The 10 Best Legal Workflow Automation Tools for 2025
Legal workflow automation is rapidly transforming the way law firms and legal departments operate. As the legal sector faces increasing demands for efficiency, accuracy, and compliance, automation tools have become essential for staying competitive. This guide explores the top legal workflow automation tools for 2025, offering practical insights to help you select and implement the right solution for your team.
What are legal workflow automation tools?
Legal workflow automation tools are specialised software solutions designed to streamline, standardise, and accelerate routine legal processes. Unlike traditional legal software, which often focuses on document storage or case management, these tools orchestrate entire workflows by automating repetitive tasks, routing approvals, and ensuring compliance at every step.
Key problems solved
Manual contract reviews, client intake delays, and compliance inconsistencies often slow legal operations. Workflow automation eliminates these bottlenecks by standardising review steps, automating document routing, and ensuring every task follows defined approval paths. This reduces administrative effort while improving accuracy and accountability.
How automation differs from standard legal software
Standard legal tools manage information, while automation tools manage processes. They connect multiple systems such as document management, e-signature, and billing platforms so tasks progress automatically from one stage to the next. They also provide real-time tracking, reporting, and audit trails, giving teams complete visibility over work in progress.
Common automated workflows
Common use cases include document review and approval, client intake and conflict checks, e-signature routing, and matter opening or closing procedures. By handling these repetitive steps automatically, legal teams can focus on higher-value work like negotiation, analysis, and client advisory.
By introducing AI-powered workflow automation, legal and procurement teams are cutting contract turnaround times by up to half and eliminating many manual errors that slow business operations.
A quick look at the 10 best legal workflow automation tools for 2025
1. LEGALFLY
Built for in-house legal teams and law firms, LEGALFLY combines explainable AI with workflow automation to streamline contract review, drafting and compliance. Its integration with Microsoft 365 makes it ideal for organisations standardising processes in familiar tools.
Get started with LEGALFLY
Schedule a call with a LEGALFLY expert to discover how legal AI can streamline your work, from research and contract review to drafting and due diligence.
2. Clio Manage
A well-known platform for law firms of all sizes, Clio automates task management, billing, and document workflows, helping smaller teams eliminate administrative overhead.
3. Smokeball
Best suited for small to mid-size firms, Smokeball automates document creation and matter management while tracking activity-based time to improve productivity.
4. Litera Transact
Focused on transactional practices, Litera Transact automates deal checklists and closing management, offering real-time visibility and collaboration for deal teams.
5. Actionstep
A comprehensive practice management solution for mid-size and large firms. It supports workflow automation, reporting, and matter management in a single platform.
6. Ironclad
An enterprise-grade contract lifecycle management platform. Ironclad uses AI for contract analysis, approval routing, and risk detection, giving in-house teams full visibility over their contract pipeline.
7. Lawcus
An easy-to-use visual workflow builder with built-in CRM functionality. Lawcus simplifies client intake, task automation, and collaboration across legal teams.
8. Onit
Designed for enterprise legal departments, Onit offers workflow automation, e-billing, and matter management solutions that scale globally across business units.
9. DocuSign CLM
Extends DocuSign’s well-known e-signature functionality into complete contract lifecycle automation, including clause libraries and approval tracking.
10. HighQ (Thomson Reuters)
A secure, highly configurable workflow and collaboration platform used by law firms and corporate legal teams to manage complex projects and client deliverables.
Comparing the top 10 legal workflow automation tools side by side
Below is a comparison of leading platforms helping legal and procurement teams automate workflows, manage contracts, and improve compliance.
Why legal workflow automation matters in 2025
The legal and procurement landscape is moving faster than ever. In 2025, workflow automation is no longer a nice-to-have; it is the foundation of efficient and compliant operations.
What’s driving adoption
- AI that works like your team. Intelligent review systems now flag risks, suggest redlines, and perform instant compliance checks.
- Remote collaboration. Hybrid teams need centralised, digital-first processes that keep deals moving wherever people work.
- Regulatory pressure. Expanding ESG, data, and cross-border obligations require auditable, policy-aligned workflows.
The business impact
- Speed and accuracy. Automation removes manual handoffs and catches costly errors before they reach clients or suppliers.
- Better client and stakeholder service. Faster and more transparent processes strengthen trust and retention.
- Tangible ROI. Legal teams using automation save up to 240 hours per lawyer each year, reduce outside counsel spend, and experience fewer project delays.
Security and compliance built in
Leading tools such as LegalFly combine enterprise-grade encryption, full audit trails, and anonymisation to protect confidential data and meet global regulatory standards.
Criteria for evaluating legal workflow automation tools
Selecting the right automation platform requires balancing functionality, usability, and compliance. The best solutions integrate seamlessly into existing systems while delivering measurable efficiency gains.
Core features to prioritise
Look for tools that offer smooth integration with Microsoft 365, e-signature, and case management platforms. Customizable templates, automated analytics, and multi-user approval workflows help standardise processes and improve transparency.
Ease of use and onboarding
An intuitive interface embedded in familiar tools like Microsoft Word reduces training time and supports faster adoption across teams.
Security and compliance
Enterprise-grade encryption, role-based access, and complete audit trails are essential. Platforms should also support data anonymization and meet privacy and regulatory standards.
Scalability and support
Choose a platform that scales with your organisation, offers flexible licensing, and provides responsive support with accessible onboarding and training resources.
For a deeper assessment framework, see How to assess legal AI platforms in 10 minutes
How to select the right tool for your legal team
Selecting the right tool starts with clear goals and ends with evidence-based validation. Focus on alignment, testing, and measurable results.
1. Define priorities
Identify where automation delivers the greatest impact, such as contract review, approvals, or compliance tracking.
2. Shortlist and assess
Compare vendors based on integration, usability, and security. Choose those that fit your firm’s size, workflows, and tech stack.
3. Pilot and evaluate
Run a small pilot using real matters or contracts. Measure time savings, accuracy, and user adoption.
4. Plan rollout
Create a phased implementation plan with defined milestones and training support. Involve legal and IT early for smoother integration.
5. Review and improve
Track performance metrics and refine processes as adoption grows.
Implementation best practices for legal workflow automation
Successful adoption hinges on strategy and execution. Consider these best practices.
- Set clear goals and KPIs: Define what success looks like, such as 50 percent faster contract cycles or zero compliance breaches.
- Train and support staff: Offer hands-on training, contextual help, and ongoing support.
- Integrate with existing tech: Ensure seamless connections with document management, e-signature, and billing systems.
- Monitor and optimise: Use analytics to identify bottlenecks and continuously improve workflows.
- Maintain compliance: Regularly review security settings and audit trails to meet regulatory requirements.
Start small by piloting automation with NDAs or vendor contracts before scaling to more complex matters.
Frequently asked questions about legal workflow automation tools
How long does it take to implement legal workflow automation software?
Most platforms can be piloted within two to four weeks, with full implementation typically completed in one to three months. Timelines depend on firm size, data readiness, and integration complexity.
Are legal workflow automation tools secure and compliant?
Yes. Leading platforms include enterprise-grade encryption, role-based access controls, and detailed audit trails. Tools such as LEGALFLY also anonymise sensitive data and meet major data protection standards, including GDPR and SOC 2 compliance.
Can legal workflow automation tools be customized for different firms or practice areas?
Absolutely. Most solutions allow firms to configure templates, approval chains, and playbooks to reflect internal policies and practice-specific workflows.
Do legal workflow automation platforms support remote or hybrid legal teams?
Yes. Cloud-based automation tools enable secure, real-time collaboration across locations. They integrate with communication platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack to support distributed legal operations.
What is the ROI of legal workflow automation?
Firms typically report 30 to 60 percent faster turnaround times, fewer administrative errors, and substantial cost savings. Many achieve full ROI within the first year through time savings and reduced reliance on manual review.
How do legal workflow automation tools use AI?
Modern platforms incorporate AI to analyze documents, detect risks, suggest clause edits, and automate routine review tasks. This helps legal teams focus on strategy and client service instead of repetitive work.
Conclusion: take the next step in legal workflow automation
Legal workflow automation is now a core driver of efficiency, compliance, and client satisfaction. Firms that adopt the right tools in 2025 will streamline operations, reduce risk, and position themselves for long-term growth.
To move forward:
- Request demos from shortlisted vendors to see how automation fits your workflows.>>> Book your LEGALFLY Demo
- Download the comparison checklist to evaluate features, security, and ROI. >>> Download the legal AI vendor checklist
- Explore solutions from LEGALFLY to learn how explainable AI and secure automation can modernize your legal operations. >>> Explore Insights
The future of legal work is automated, data-driven, and collaborative. Start your transformation today.