How To Save Time And Money Drafting Your Own Legal Contracts... With Confidence
- Date: 2008-05-13 - Word Count: 606
Share This!
Did you know that most progressive law firms use powerful software authoring tools to automate the arduous task of contract drafting?
Would you like to save time, money, and aggravation by using similar tools to draft your own marketing contracts?
Here's how you can do it.
New Automated Contract Drafting Tools
In the past, most entrepreneurs readily accepted the notion that fitting a contract to their business needs required an attorney to draft from scratch. You're familiar with the process... it's similar in concept to going to a tailor for a tailor-made suit -- lots of discussion and iterations. Assuming the document is delivered when promised, the time and money involved is often considerable. And what's more, the attorney controls the entire process.
Now, powerful, automated drafting tools are empowering entrepreneurs to write a first draft of business contracts that closely fit their business needs.
Does this mean that you should not seek legal review? In most cases you should seek legal review, just as you would have the tailor in a ready-made clothing retailer make minor alterations to a suit that you choose off the rack. Your attorney should be employed to give advice and to tailor the final document for a good fit, but not to engage in the time consuming and expensive task of creating the first draft.
Electronic Forms Are Less Flexible And Require More Knowledge
In order to get a good fit with an electronic form or template, you must follow the advice of the knight guarding the Holy Grail in the Indiana Jones movie -- "choose wisely". The reason is that forms and templates do not provide the logic which links alternate clauses to the agreement. They may provide a few alternate clauses, but you must decide which to use, and even more critical, you must know how to make these decisions.
Because forms and templates lack the logic which links alternate clauses, document flexibility and the number of meaningful document variations are limited. In many cases, substantial background knowledge is required. Hence, they are best suited for relatively simple contracts if non-lawyers are using them.
Online Contract Drafting Services Are More Flexible And Do Most of The Work For You
Online contract drafting services utilizing rule-based document assembly systems are not as readily available as forms or templates due to the relatively high cost to develop such systems. However, the benefits in terms of flexibility and ease-of-use are truly significant.
Online contract drafting services incorporate a database of alternate clauses, often numbering in the range of 100 or more for a single document that will average only 20-30 clauses when assembled. The key to these online drafting services is the built-in logic that asks the user a series of questions -- then selects the appropriate clauses from the database in response to the answers and assembles and formats the final document.
Online contract drafting services utilizing rule-based document assembly techniques actually do all the heavy lifting for you, easily and quickly. Flexibility often goes into the hundreds of document variations for relatively simple agreements, and to the hundreds of thousands of variations for relatively complex agreements. That's why you get near-custom results with rule-based, online contract drafting services as distinguished from relatively archaic forms.
Be mindful, however, that these rule-based tools are expert system-like; therefore, the logic and clauses which make up the system are only as good as the :expert" who created them.
Which Tool Is Best For You?
You should experiment with both types of tools to determine the best one for you. Regardless of which one you choose, you'll start to enjoy the significant benefits of controlling the cost, aggravation, and turn-around time of the contract drafting process. If you don't, your competitor probably will.
Would you like to save time, money, and aggravation by using similar tools to draft your own marketing contracts?
Here's how you can do it.
New Automated Contract Drafting Tools
In the past, most entrepreneurs readily accepted the notion that fitting a contract to their business needs required an attorney to draft from scratch. You're familiar with the process... it's similar in concept to going to a tailor for a tailor-made suit -- lots of discussion and iterations. Assuming the document is delivered when promised, the time and money involved is often considerable. And what's more, the attorney controls the entire process.
Now, powerful, automated drafting tools are empowering entrepreneurs to write a first draft of business contracts that closely fit their business needs.
Does this mean that you should not seek legal review? In most cases you should seek legal review, just as you would have the tailor in a ready-made clothing retailer make minor alterations to a suit that you choose off the rack. Your attorney should be employed to give advice and to tailor the final document for a good fit, but not to engage in the time consuming and expensive task of creating the first draft.
Electronic Forms Are Less Flexible And Require More Knowledge
In order to get a good fit with an electronic form or template, you must follow the advice of the knight guarding the Holy Grail in the Indiana Jones movie -- "choose wisely". The reason is that forms and templates do not provide the logic which links alternate clauses to the agreement. They may provide a few alternate clauses, but you must decide which to use, and even more critical, you must know how to make these decisions.
Because forms and templates lack the logic which links alternate clauses, document flexibility and the number of meaningful document variations are limited. In many cases, substantial background knowledge is required. Hence, they are best suited for relatively simple contracts if non-lawyers are using them.
Online Contract Drafting Services Are More Flexible And Do Most of The Work For You
Online contract drafting services utilizing rule-based document assembly systems are not as readily available as forms or templates due to the relatively high cost to develop such systems. However, the benefits in terms of flexibility and ease-of-use are truly significant.
Online contract drafting services incorporate a database of alternate clauses, often numbering in the range of 100 or more for a single document that will average only 20-30 clauses when assembled. The key to these online drafting services is the built-in logic that asks the user a series of questions -- then selects the appropriate clauses from the database in response to the answers and assembles and formats the final document.
Online contract drafting services utilizing rule-based document assembly techniques actually do all the heavy lifting for you, easily and quickly. Flexibility often goes into the hundreds of document variations for relatively simple agreements, and to the hundreds of thousands of variations for relatively complex agreements. That's why you get near-custom results with rule-based, online contract drafting services as distinguished from relatively archaic forms.
Be mindful, however, that these rule-based tools are expert system-like; therefore, the logic and clauses which make up the system are only as good as the :expert" who created them.
Which Tool Is Best For You?
You should experiment with both types of tools to determine the best one for you. Regardless of which one you choose, you'll start to enjoy the significant benefits of controlling the cost, aggravation, and turn-around time of the contract drafting process. If you don't, your competitor probably will.
Related Tags: legal contracts, legal forms online, chip cooper, online contract drafting, digicontracts, online contract drafting service, digital contracts, legal advice online, legal documents online, online legal documents
Chip Cooper is a leading intellectual property, software, and Internet attorney who advises software and ecommerce businesses nationwide. Chip's easy and affordable online contract drafting service coordinates website contracts such as Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Subscription, Membership, and SaaS agreements. Visit Chip's http://www.digicontracts.com site and download his FREE report, "12 Sure-Fire Ways Your Website Can Get You Sued". Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The No. 1 Rule For Projecting Confidence - Speak With Authority
One of the most important characteristics a person can project in a business setting - or any situat - After the Autumn Checkout European Debt Crisis and U.S. Brewing Rebound
In the commotion caused by the Fed on interest rates come to an end, the "disastrous" for the euro a - Advantages Of Arcade Game Rentals
There are many different advantages to arcade game rentals. Most people need something to release th - A General Primer on Truck Cargo Nets
In modern highways it is quite rare to see truck cargo nets in action, this is because they are usua - The United States Will Burst More Severe Financial Crisis
Not long ago, suddenly announced that the central bank to raise interest rates, the interest rate hi - Niche Marketing Profits - 3 Easy Steps to Finding a Profitable Niche Market Income in 10 Minutes
Like most beginners I was having a very difficult time trying to find a niche market to earn extra m - The Importance of Hospitality Management Consulting Firms Toronto
Businesses and the managers that help guide any business are in a constant state of improvement and - New Keynesian Theory Label
2010 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics three theories have been labeled as "New Keynesian" labe - Federal Reserve Pouring Money QE2 Unpredictable Fortune
U.S. economist Milton Friedman proposed a "throw the cash from a helicopter" view, while the practic - Fiscal Consolidation Should no Longer Delay
British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today announced fiscal consolidation policy, shoc
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Common Financial Problems to Avoid
One must first change their habits and not procrastinate. American Consultants Inc at offers key fi - How a Bad Hire Can Hurt Your Business
What's worse - hiring the wrong person or not hiring anyone at all? Companies can become almost des - Joel Comm Is Dr. Adsense
What is Adsense? If you are new to making money online and net marketing, you may not know what Ads - 5 Steps For A Dynamic Wealth System Online
Recipe: Opportunity + knowledge + Dynamic Wealth System + Your Action = Massive Success!!! Step 1 - How To Stop Foreclosure
Losing your house to a foreclosure can be very scary. There are times when circumstances are ou - How to Always Pitch A Strike
As business owners, we are always working on new ways to convince people to become customers, client - Membrane Diffuser Solutions for Wastewater Treatment Systems
In the aeration basin of a typical wastewater treatment plant there are both organic and inorganic m - Another Year Hating Your Job or Loving Life?
Copyright © 2007 Mary Foley I've come to the conclusion that to be successful - really successf - Dyestuff Industry In India And China
World demand for dyes and organic pigments to touch $10.6 billion in 2008According to a study on dye - Cma-cgm Case : the Series of Lawsuits Continues in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, France, England and the United States
Damietta company case : The series of lawsuits continues in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, France, England a