In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency and convenience are everything. This is particularly true when it comes to legal matters.
With the age of innovation and accessibility upon us, the legal industry is undergoing a transformative shift. DIY legal document templates are at the forefront of this revolution, empowering individuals and businesses to take control of their legal affairs. However, it can come with some risks.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using legal document templates for your business, as well as how to avoid ‘dodgy’ documents that could put your business at risk.
Top Benefits of Using Legal Document Templates
Save time.
Waiting for lawyers to draft and review documents can be a lengthy process. DIY legal document templates can be completed in as little as ten to fifteen minutes (depending on the document and your computer knowledge). This means you can meet tight deadlines and respond to time-sensitive situations promptly, without having to rely on someone else.
Save money.
Traditional legal services and legal document drafting often come with hefty price tags, making legal assistance inaccessible for many. DIY legal docs break down this barrier by offering affordable legal document templates without compromising on quality. By taking control of your document creation, you can save significantly on legal fees, even if you’re just starting out or on a tight budget.
Find flexibility.
DIY legal document templates allow you to customise your documentation without back and forth with a lawyer. This means you can accurately reflect your unique circumstances, whether that’s an NDA or employment documents. You can easily scale your documents as you need, as you grow your business, or as your needs require.
Maintain privacy.
Privacy is a fundamental concern when it comes to legal matters. DIY legal document templates ensure the utmost privacy and security of your sensitive information. Sometimes there may be a matter you find embarrassing or want limited public knowledge of, which is where drafting your own documents can be of use to you and the information you’re looking to protect.
Risks of Using Legal Document Templates & How to Avoid Them
Cheap or free legal documents may not cover you.
Before you use a cheap or free DIY legal document, consider why it’s free. It’s likely it’s a limited document where you’ll need to pay a lawyer to include all the information you need or it doesn’t include everything you need to make the document legally binding, especially in court. There is also a chance that a free document is just to get your personal information to re-sell to the highest bidder.
Legal documents take time and knowledge to draft. It’s unlikely a lawyer will give that time and knowledge away for free or too cheaply. Look for DIY legal document templates that are affordable, but have been created or looked over by a lawyer to help ensure you’re covered for what you need to be.
Documents go out of date.
Laws and regulations change all the time. You want to ensure the legal documents you use or create are up-to-date with the latest legislation. If not, you could risk your documents not being valid or legally binding.
For instance, our team of lawyers at DIY-Legal regularly check and maintain all documents, as well as make updates as they are needed. This helps you be protected when you need it most.
Lawyers may not have been consulted or used.
Technically speaking, anyone can make a template and sell it online for you to use. People also may pay to have one document made by a lawyer and then duplicate this online to collect your information to re-sell.
This is why it’s crucial that before you buy or download any online legal documents, you ensure they have been created by a lawyer. You’ll know your documents are using the language they need to and include what is needed to cover you and your matter.
Misunderstanding documents can lead to further problems.
The law is complex. For example, how many people would even know what a Constitution — Proprietary Company Limited By Shared Document even is? This is a risk you may potentially face when trying to create your own legal documents or using DIY legal document templates.
Before you use any legal documents, ensure you understand what that document is, what it covers, how it protects you, what your liabilities are and how it may be used against you. We provide information like this with most of our documents to ensure you have a good understanding before moving ahead with your legal documents.
How to Get the Most From Your DIY Legal Document Templates
Understand your needs.
To get the most from your DIY legal documents, you first need to understand why you need them. Why do you need a confidentiality agreement? Does an employee handbook benefit your business? This clarity ensures that you select the appropriate templates to best suit your needs and protect you legally.
Research what documents you need and their implications.
Most legal documents will require your signature to confirm its authenticity. This means you are agreeing to the details of the agreement, contract, deed or document, including what would happen if things went wrong and your end of the deal. With this knowledge, you are empowered to make informed decisions and understand the implications of each document.
Review and proofread your documents.
Mistakes in your contract can void your contract or allow it to be made void by the courts. This is why it is so important to review and proofread your documents before issuing them to be viewed or signed by the other party.