By Jennifer Carter and Mary Warner
2023 is not unlike any other year. Minnesotans are looking forward to spring, Vikings fans are left wondering about next year, and attorneys are still looking for ways to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the quality of their work. One increasingly popular solution to those challenges is document automation, which uses technology to aid in the creation of legal documents. Because document automation is such a valuable time-saver, MSBA has been a proponent of it for close to two decades. By automating repetitive, labor-intensive tasks, attorneys can focus on more valuable legal work, improving productivity and their ability to serve clients.
Why Document Automation?
Document automation can also improve consistency and accuracy of legal documents. When creating documents manually, attorneys may inadvertently introduce errors or inconsistencies. Document automation can help reduce this risk by standardizing the document-creation process. It allows attorneys to generate legal forms by completing client data in an interview-style template. This reduces errors by eliminating the need to comb through a Microsoft Word legal form and remembering to change each item for a specific client case.
There is a financial benefit to document automation as well. By automating routine tasks, document automation can reduce the need for manual data entry, printing, and other time-intensive tasks. This translates into cost savings for the attorney, as well as potentially lowering the costs for clients.
And finally, document automation can help attorneys deliver a better client experience. By streamlining the document-creation process, reducing errors and inconsistences, and delivering documents more quickly and efficiently, document automation allows attorneys to build stronger client relationships, improve client satisfaction, and ultimately generate more business.
By streamlining the document creation process, reducing errors and inconsistences, and delivering documents more quickly and efficiently, document automation can help attorneys provide a faster, more efficient service to clients.
MSBA MNdocs is all new for 2023.
That is the why; now for the how. In order to improve the experience for users, MSBA’s document automation service, mndocs, is undergoing a major transformation and relaunch in March 2023. It is moving from the HotDocs platform to XpressDox Publisher. With the change, and the enhancements the new platform provides, we’re also rebranding our name from mndocs to MNdocs.
On the new XpressDox platform, MNdocs will provide a streamlined experience for subscribers. The interface has a modern look that is more intuitive and easier to navigate. It will also provide intake questionnaires that can be sent directly to clients for completion, with the ability to customize forms with your firm’s logo and brand color. There is also a preview function in XpressDox that allows you to view exactly what will be changed on the final forms.
Forms assembled in XpressDox may be downloaded as either PDF or editable Word documents. The answer files created in the process of filling out the form templates can be saved in the cloud, making it easy to access your documents from any device, or downloaded to your computer for future use.
As part of the transition to XpressDox, the form templates are being updated to improve workflows. We’ve had assistance from several MSBA attorney members in designing the workflows to make them more efficient. In some cases, like with guardianships and conservatorships, templates are bundled into packages that allow for several forms to be completed at the same time.
Practice areas that will be included in the new MNdocs are Business, Family, Guardianships and Conservatorships, Real Property, Probate and Estate, and Criminal Law (coming soon).
Because there are hundreds of forms to review and update for this transition, when the new MNdocs launches, over 200 form templates will be included, with more forms to be added on a rolling basis in the weeks to follow.
All templates are being tested as they are created in order to correct for minor bugs and to ensure instructions are easy to understand. That said, we will need your help to keep improving the new MNdocs. If you find any legal language that needs to be updated or if you experience usability issues, let us know. We are also interested in hearing about form templates we should add in the future.
We are excited for this major upgrade to MNdocs, designed to make life easier for you and your practice.
Get started with the new MNdocs now