A document assembly system also gives a firm more latitude in billing. Value billing arrangements like budget caps and flat rates suddenly become feasible when the time it takes to draft a document is reduced and predictable. These advantages may justify the monetary and time investment that a good document assembly system requires. The key ingredient for a document assembly system is commitment. Creating an effective system takes not only money but also a firmwide examination of the entire document creation process.
Successful systems replicate the logic and decision-making process for each document type.
En route to a first draft of the document, they will walk you through every drafting decision. This process takes time and should not be taken lightly. First, examine your firm's practice area and the types of documents commonly created. There are several types for which a full-featured document assembly system is overkill. For example, most pleadings change considerably depending on the facts and issues of a particular case.