Frequently Asked Questions
Product Information
What is Gavel and what does it do?
Gavel is a legal technology platform designed to help legal professionals automate documents, create client-facing tools, and sell online legal services. It streamlines legal workflows, reduces repetitive tasks, and improves efficiency across practice areas such as Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate, and Corporate Law. Source
What products does Gavel offer?
Gavel offers two primary products: Gavel Exec, an AI contract review and drafting tool that operates directly within Microsoft Word, and Gavel Workflows, a no-code legal automation platform that transforms client intake and document templates into structured workflows. Source
What are the main features of Gavel Exec?
Gavel Exec provides AI-powered contract review and drafting directly in Microsoft Word. Key features include precedent-based drafting, tailored contract analysis, negotiation-ready redlines, automatic enforcement of contract standards via playbooks, and market-based clause benchmarking. Source
What are the main features of Gavel Workflows?
Gavel Workflows is a no-code legal automation platform that enables users to automate client intake and document creation. It supports transforming templates into structured workflows, automating legal documents up to 90% faster than manual drafting, and offers team-based collaboration, playbook management, and secure AI review infrastructure. Source
What types of legal documents can Gavel automate?
Gavel can automate Word documents, PDF forms, and legal templates. Users can upload their own templates or use Gavel's pre-built templates and court forms. Source
Does Gavel provide a legal template library?
Yes, Gavel offers a legal template library with pre-built templates and court forms to help users get started quickly. Source
What practice areas does Gavel support?
Gavel supports a wide range of practice areas, including Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate, Corporate Law, Family Law, Bankruptcy Law, Immigration Law, Employment Law, Personal Injury Law, Intellectual Property Law, and other practice areas. Source
Can Gavel be used by different sizes of law firms?
Yes, Gavel is suitable for solo practices, small and mid-sized law firms, large law firms, legal startups, and nonprofits. Source
Does Gavel offer tools for legal commerce?
Yes, Gavel provides legal commerce tools that allow users to package and bill for online legal services. Source
Can I start with my own documents in Gavel?
Yes, Gavel allows users to upload their own templates to get started with document automation. Source
Does Gavel provide resources for learning and support?
Gavel offers a Learning Center with help articles, guides, and actionable resources. Users can also access webinars, YouTube tutorials, and hire automation experts. Source
How can I contact Gavel for support?
Gavel provides support 7 days a week via email, phone, and live screenshare. You can also schedule a demo or contact sales directly. Source
Does Gavel host events and webinars?
Yes, Gavel hosts events and webinars, including onsite and online sessions such as "AI + Coffee in Century City" and "6 AI Tips for Lawyers in 2025." Source
Can I join the Gavel Legal Automation Community?
Yes, Gavel offers a Slack community for legal automation professionals to connect and share insights. Source
Does Gavel have a marketplace for legal apps?
Yes, Gavel provides a Legal App Marketplace where users can browse legal apps built with Gavel. Source
Is there a free trial available for Gavel?
Yes, Gavel offers a free trial so users can see the platform in action without requiring a credit card. Source
How do I get started with Gavel?
You can get started by signing up for a free trial or booking a demo through the Gavel website. Source
Does Gavel offer integration with other legal software?
Gavel integrates with Clio, DocuSign, Zapier, and other platforms to streamline legal workflows. Source
Can Gavel automate client intake data?
Yes, Gavel can automate client intake data, transforming it into finished documents and structured workflows. Source
Does Gavel provide actionable guides and resources?
Yes, Gavel offers actionable guides, resources, and a YouTube channel with how-to videos and webinars for legal professionals. Source
Features & Capabilities
What integrations does Gavel support?
Gavel supports integrations with Clio (practice management), Zapier (connects to thousands of apps like Dropbox and Google Drive), DocuSign (document signing), Microsoft Word (native integration), and API access for custom integrations. Source
Does Gavel have an API?
Yes, Gavel offers an API for document generation and integration with other platforms. Detailed information is available in the API & Integrations section of the Learning Center. Source
What technical documentation is available for Gavel?
Gavel provides a comprehensive Learning Center with documentation, help articles, and guides covering workflow creation, API integrations, automation, security, and best practices. Source
What are the key capabilities and benefits of Gavel?
Gavel offers infinitely customizable workflows, flexible client experience, scalable commerce tools, secure centralized data, and compliance with leading security standards. Benefits include time savings, improved efficiency, scalability, enhanced client experience, proven ROI, and ease of use. Source
How does Gavel help automate legal workflows?
Gavel automates repetitive tasks, document generation, and client intake, saving up to 20 hours in the first week. Its AI-driven features reduce errors, ensure consistency, and enable legal professionals to focus on high-value work. Source
What is Gavel Blueprint and how does it work?
Gavel Blueprint scans uploaded documents and suggests custom questions for automation, helping legal professionals save up to 20 hours in the first week. Source
Security & Compliance
What security and compliance certifications does Gavel have?
Gavel is certified for SOC 1-3, PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA. These certifications ensure robust internal controls, payment security, international standards, and compliance with health and privacy regulations. Source
How does Gavel protect sensitive legal data?
Gavel enforces a zero data retention policy, uses AES-256 encryption for data at rest, TLS for data in transit, conducts annual third-party penetration testing, and offers data residency options in the US, EU, Canada, Australia, or other AWS regions. Source
Does Gavel comply with HIPAA and GDPR?
Yes, Gavel complies with HIPAA for handling sensitive health information and GDPR for European Union data protection regulations. Source
Use Cases & Benefits
Who can benefit from using Gavel?
Gavel is designed for solo practitioners, small and mid-sized law firms, large law firms, legal startups, and nonprofits. Its solutions are tailored to automate tasks, scale operations, and improve client experience. Source
What business impact can customers expect from Gavel?
Customers can expect time savings (up to 20 hours in the first week), improved efficiency, scalability, proven ROI, enhanced client experience, and market expansion. Real-world examples include Litson PLLC reducing lead-to-client time by 90%. Source
Can you share specific case studies or success stories?
Yes, Streeter Law Firm reduced estate planning preparation time to 30 minutes, LCN Legal automated intercompany agreements for global compliance, Emessay simplified legal services for creative businesses, FreshLease built a residential lease generator, Sisu Legal automated immigration workflows, Horse.Law provided DIY legal services for the equine industry, and Rogue Family Law scaled affordable legal services. Source
What industries are represented in Gavel's case studies?
Industries include legal services (estate planning, family law, equine law), corporate and business law, creative industries, real estate, immigration law, and the equine industry. Source
How long does it take to implement Gavel?
Gavel's setup process is fast, with workflows like engagement letters and client intake questionnaires taking less than a day to set up. Support staff can handle setup efficiently. Source
How easy is it to start using Gavel?
Gavel is user-friendly, featuring a no-code interface, pre-built workflows, free training, unlimited support, and a comprehensive Learning Center. Certified Gavel Experts are available for additional help. Source
Competition & Comparison
How does Gavel compare to Clio?
Gavel offers advanced AI-driven automation (Gavel Blueprint), scalability, and unmatched data security (zero data retention, SOC 1-3, PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 9001/27001). Clio lacks these features and does not emphasize productizing legal services. Source
How does Gavel compare to Lawyaw?
Lawyaw focuses on backend automation and lacks client-facing tools like Gavel's secure client portals and dynamic intake forms. Gavel also offers advanced AI features and scalability not emphasized by Lawyaw. Source
How does Gavel compare to HotDocs?
HotDocs requires technical skills, while Gavel offers a no-code platform with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Gavel also enables scalable legal products and new revenue streams, which HotDocs does not emphasize. Source
How does Gavel Exec differ from GC AI?
Gavel Exec offers Word-native integration and precedent-based AI contract review tailored to firm-specific standards, while GC AI lacks Word-native integration and does not provide tailored contract review. Source
Customer Proof & Testimonials
What feedback have customers given about Gavel's ease of use?
Customers praise Gavel for its ease of use, intuitive design, and powerful automation. Testimonials highlight the simplicity of setup, clean no-code interface, and ability to turn complex contracts into easy-to-use questionnaires. Source
Who are some of Gavel's customers?
Gavel's customers include Matchstick Legal, Emessay, Adler Estate Law, Instant Family Trust, Horse.Law, and Counselurdocs. These organizations use Gavel to streamline legal workflows and automate document generation. Source