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Best Legal Document Automation Software: 9 Tools Compared (2026)

Best Legal Document Automation Software: 9 Tools Compared (2026)

The best legal document automation software for law firms: Gavel Workflows, Knackly, Clio Draft, HotDocs and 5 more, with prices and trials.

By the team at Gavel
Published:  
Jul 7, 2023
|  Last updated:  
Nov 10, 2026
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Looking for the best legal document automation software in 2026? Our guide highlights top legal technology software solutions that save time, reduce human error, and enhance document creation efficiency for law firms. Our pick for most law firms is Gavel Workflows, a no-code builder that turns Word and PDF templates into client questionnaires, from $83 per month.

Short on time? Here are our top 9 document automation tools for lawyers in 2026:

  • Gavel Workflows: Best for overall, user-friendly legal document generation
  • Knackly: Best for small firms that author in Word and want setup help
  • Clio Draft (formerly Lawyaw): Best for lawyers who want a barebones document automation solution connected directly to Clio Manage, their case management tool
  • HotDocs: Best for legacy document automation users
  • Contract Express: Best for Practical Law subscribers and complex template programs
  • Smokeball: Best for small firms that want a large forms library in practice management
  • MyCase: Best for firms that want automation inside a per-user practice management plan
  • WealthCounsel: Best for trusts and estates and elder law practices
  • Rally: Best for business lawyers looking to automate part of the client experience

Three more tools fit narrower needs:

  • Docassemble: Best for teams with developers who want free, open-source software
  • Bryter: Best for building client-facing applications without documents
  • Briefpoint: Best for lawyers who want to automate discovery documents specifically

If you're a lawyer, then you don't need anyone to tell you how much time you waste on repetitive, tedious, but necessary tasks. What you need is a solution: a way to get all that time back and practice at the top of your license.

Document automation to the rescue. Document automation (aka document generation, document assembly, and legal workflow) software helps you streamline and standardize the document creation, modification, and replication process so you can save time and reduce the risk of human error. Any industry that deals with repetitive document drafting, like the legal industry, is a prime candidate for document automation software. Finding the right document automation software is integral to freeing up your brain power so you can focus on more important matters and improve profitability in your practice.

Here's how it works. Instead of going through all your forms and using find-and-replace to swap in your clients' info, you set up an easily fillable document template that you can send to your clients. Then, your clients can simply input their information themselves, and the document automation software will generate a clean, professional-looking form with your clients' info in all the right places. Believe it or not, this tech-enabled process can save you up to 20 hours per week, freeing you up to work on more engaging and challenging tasks.

Document automation software is an essential tool in the modern lawyer's toolbox, but with so many options on the market, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for your firm.

We've created this guide to make that search easy for you. In this list, you'll find the 9 best document automation tools for lawyers, organized by use case, plus three more for narrower needs. As we put together this list, we prioritized highlighting the best cloud-based document automation software, ranking them by ease of use, user interface, client intake, document templates, document management, and the number of practice areas each tool caters to. We'll share where legal document automation software shines, as well as top choices for attorneys and law firms across various practice areas. We compared the nine on template building, client questionnaires, integrations, published price and free trial, using each vendor's own website.

Key takeaways

  • Gavel Workflows is our pick for most firms. It runs in the browser, gives clients an intake portal and automates Word and PDF templates, from $83 per month, with a 7-day free trial and no credit card.
  • Gavel Workflows, Knackly (from $250 per month for 4 users), MyCase (Advanced Document Automation on the $130 per user per month Advanced plan, billed annually) and Rally (from $99 per month) publish prices. Clio Draft, HotDocs Advance, Contract Express, WealthCounsel and Smokeball's United States (US) site quote through sales.
  • Client intake is the biggest practical difference. Gavel Workflows, Knackly, Clio Draft, Rally, HotDocs and Contract Express can all have clients answer questions that fill the documents; MyCase offers intake forms on Pro and Advanced, and WealthCounsel includes Client Intake on its higher memberships.
  • Firms already on Clio Manage, MyCase or Smokeball can compare the automation sold with that system against a standalone tool. Gavel Workflows and Knackly both connect to Clio.
  • Free trials run 7 days for Gavel Workflows and 10 days for MyCase, neither requiring a credit card. Bryter offers free trials without stating a length, and most of the other tools start with a demo. Docassemble is free open-source software.

Last checked November 5, 2026. Gavel makes Gavel Workflows and publishes this guide. Competitor facts are taken from each vendor's website unless we name another source. Vendors change plans and prices often, so confirm terms before you buy.

A quick note before we start: document automation vs case management software

Case management and legal practice management software are becoming increasingly popular, and since many legal management tools also offer document automation features, it can be easy to mix them up. Here's a quick overview of how they differ:

  • Case management and legal practice management software help you manage and keep track of various parts of your job. They offer features like document management, time tracking, billing, calendaring, and client management. Some case management software will include some document automation features, but not all.
  • Document automation software helps you automate repetitive tasks by creating document and form templates that can be quickly filled out by your clients.

Some case management software integrates with document automation software and vice versa. Gavel, for example, is a document automation tool that integrates with case management software, like Clio, so you can easily import the information you gather via your documents into your favorite case management tool.

The key thing to remember here is that while there may be some crossover in certain cases, these are two entirely different classes of tools.

How do the best legal document automation tools compare?

The nine tools differ most in who builds the templates, whether clients answer the questions themselves and how much the vendor publishes about price. The table sets those side by side.

From each vendor's website, last checked November 5, 2026. "Not published" means the vendor quotes through sales.
ToolBest forHow templates are builtClient intakePublished priceFree trial
Gavel WorkflowsMost firms: client intake plus Word and PDF automationNo-code browser builder, Word add-in, Gavel Blueprint drafts workflows from uploaded documentsClient portal with guided questionnairesFrom $83 per month (Lite); Pro $290 per month7 days, no credit card
KnacklySmall firms that author in Word and want setup helpKnackly Word Designer add-in for Microsoft WordClient-facing questionnairesStarter $250 per month for 4 users ($209 per month paid yearly)None listed on pricing page; 30-minute demo
Clio DraftClio Manage firms that file court formsBuilt-in AI converts Word documents; template builder add-in for desktop WordShareable questionnaire linksNot publishedDemo
HotDocsLarge organizations with complex, high-volume templatesHotDocs Author on Windows, uploaded to HotDocs AdvanceInterviews can gather data from external clientsHotDocs Advance not publishedDemo
Contract ExpressLaw firms and in-house teams, especially Practical Law subscribersAI-powered authoring tool; Contract Express Author Word add-inClient dashboards and emailed questionnaire linksNot publishedDemo
SmokeballSmall firms that want a large forms library in practice management20,000+ vendor templates; TemplateLab experts build custom onesIntake on Prosper+, add-on on Boost and GrowNot published in the United StatesDemo
MyCaseFirms that want automation inside a per-user practice management planTurns Word documents into reusable templatesOnline intake forms on Pro and AdvancedPro: $100 a user per month, annual billing; Advanced: $13010 days, no credit card
WealthCounselEstate planning and elder law attorneysVendor-built interactive templates driven by guided questionsClient Intake on higher membershipsNot published; priced by users and productsDemo; 90-day trial for New Law Business Model members
RallyBusiness law firms that sell flat-fee services onlineDo-it-yourself template builder; concierge on PremiumClient intake and questionnaires on every planLITE from $99 per month for 1 user licenseLaw firm plans: product tour and demo

Gavel makes Gavel Workflows, so we list it first. The other eight run from standalone tools (Knackly, Clio Draft, HotDocs, Contract Express) to automation inside practice management software (Smokeball, MyCase) and practice-specific tools (WealthCounsel, Rally). For definitions, see what is document automation.

Key Benefits of Document Automation Software for Lawyers

Lawyers are prime candidates for document automation software. It's an impactful value-add to any legal business for a few key reasons:

  • Greater consistency and fewer errors: Standardized templates and automated documents ensure that correct contract language, provisions, and references are baked into the document, creating consistency across client deliverables and reducing errors and time spent reviewing prepared documents. Standardized templates also prevent the need for lawyers to create and recreate piecemeal documents from various sources.
  • Time savings: Manual document drafting using control+F to find and replace text is cumbersome and time-consuming. Document automation software eliminates the complicated process of manually scanning documents and replacing sensitive client information.
  • Empower attorneys to assist in document drafting: Document automation systems empower junior attorneys and staff with the necessary language and tools to prepare complex legal documents. More senior attorneys can then quickly review document inputs, leaving them with more time to spend on other high-level, strategic tasks.
  • Knowledge repository: Institutional knowledge and expertise can be baked into templates, removing the need to rely on the specific knowledge and know-how of a select few individuals. Data in documents is collected by and retained within the system to allow firms to leverage their collective expertise and experience to share trends or advise clients on best strategies or timing.
  • Improve client experience: With the ability to more quickly and efficiently prepare documents, document automation software can drastically improve the client experience. Once automated templates are created, self-service portals allow clients to generate and use documents in just minutes.
  • Manage complex workflows: Document automation tools allow lawyers to automate complex workflows, from creating and populating documents to sending for review and approval and collecting signatures, often all within one platform.

Gavel has afforded these and many more benefits to its users through its software. For example:

  • Streeter Law Firm harnessed the power of Gavel's automation platform to build a streamlined process for estate planning. The firm can now create comprehensive estate plans in just 30 minutes, allowing clients to quickly and confidently secure their future.
  • Litson PLLC transformed its lead conversion process with Gavel's automation tools, reducing the time from lead to client by 90%. The firm now delivers faster, more responsive service, giving clients a seamless experience from the first consultation to the resolution.
  • Rogue Family Law used Gavel to streamline its document creation processes, resulting in significant cost savings for clients. By automating routine legal tasks, the firm helped families save thousands in legal fees while delivering faster and more efficient services.
  • Matchstick Legal leveraged Gavel's no-code document automation platform to build Emessay, legal tech software to help small and growing creative businesses create personalized key contracts by answering a handful of key questions.
  • Sisu Legal, an immigration firm, used Gavel to automate the client intake and reference letter creation process, along with numerous other workflows. This helped them save time and build a better user experience for their clients, who were already undergoing the stressful process of obtaining immigration status in the US and Canada.
  • Sukhi Dhillon Alberga halved shareholder agreement time with Counselurdocs, built on Gavel.

What to Look for in Document Automation Software

When you're evaluating whether a document automation software is right for you, ask yourself these questions:

  • What industries or practice areas does this tool cater to? While law is particularly ripe for document automation, other industries can benefit as well, so not all document automation software is built with lawyers in mind. Gavel, for example, is built by lawyers for lawyers, whereas HotDocs is aimed at financial services firms, corporate legal departments, insurance firms, and government organizations in addition to lawyers. Some document automation software is designed for lawyers, but with only one specific area in mind: Briefpoint is built for discovery documents in particular, for example.
  • Does this tool focus on document automation or is it just part of a larger suite of features? Some tools, like Clio and Smokeball, feature document automation capabilities as part of a larger suite of legal tools. Other tools, like Gavel and Briefpoint, are designed specifically for document automation. Tools that are built precisely for document automation will generally perform better in that area.
  • Is coding required? Some document automation tools require coding. Gavel offers a no-code document automation solution that's built around an intuitive visual editor, but in other tools, like HotDocs, users write out code in a scripting language to get their more complex templates working.
  • Does this tool have a pre-built library of document templates? Tools with a large library of document automation templates, like Gavel, can help you get up and running faster.
  • Are there any AI features? AI is becoming more common in legal software. Gavel Blueprint, for example, uses AI to generate document automation templates from your pre-existing documents, cutting down on start-up time.
  • What integrations does this tool have? Modern lawyers need to use a variety of different tools to stay competitive, and things run smoothest when all your tools can talk to each other. Check whether the software you're looking at integrates with the tools you're already using (or plan to use in the future).

Best Document Automation Software for Legal Professionals

These nine tools cover what most law firms shortlist. Each entry gives the buyer it fits, how templates and questionnaires work, integrations, price and trial by plan, security where the vendor states it, and its limits.

1. Gavel Workflows: Industry-Leading Legal Document Automation Software

Gavel Workflows legal document automation software

Best for: firms, legal aid groups and legal teams that turn client information into the same kinds of documents again and again and want to set that up in a browser, without code.

Gavel is the premier document automation tool for the legal industry. It's built by lawyers, for lawyers. In fact, everyone on the customer team at Gavel is either a former lawyer or a legal professional.

Gavel Workflows is a no-code legal document automation tool that runs in the browser with no download required. One set of answers produces a complete document set. Gavel, formerly Documate, was founded in 2019, serves over 2,000 legal organizations across 28 countries and was acquired by Relativity in 2026.

Gavel excels because it blends simplicity and power: it's easy to set up, but it contains all the powerful logic you'll need to set up the most complex documents. As Michael Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Smith Barid, LLC (and a Gavel user), said, "Love the simplicity of setup and the complexity of opportunities."

With Gavel, you can:

  1. Automate your own templates and forms from scratch
  2. Use the Gavel Marketplace to find relevant templates, built by other Gavel clients, and complete those templates to churn out completed contracts
  3. Customize a pre-built workflow, allowing lawyers to forego creating a template from scratch and simply edit the existing template to make it unique to their needs in the practice areas of estate planning, probate law, and family law.

Gavel's simple UI makes creating your own templates easy. Even the most complex and powerful automation features, like conditional logic, complex branching, lists and nested repeating items, and advanced calculations, are implemented in intuitive and easy-to-use ways within the visual editor.

Both Word and PDF documents (including court and judicial forms) can be automated and generated through Gavel via its cloud-based portal and Microsoft Word add-on. Gavel also facilitates e-signature collection and centralized data and document storage and integrates with Clio, Docusign, Stripe, and Zapier. It also has a Public API. Gavel's integrations also include LegalServer and DecisionVault.

Clients can access the automated document workflows through a portal created for specific clients, or you can integrate these workflows into your website. Each instance of Gavel can also be custom branded with your law firm's logo and brand instead of Gavel's: a bespoke solution for your firm.

To guide new automators along, Gavel provides a comprehensive Learning Center and unlimited live customer support. But if you prefer to leave the workflow and document building to the experts, Gavel also has a team of vetted freelancers available for hire by the hour.

  • How templates are built: a visual builder, a Microsoft Word add-in that tags fields in your drafts, and Gavel Blueprint, which uses AI to draft a workflow from Word files and fillable PDFs you upload, for you to review and approve.
  • Price and trial: from $83 per month, with a 7-day free trial and no credit card. That entry price is the Lite plan: one builder, 10 workflows and the Clio connection. The $290-a-month Pro plan has two builder seats plus three org user seats, Docusign, Stripe payments, your own domain and the legal template library of templates and court forms. Paying annually gives you 2 months free (compare plans).
  • Support: phone, screen share and email support on every plan, and Gavel Experts who build workflows for you from $35 per hour.
  • Security: an isolated database and subdomain for each customer, 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption at rest in Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers and an annual outside penetration test (security details).

Gavel's clients agree that Gavel leads the industry, as expressed by Condreda Presley: "This is the most innovative and comprehensive form automation tool that I am aware of on the market today! To create documents and apps with little to no coding experience is a game changer!!" and "[it] changed the way I run my practice".

Here are some sample use cases where Gavel's software shines:

  • Client intake
  • Different types of document templates and pre-built court forms
  • Estate planning documents
  • Family law documents
  • Formation documents
  • NDAs
  • Statements of work
  • Leases
  • Integrates with document management systems like Clio Manage

Pros

  • Rated 4.7 on Lawyerist and #1 on Capterra, where it scores 4.9 out of 5 from 51 reviews (Capterra reviews)
  • Simple, easy-to-navigate UI
  • Powerful document automation features, including conditional logic, complex branching, lists, and nested workflows
  • AI-enabled workflow building
  • Pre-built court forms and document templates
  • Unlimited live customer support and learning center
  • Client-facing tools, including guided interviews and portals to access and manage data
  • Zapier, Clio, Docusign, Stripe, and Office 365 integrations
  • Can automate both Microsoft Word and PDF documents
  • Legal commerce tools for selling online legal services
  • Custom domain

Cons

  • Not all features available in Lite (basic) tier, which stops at one builder and 10 workflows
  • API access is available only at higher pricing tiers (the Scale plan, which starts at $417 a month on annual billing)

Gavel offers a free 7-day trial. Prefer to speak to someone? Schedule a demo here.

2. Knackly: Best for Small Firms That Author in Word and Want Setup Help

Best for: solo and small firms in family law, estate planning, probate and litigation that want to build templates inside Microsoft Word.

Knackly builds templates in Word through its Knackly Word Designer add-in, and they run from an online workspace. Clients fill out "guided, step-by-step forms" on a personal computer, Mac, tablet or phone, the answers go straight into the documents, and one case can produce multiple Word and PDF documents. Knackly also publishes a guide to converting HotDocs templates.

  • Price: the Starter plan costs $250 a month ($209 a month on a yearly plan) and covers 4 users and 400 new records or clients each month. Done For You, at $500 a month ($417 yearly), adds up to 3 hours of automation work by Knackly's team each month (40 hours a year if billed yearly). Professional costs $1,000 a month ($834 yearly) for API access and 12 users.
  • Terms and onboarding: no contracts or setup fees, and plans run month to month. Starter connects to Clio, Zapier and OneDrive, includes a one-on-one expert session each month, and Knackly will automate your first document.
  • Security: Knackly lists encryption on AWS, automatic backups and access controls by role.
  • Trial: no free trial appears on its pricing page; you can book a 30-minute live demo.

Limits: API access comes only with Professional, and extra users cost $40 a month ($50 on Professional).

See Knackly vs Gavel Workflows and Knackly vs HotDocs.

3. Clio Draft (formerly Lawyaw): Best for Clio Manage Firms That File Court Forms

Clio Draft document automation from Clio

Best for: Clio Manage users, particularly in practice areas heavy on court filings.

Clio Draft (formerly Lawyaw) is an easy-to-use automation tool, largely geared toward lawyers who want a simple and barebones document automation solution. Overall, Clio's core business is law practice management software, with Clio Draft as its separate document automation product. That said, although it is light on features, its intuitive interface and short learning curve allow lawyers to start building key templates right in Microsoft Word with minimal startup time.

Clio Draft is the document automation product Clio sells alongside Clio Manage. Clio bought Lawyaw in 2021 and gave it the Clio Draft name in 2024, as LawNext reported on February 14, 2024. On October 26, 2026, Clio launched drafting, document automation and court forms in Clio Work, its AI workspace, with a court forms library it puts at more than 45,000 state, local and USCIS forms. Clio's Draft product page now redirects to Clio Work.

Clio Draft's key feature is its up-to-date library of official jurisdiction-specific court forms, which can be populated with client-specific information, making it a win for litigation-focused attorneys. If you require more custom solutions, its built-in AI can also convert your own Microsoft Word documents into templates. Clio Draft allows for the reuse of fields from prior templates to quickly create new templates. Once ready to generate, users can create sets of documents through a single process.

E-signature integration allows users to send documents for electronic signatures right from within the tool. However, Clio's Clio Draft page doesn't describe client portals for clients to share and manage their data.

  • Client intake: AI-powered questionnaires adapt to each client's answers, go out as a shareable link that works on any device, and save back to the matter.
  • Where it runs: Clio Draft itself runs in a browser; the template builder is an add-in for the desktop version of Word on Windows or Mac, Office 2016 or newer, and signing is built in.
  • Price and trial: not published. Clio does not publicly list pricing for Clio Work, where Clio Draft's drafting tools now live. Clio's main pricing page offers a 7-day free trial of Clio plans, with no credit card, and doesn't list Clio Draft.
  • Security: Clio says it maintains SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications, encrypts data in transit and at rest, and includes two-factor authentication.

Pros

  • Simple, easy-to-use interface
  • Library of jurisdiction-specific court forms
  • Reuse of template elements to create new templates

Cons

  • No client portal described on its product page
  • Priced separately from Clio Manage, with no published price
  • Building templates from scratch or editing converted ones needs the desktop Word add-in

See Clio Draft vs Gavel Workflows.

4. HotDocs: Legacy Document Automation Software for Desktop and Cloud

HotDocs document automation from Mitratech

Best for: large firms, insurers and enterprise legal teams with big template libraries and jurisdiction-specific rules.

HotDocs is one of the oldest and best-known document automation solutions, offering services for a variety of use cases, including financial services, government, insurance, and law. Its legacy is both its strongest and weakest point: like a lot of other legacy software, HotDocs is a bit clunky compared to newer options, and in our view it largely keeps its market share due to the time investment that would be required for firms to switch over to a new platform.

Mitratech announced its acquisition of HotDocs on June 10, 2024 (press release), and its HotDocs page says over a million end users across more than 60 countries have relied on it for more than 30 years. Authors build templates in HotDocs Author and upload them to the HotDocs Advance web application, which runs interviews and assembles documents.

In fact, to build complex templates in HotDocs, you'll need to be comfortable with some basic coding. Mitratech describes "no-code configuration so subject matter experts (not developers) can build and manage document templates," but HotDocs uses a proprietary coding language called HotDocs Scripting Language for scripts in computations and dialogs, and you'll have to master its syntax to get the most out of the tool. Customer support assistance requires an extra fee (an optional Maintenance and Support plan at 25% of the retail price, paid annually, for licensed HotDocs products), so you shouldn't plan on relying on that for coding help.

For attorneys focused on complex legal document generation, HotDocs offers conditional and nested logic, the ability to generate multiple documents, dynamic questionnaires to populate templates, and the ability to gather and process lists. HotDocs integrates with key law firm software, including CRM and matter management systems, through an open API, but Mitratech's HotDocs pages list no e-signature integration.

  • Authoring: according to its system requirements page, HotDocs Author runs on Windows 11 and works with Word 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024.
  • Client intake: interviews can gather data from users, including external clients.
  • Deployment: cloud, desktop and hybrid environments, with an open API for integrations.
  • Price and trial: HotDocs Advance has no public price list, and Mitratech's HotDocs product and demo pages offer a demo with no free trial mentioned. Mitratech's HotDocs pricing post lists Developer at $800 per license and User at $330 per license, both one-time fees, and Document Services from $99 per month for 1 to 5 users; it doesn't cover HotDocs Advance.

Overall, HotDocs is a tool that has worked and continues to work well for many firms, but unless you already have significant experience with HotDocs and are deep in its ecosystem, there are better options out there.

Pros

  • Powerful document automation capabilities (logic, nested repeating items, etc.)
  • Can be used across industries
  • Integrates with law firm software, such as CRM and matter management systems, through an open API

Cons

  • Complex document generation requires coding expertise and understanding of HotDocs Scripting Language
  • Support on licensed HotDocs products requires a paid Maintenance and Support plan
  • No e-signature integration listed on Mitratech's HotDocs pages
  • Template authoring requires Windows, and HotDocs Advance pricing is quoted through sales

See HotDocs vs Gavel Workflows and the full list of HotDocs alternatives.

5. Contract Express: Best for Practical Law Subscribers and Complex Template Programs

Best for: law firms, in-house counsel and government teams with complex contract sets, especially Practical Law subscribers.

Thomson Reuters sells Contract Express for contract and document automation. Authors work in what Thomson Reuters calls its "proprietary, AI-powered authoring tool," a guided questionnaire can produce one document or a full suite, and anyone with a Practical Law subscription gets Practical Law templates already automated. In an October 3, 2024 post, Thomson Reuters said generative AI now writes template code for customers on Contract Express Cloud and HighQ.

  • Authoring: An undated Thomson Reuters UK and Ireland law firm brochure describes Contract Express Author as a Microsoft Word add-in, and an AI chat assistant offers code suggestions.
  • Client access: per that brochure, clients can complete questionnaires on user-specific dashboards or from an emailed link.
  • Integrations: Microsoft Word, Excel and iSheets on the product page; DocuSign, iManage, NetDocuments and HighQ in the brochure. The US product and features pages don't list the brochure's integrations.
  • Price and trial: Thomson Reuters lists no prices and offers a free demo.

Limits: buying starts with a sales conversation, and the Practical Law templates and some integrations each require their own subscription.

See Contract Express vs Gavel Workflows.

6. Smokeball: Best for Small Firms That Want a Large Forms Library Inside Practice Management

Best for: solo practices and small firms looking for a big court-forms library inside the system they use for matters and billing.

Smokeball is practice management software "designed for solo lawyers, small law firms, and growing legal teams" and says 34,000+ legal professionals use it. Its TemplateLab automation draws on "over 20,000 form and document templates, built and maintained by our in-house legal experts," including jurisdictional court and agency forms, and matter details fill every document. TemplateLab specialists also build custom templates with your firm.

  • Plans: Bill, Boost, Grow and Prosper+. Advanced document automation and automated forms first appear on Grow; Prosper+ adds Intake and AutoTime, and Intake is an add-on for Boost and Grow.
  • Word and AI: Smokeball says it works closely with Word and Outlook, and its Archie AI assistant works inside each matter to draft, review and answer questions.
  • Security: ISO 27001 certified, hosted on AWS.
  • Price and trial: not published on its US site, where the price depends on headcount, plan, contract length and any optional products. Its US pricing page and homepage offer a demo and quote with no free trial listed.

Limits: document automation starts on Grow and comes as part of a full practice management subscription.

See how Smokeball compares with other practice management systems in our Clio alternatives roundup.

7. MyCase: Best for Firms That Want Automation in a Per-User Practice Management Plan

Best for: small firms that would rather run intake, billing, e-signature and document generation from one subscription.

MyCase, branded 8am MyCase on its homepage, says 19,000+ firms use it. Pro includes Document Generation with Word-based templates, and Advanced adds Advanced Document Automation, which turns Word documents "into smart, reusable templates" that auto-fill case and client data. Its homepage says templates fill in from what intake has already gathered, and its Advanced Document Automation page says documents can be routed for e-signature without leaving MyCase.

  • Price: Pro costs $100 a user per month on annual billing ($120 monthly), and Advanced costs $130 a user per month on annual billing ($150 monthly).
  • Client intake: customizable online intake forms and a client portal on Pro and Advanced.
  • Trial: 10 days free; no credit card needed.
  • Security: 256-bit AES encryption for stored data in Amazon facilities, with nightly backups to Amazon S3.

Limits: Advanced Document Automation is only on Advanced, priced per user for the full practice management system.

See MyCase vs Gavel Workflows.

8. WealthCounsel: Best for Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Practices

Best for: trusts and estates, elder law and business planning attorneys who prefer templates the vendor drafts and maintains, plus membership support.

WealthCounsel says estate planning and elder law attorneys have used it for more than 25 years. Wealth Docx, its main drafting product, uses "dynamic guided questions, scenarios, and customization tools" to build estate plans. Elder Docx covers elder law, special needs and Veterans' pension planning, Business Docx runs from formation to succession, Wealth Tracx handles trust administration and Gun Docx covers firearms trusts.

  • Memberships: Essential comes with Wealth Docx Core; Elder Law Professional pairs Core with Elder Docx; Trusts & Estates Professional bundles Wealth Docx Complete with Business Docx, Wealth Tracx and Gun Docx; Elite has all five products; and WealthCounsel + LEAP layers LEAP Practice Management on top of Elite.
  • Client intake: Client Intake, a secure online form for new and prospective clients, is part of the Trusts & Estates Professional, Elder Law Professional and Elite memberships.
  • Price and trial: WealthCounsel prices memberships by the number of users and the products selected, and its membership page routes you to a demo. A separate page offers New Law Business Model members, in their first 60 days of that membership, a complimentary 90-day trial of the Trusts and Estates subscription, which gives access to the Core version of Wealth Docx.

Limits: WealthCounsel's products cover estate planning, elder law, business planning and trust administration and list no family law or litigation products, so a firm that also drafts those documents may need another tool. Streeter Law Firm, which also handles family, criminal and business matters, adopted WealthCounsel first and then chose Gavel for a tool that works across its practice areas.

See WealthCounsel vs Gavel Workflows and estate planning software for lawyers.

9. Rally: Best for Business Law Firms That Sell Flat-Fee Services Online

Rally client intake and document automation for lawyers

Best for: business and startup law firms that want intake, document automation, a branded client portal and flat-fee payments in one place.

Rally focuses on automating the entire client experience from start to finish. The tool facilitates everything from intake to document creation, custom branding, document storage, client collaboration, and payments. Notably, Rally allows users to build a menu of services, an online store connected to their Rally account, to sell legal services online.

When it comes to document automation specifically, Rally's law firm pages don't describe its field types or logic capabilities.

Rally serves as both a document automation and company management tool, and its client portal holds each client's documents, data, minute book and messages. As a document automation tool, Rally provides a do-it-yourself template builder, and its templates can be filled in using information already gathered about the client. Clients can also access the platform to collaborate on documents or use it as a self-service platform. Rally connects with Zapier, HelloSign, LawPay, Calendly, Intercom and Box.

Rally has also launched Spellbook, an AI-powered contract drafting tool.

In terms of document creation, the features are fairly comparable to a number of other providers on the market, but at a higher starting price than Gavel Workflows.

  • Price: LITE starts at $99 per month with 1 user license ($49 a month per additional license) and includes intake, questionnaires and a do-it-yourself template builder. Essential starts at $399 per month ($79 per additional license) and adds a menu of services, firm e-signature and the client portal. Premium starts at $999 per month and adds a document automation concierge, Zapier and calendar integrations and client e-signature.
  • Trial: Rally's law firm pricing page offers a product tour and demo and lists no free trial; the "Try for Free" buttons on its homepage sit beside its business plans, and we couldn't confirm they cover the law firm plans.

Pros

  • Online store (menu of services) to sell services online
  • Allows for client collaboration
  • Do-it-yourself template builder on every plan

Cons

  • Client portal and firm e-signature start on the $399-per-month Essential plan
  • Law firm pages don't describe logic functions or field types
  • Zapier appears only on the Premium law firm plan

See Rally vs Gavel Workflows.

What other document automation tools do lawyers consider?

Three more tools come up for narrower jobs. Docassemble suits teams with developers, Bryter suits enterprise legal and compliance teams, and Briefpoint automates discovery for litigators.

Docassemble: Free and Open Source for Teams With Developers

Docassemble is free, open-source software for guided interviews and document assembly, licensed under MIT. Interviews are written by developers as YAML files (a plain-text data format), with Python for the logic; templates can be Word or PDF files, and finished documents come out as PDF, Rich Text Format (RTF) or Word (.docx). It handles touchscreen signatures, multilingual interviews and API connections. You run your own server; the install guide strongly recommends Docker and advises at least 4 gigabytes of memory.

Bryter: Workflow Automation Software

Bryter no-code workflow automation for legal teams

Bryter is a no-code/low-code platform that allows users to build digital applications. It offers document automation features, but its main focus is workflow automation and AI, not document automation.

Bryter's site describes it as "the AI productivity suite for legal work" and markets to both law firms and corporate legal teams. BRYTER Workflows combines AI with no-code, rule-based workflows and document automation, and BEAMON AI drafts, researches and reviews. Bryter aims at organizations with demanding security and compliance requirements and large automation programs, quotes prices on request and offers free trials of both products without stating a length.

The interface is simple and generally easy to learn.

Bryter really shines when it comes to workflow automation tools. Its approval workflows and integrations with tools like Kira, iManage, HighQ, and Docusign allow you to leverage firm data and expertise to collect and share key information and create end-to-end process solutions.

Bryter's automation platform also allows for the creation of client-facing applications, like client portals, compliance tools, and regulatory reviews. You can do this by using its workflow tools to collect data and share insights and information with clients.

Pros

  • Integrates with Kira, iManage, HighQ, DocuSign, and other applications used by law firms
  • Enables the creation of client-facing applications
  • Templates for document automation, with Word or PDF output

Cons

  • Templates must be Word (.docx) files, though output can be Word or PDF
  • Prices quoted only on request

See Bryter vs Gavel Workflows and Bryter alternatives.

Briefpoint: Discovery Documents for Litigators

Briefpoint discovery document automation

Launched in June 2022, Briefpoint is a relative newcomer to the document automation space. It fills a very specific legal niche: instead of providing tools for legal document automation in general, it focuses solely on discovery documents. This gives it a leg up on more general tools in some regards but also means that this shouldn't be your go-to tool for everyday tasks.

Briefpoint's automation process is simple. First, drag and drop your discovery request (request for admission, request for production, interrogatories) into the tool. Briefpoint will automatically extract the important information, like the court, parties, set number, and request type. Next, select the objections and responses you would like to make from the ones Briefpoint suggests, and Briefpoint will use AI to draft the necessary content. Then, you can just download the finished document as a Word file, sign it, add it into your CMS, and add the due dates to your calendar.

Briefpoint's FAQ names Clio, Smokeball, and MyCase and says additional integrations are available.

Briefpoint uses AI to draft discovery requests and responses (requests for production, requests for admission and interrogatories) for all 50 states and 98 federal district courts, and says 1,000+ firms use it. Its Rainmaker plan costs $150 per month per attorney billed annually ($1,800 a year), and its pricing page offers a demo with no free trial listed. It lists SOC 2 Type II and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.

Pros

  • Specifically tailored to discovery
  • Clever use of generative AI
  • Solid security practices

Cons

  • Narrow focus that only supports discovery documents
  • Only three integrations named on its site

Should you buy standalone document automation or use your practice management software?

Use the automation in your practice management system when your documents are mostly letters and forms filled with matter data your staff already entered. Buy a standalone tool when clients need to answer questions themselves, when templates need deep conditional logic, or when you produce documents outside that system. For the practice management, billing and intake options themselves, see our guide to the best software for law firms.

Clio sells its drafting tools separately through Clio Work, MyCase puts Advanced Document Automation on its Advanced plan, and Smokeball adds advanced document automation from Grow. Standalone tools such as Gavel Workflows, Knackly and HotDocs are built around templates and questionnaires and connect to the systems you already use; Gavel Workflows imports contacts, matters and custom fields from Clio Manage. See the best Clio integrations for more.

How much does legal document automation software cost?

Among tools that publish prices, Docassemble is free to self-host, Gavel Workflows starts at $83 per month, Rally at $99 per month for 1 user license, Knackly Starter at $250 a month for 4 users and MyCase Advanced at $130 per user per month billed annually. Briefpoint's Rainmaker plan is $150 per month per attorney billed annually. Clio Draft, HotDocs Advance, Contract Express, WealthCounsel and Smokeball's US site quote through sales.

Seat rules change the math. The table prices a four-person firm (two lawyers and two staff) at list price on the plan that adds a client portal or advanced automation, where the vendor sells one. Cheaper plans with basic automation exist: Rally LITE is $246 per month for four user licenses ($99 plus $49 for each of three more) and covers intake, questionnaires and document automation, and MyCase Pro is $400 per month for four users on annual billing and includes document generation.

List prices from each vendor's pricing page, last checked November 5, 2026. Taxes, add-ons and discounts excluded.
Tool and planPublished priceFour users at list priceWhat the price covers
Gavel Workflows Pro$290 per month$290 per month (2 builder and 3 org user seats included)Document automation, client intake, template library, Docusign and Stripe
Knackly Starter$250 per month, or $209 per month paid yearly$250 per month, or $209 paid yearly (4 users included)Document automation and client questionnaires, with Clio, Zapier and OneDrive
MyCase Advanced$130 per user per month billed annually, $150 billed monthly$520 per month billed annuallyFull practice management, billing and Advanced Document Automation
Rally EssentialFrom $399 per month for 1 user license, plus $79 per additional licenseFrom $636 per monthIntake, document automation, client portal, menu of services and firm e-signature
DocassembleFree (MIT License)Free, plus hosting and developer timeOpen-source software you install and maintain

A solo who builds every template can start on Gavel Workflows Lite at $83 per month, and Gavel's annual plans get 2 months free. Check what each plan leaves out, such as Smokeball's Intake add-on below Prosper+ or the Practical Law subscription behind Contract Express's pre-automated templates. To weigh cost against time saved, see our study of drafting time saved with document automation.

How do document automation vendors protect client data?

Each vendor publishes something different, from formal certifications to a list of controls. Ask every finalist for its security documentation and compare it against your duty to protect client information.

What each vendor states on its own website, last checked November 5, 2026.
ToolWhat the vendor states
Gavel WorkflowsIsolated database and subdomain per customer, AES-256 encryption at rest in AWS, annual third-party penetration test, United States hosting by default with European Union, Canada and Australia options
Clio DraftClio maintains SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications; encryption in transit and at rest; two-factor authentication
SmokeballISO 27001 certified; hosted on AWS
MyCase256-bit AES encryption for stored data in Amazon facilities; nightly backups to Amazon S3
KnacklyAWS-powered encryption, automated backups, role-based access controls
BriefpointSOC 2 Type II; HIPAA compliant
DocassembleServer-side encryption, two-factor authentication, document redaction; you secure the server

Your state's version of Rule 1.6 sets the standard. In Massachusetts, for example, Rule 1.6(c) requires a lawyer to "make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to," confidential client information, and its Comment 18 weighs the sensitivity of the information, the likelihood of disclosure without added safeguards and the cost and difficulty of those safeguards. For the questions to send each vendor, see our vendor security checklist for law firms.

Which Document Automation Software is the Best For You?

There's no "best" option that works for each law firm or legal practice. While the solutions shared above are some of the best in the market, it's best to evaluate each tool with your specific needs in mind. Consider:

  • Your specific use case and the documents you need to automate
  • The size of your legal practice
  • Whether those using it have the necessary training
  • Resources and customer support features
  • Budget per user
  • User-friendliness of the tool

Then rebuild one hard template during a trial or demo. Gavel Workflows gives you 7 free days and MyCase 10, and Docassemble costs nothing to install. Choose a template with genuine branching and compare what each tool produces with a finished document from a past matter. Before you compare vendors, price a full year: add seats, the plan tier that includes the features you tested, annual discounts and add-ons. Once you have picked a tool, our law firm document automation guide covers building templates and questionnaires, testing and rollout.

If you're a lawyer, you can sign up for a demo of Gavel to see if it fits what you're looking for. In 2024, Gavel was awarded Disruptive Technology of the Year and the best legal document automation software by ALM.

Accelerate Document Automation with Gavel's Legal Document Automation Software

We're biased, but Gavel is our winning option for the best all-around legal document automation software. It's built by and for lawyers, and its powerful document automation features, robust customer resources, legal form software, and marketplace to purchase pre-built applications make Gavel a great option for many organizations.

As our clients say, "This is the best software ever. I think every law firm in America should use it."

If you're ready to start automating, get started with a free trial of Gavel today.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best legal document automation software?

Our pick for most law firms is Gavel Workflows, which combines a no-code builder, client intake and Word and PDF automation from $83 per month. Knackly suits small firms that author in Word, Clio Draft suits Clio Manage firms, and HotDocs and Contract Express suit large organizations with complex template sets.

Which document automation software is best for a small law firm?

Small firms usually choose between a standalone tool with a published price, such as Gavel Workflows (from $83 per month) or Knackly (from $250 per month for 4 users), and the automation in their practice management system, such as MyCase Advanced or Smokeball Grow. A standalone tool fits better when clients complete questionnaires themselves.

How much does legal document automation software cost?

Gavel Workflows starts at $83 per month, Rally at $99 per month for 1 user license, Knackly Starter at $250 a month for 4 users and MyCase Advanced at $130 per user per month billed annually. Clio Draft, HotDocs Advance, Contract Express, WealthCounsel and Smokeball's US site quote through sales, while self-hosted Docassemble has no license fee.

Which legal document automation software has a free trial?

You can try Gavel Workflows free for 7 days and MyCase for 10, without a credit card. Bryter offers free trials of its products without stating a length, WealthCounsel offers a 90-day trial of its Trusts and Estates subscription only to New Law Business Model members in their first 60 days, and most other tools start with a demo.

Is there free legal document automation software?

Yes. Docassemble is open-source software released under the MIT License, so there is no license fee. Your team runs the server, with Docker as the recommended setup, and writes interviews as YAML files with Python logic.

Does Clio have document automation?

Yes. Clio Draft, formerly Lawyaw, turns Word documents into templates with AI, and since October 26, 2026 Clio has offered its drafting, document automation and court forms through Clio Work, with more than 45,000 forms. Clio does not publish the price. Gavel Workflows also connects to Clio Manage and pulls in contacts, matters and custom fields.

Related reading: what is document automation, the law firm document automation guide, rules-based automation or generative AI and legal document assembly software. For contract review, Gavel also makes Gavel Exec. Gavel Exec is AI contract review and drafting software that runs inside Microsoft Word as an add-in and on the web. See how Gavel Exec compares as a Harvey alternative for AI contract review, built for transactional lawyers who need Word-native AI redlining and playbooks.

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