As of 2024, more than 65% of mid-sized and large law firms around the world have adopted automation tools in their day-to-day operations. If your team hasn’t made that shift yet, you’re not exactly behind, but you are working harder than you need to.

Legal work never slows down. There are more clients to manage, more documents to draft, and more deadlines to hit. But here’s something that you should know: not every task on your plate needs a human touch. Some of it can (and should) run on its own.

Legal automation tools are built for exactly that. They handle the repeat stuff and keep things moving in the background. In essence, they get rid of the need to build complicated systems or hire extra hands.

If you're tired of menial tasks that take up too many hours of your day, this guide is for you. Let’s talk about what legal automation really means and walk through the tools that can actually make your day easier.

What Does Legal Automation Mean?

Business automation uses software to handle repeat tasks that don’t need much thought, like sending emails or processing simple requests. These tools often rely on templates, triggers, and integrations between systems. Some include AI to make suggestions or sort through large amounts of data.

Legal automation works the same way but focuses on legal work. For example, instead of a blank Word doc and hours of manual editing, lawyers can use document templates that auto-fill based on client data.

Intake forms can collect information and kick off workflows without any back-and-forth. Even contract review can be partly automated by, for example, flagging key terms for faster decision-making.

Of course, the goal isn’t to replace anyone. It’s to save time, cut down on mistakes, and let legal teams focus on higher-value tasks.

7 Best Legal Automation Tools to Add to Your Current Tech Stack

Not every tool lives up to the hype. Some sound good on paper but don’t actually make your day any easier. The ones that matter are the ones that save time, reduce mistakes, and actually fit into how your team works.

Below are tools that do just that, each one built to handle a specific part of legal work:

1. Contract Lifecycle Management: Aline

Aline is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform that helps legal, sales, and finance teams work together on contracts while minimizing the typical delays. It handles everything from contract drafting and negotiating to signing and tracking, all in one easy-to-use platform.

Unlike other tools that only focus on one step, Aline gives you full control over the entire contract process without relying on Word, DocuSign, or scattered email threads.

Essentially, it’s designed for fast-moving teams that deal with lots of contracts and want to save time without sacrificing quality. With AI doing the heavy lifting, Aline helps reduce the back-and-forth and speeds up approvals so deals can close quickly and smoothly.

Key Features

• AI-assisted drafting and redlining: Aline AI reviews, edits, and suggests changes to contract language based on your playbook to help you cut review time by up to 90%.
• AlineSign: A built-in, unlimited electronic signature tool that lets you send and sign contracts without leaving the platform. No extra software or logins required.
• No-code template builder: Create and update dynamic contract templates without needing a developer or IT help. Legal, sales, and HR departments can all generate consistent documents in minutes.
• AI Repository: A searchable, organized contract database that gives you instant access to key clauses, terms, and past agreements. It's perfect for audits, reporting, or just finding what you need fast.
• Automated compliance workflows: Set up rules and approval paths so contracts follow your internal policies every time.
• Collaboration tools: Built-in commenting, sharing, and approval features let legal and business teams work on contracts together without sending files back and forth.
• Analytics and reporting: Track contract status, deal timelines, and negotiation trends to get better visibility into how your legal process is running.

Want to learn more? Start your trial with Aline today!

2. Legal Document Automation: HotDocs

HotDocs is a document automation software used by legal professionals to generate complex legal documents quickly and accurately. It replaces manual processes with smart templates that pull in the right information, which can reduce drafting time and the risk of errors.

If you’re constantly filling out the same forms like contracts, wills, NDAs, or client agreements, HotDocs can make that whole process faster and more consistent. Once a template is set up, users just answer a few questions, and the system fills in the rest.

This is especially useful for firms handling high volumes of routine paperwork or working with teams that need to standardize the legal document creation process across departments or offices.

Key Features

• Smart templates: Build reusable templates for complex legal documents that adjust based on your inputs.
• Answer-based document generation: Use a question-and-answer format to automatically populate key details and clauses.
• Integration support: Works with other systems so you can pull data directly from your CRM or case management platform.
• Reduced manual work: Cuts down on time spent copying and pasting, helping legal professionals move faster and avoid mistakes.

3. Legal Practice Management Software: Clio

Clio is a cloud-based legal practice management software that gives law firms and in-house legal teams one place to manage cases, tasks, communication, and billing. It pulls everything into a single platform, removing the need for multiple tools and making it easier to stay on top of everything.

Clio is known for its ease of use, which makes it a smart choice for users without a dedicated IT person. It’s also flexible enough to fit different practice sizes, from solo attorneys to larger legal departments.

With Clio, teams can automate routine tasks, stay on top of deadlines, and keep clients in the loop while getting rid of most of the admin work.

It’s one of the most widely used legal workflow automation tools on the market, and it continues to add features that meet the day-to-day needs of modern legal professionals.

Key Features

• Legal matter tracking: Keep all your case files, notes, contacts, and documents in one organized system.
• Client intake and communication tools: Create online intake forms and manage conversations in a secure, trackable way.
• Automated task management: Set task deadlines, reminders, and workflows to stay on schedule.
• Billing and invoicing: Log billable hours, create detailed invoices, and process payments, all within Clio.
• Cloud-based access: Work from anywhere without needing to sync files or rely on office hardware.

4. Legal Research Tool: LexisNexis

LexisNexis is a legal research platform that gives legal professionals access to case law, statutes, regulations, and legal commentary in a single platform.

It’s been a trusted name in the legal industry for decades, and today’s version adds automation, smart search features, and built-in tools to make research faster and easier.

Legal research can take hours, especially when digging through complex documents. LexisNexis cuts that time down by helping you find what you need in just a few clicks.

Plus, you don’t need technical expertise to use it; just enter your query, and the platform handles the rest, sorting through massive amounts of legal content and surfacing the most relevant results.

It’s useful for law firms, in-house legal teams, and anyone responsible for staying on top of legal changes or building solid case strategies.

Key Features

• Advanced legal search: Search across millions of cases, statutes, and secondary sources using natural language or Boolean terms.
• Shepard’s Citations: Check if a case is still good law and see how it’s been treated over time.
• Practice area filters: Narrow your results by jurisdiction, court level, topic, and more to get answers faster.
• Document analysis tools: Review complex legal documents with tools that highlight key language and flag potential issues.
• Research history tracking: Easily revisit previous searches and documents without starting from scratch.

5. E-Discovery: Relativity

Relativity is an e-discovery software that helps legal teams manage large volumes of digital evidence during investigations or litigation. When a case involves emails, chats, or files from multiple sources, Relativity helps sort, review, and organize everything in one secure platform.

It’s often used by law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies handling complex matters with a lot of data. Instead of digging through folders manually, you can set up automated workflows that flag relevant content, tag key documents, and filter out noise.

This not only speeds things up but also helps improve the overall client experience by delivering faster, more accurate legal services.

Plus, Relativity reduces the need for manual input, which lowers the chances of human error and helps you stay focused on what matters most in the case.

Key Features

• Automated data processing: Upload, process, and categorize your firm’s documents quickly with minimal manual steps.
• Advanced search and filtering: Find relevant information across large data sets using keywords, tags, and custom filters.
• AI-assisted review: Use built-in AI to identify patterns, prioritize documents, and reduce time spent on low-value reviews.
• Custom workflows: Set up automated steps to route documents, assign reviewers, and move cases forward efficiently.
• Secure collaboration: Work with internal teams or outside counsel on a shared platform with controlled access and audit trails.

6. Legal Intake and CRM: Lawmatics

Lawmatics is a legal intake and CRM platform that lets law offices manage leads, client communication, and follow-ups without getting stuck in manual tasks. It’s made to handle the early stages of the client journey through automation and smart tracking.

Many law firms still rely on emails, spreadsheets, or basic forms to manage legal requests. Lawmatics replaces those patchwork systems with automated client intake forms, scheduling tools, and templates for repetitive legal documents.

The result is faster response times, better organization, and a smoother experience for potential clients. Additionally, you won’t need a complex setup to get going, and the platform offers seamless integration with tools like Clio to make it easy to plug into your existing tech stack.

Key Features

• Custom client intake forms: Collect detailed client information online.
• Automated follow-ups: Set up email or text reminders based on status, timing, or actions so no lead goes unattended.
• CRM tracking: See where each potential client is in the pipeline and what communication has already happened.
• Document automation: Quickly generate repetitive legal documents using data collected through intake forms.
• Appointment scheduling: Let clients book meetings directly, avoiding time-consuming phone calls or manual calendars.

7. Billing and Time Tracking: Timesolv

TimeSolv is a billing and time tracking tool designed for law firms that want to spend less time on admin work and more time on strategic legal tasks.

Basically, it replaces the hassle of manual time logs and billing spreadsheets with a simple, organized system that tracks hours, creates invoices, and accepts payments all under one roof.

TimeSolv is also easy to use, making it a strong option for firms that want to avoid complex software setups. It supports both billable and non-billable time tracking, which makes it easier to see where your team’s energy is going and how much of it is spent on repetitive tasks.

The obvious benefits? Faster billing, fewer errors, and a clearer view of firm performance.

Key Features

• Time tracking: Log time as you work or enter it manually later, with flexible options for tracking legal tasks.
• Invoicing: Generate professional invoices with detailed time and expense breakdowns.
• Payment processing: Accept online payments directly through the platform for faster turnaround.
• Reporting and insights: Track billable hours, unpaid invoices, and revenue trends in a few clicks.
• Budgeting and planning tools: Set goals, monitor progress, and stay aligned with financial targets.

Why Aline Deserves a Spot in Your Legal Tech Stack

If you’ve made it this far, you already know legal automation is a practical shift in how law offices, in-house teams, and solo practitioners get work done. Whether you’re buried in client intake forms or constantly dealing with repetitive tasks, the right tools can truly make a difference.

We’ve looked at solid options across different categories, but Aline is the one to keep on your radar if contracts are a regular part of your workflow.

Having Aline in your tech stack is like having an AI legal assistant built into your team. From drafting to contract redlining, approvals to electronic signatures, Aline handles the full contract lifecycle while keeping things easy for your people

Working in family law? Handling business deals? Trying to keep approvals moving without delays? Aline’s got tools that genuinely help. No complex setup, no extra tech headaches. Just a cleaner, faster way to work.

If you’re ready to stop chasing contracts and start closing them faster, give Aline a try.

FAQs About Legal Automation Tools

What is the best legal automation software?

It depends on what you’re looking to automate. For contract automation, Aline is a top choice, offering AI-assisted contract review, easier contract execution, contract approval workflows, and built-in tools to sign documents and manage the full lifecycle. If you need legal document automation software for generating standardized templates, HotDocs is another strong option. The best tool is the one that actually reduces your manual workload and fits your firm’s workflow.

What are some examples of automation tools?

There are tools for nearly every part of legal work. Aline handles contract automation and execution. HotDocs automates document creation using templates. Clio manages legal tasks, client communication, and billing. Lawmatics takes care of intake and digital forms. Relativity speeds up discovery work with automation. These tools help legal teams spend less time on manual drafting and more time on strategic tasks.

What is automation in law?

Legal automation means using software to handle repeat legal tasks, like generating documents, sending client forms, routing approvals, or managing contracts. It reduces the need for manual drafting, improves accuracy, and keeps processes consistent with legal requirements.

How to automate a law firm?

Start by identifying where you spend too much time, such as drafting contracts, collecting client info, or tracking deadlines. Then, choose tools that handle those tasks automatically. Look for legal document automation software, contract automation tools, and platforms with built-in workflows. Many don’t require coding skills and come with standardized templates to make setup easy.

Can automation replace lawyers?

No, it’s there to support them. Automation takes care of the repetitive work, like generating finalized documents or routing them for signatures. That leaves lawyers more time for strategy, research, and client work that requires real expertise.

Is it hard to set up legal automation tools?

Most modern tools are built to be user-friendly, with drag-and-drop templates, guided forms, and integrations with other software. You don’t need coding skills to get started, and many platforms offer onboarding help so you can set up approval workflows, document management, and intake processes without stress.