checks any date or deadline. Automation can remind, but it is not the system of record for deadlines.
What I would automate first
Enquiry intake
A structured form will collect the basics and send a clean summary to a person. It only gathers information and does not give legal advice.
Matter filing
Emails and attachments are saved against the right matter automatically, so the file is complete without manual forwarding.
Client requests and reminders
Missing documents and signatures are requested once, with polite reminders and an alert to your team if something stays open.
Billing support
Draft time entries and invoices assembled from your own records, for a lawyer to review and approve.
Built on your tools
Most firms like yours already use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, plus an accounting, practice or project tool. I work with what you have. I use an open workflow tool, n8n, running on your own server or instance, to connect them. Where AI helps, I use the AI service your firm already has access to, or one that fits your data policy.
Care with client information
Client information can be privileged. I use minimum access, keep data inside systems you have approved, and will work within your law society's guidance on technology and confidentiality. You decide which tools are approved for which purposes.
Start with an assessment.
A fixed-price, two-week look at how your firm works, ending with a written, prioritized plan. The price is $2,000 CAD, credited toward a build.
Ask about an assessment