What Is the Difference Between Legal Tech and Law Tech?

Legal tech and law tech may sound like virtually indistinguishable terms at first. However, there are key differences pertaining to whom each technology type is for, how each technology supports its target users, and which functionality is included. To that end, we will explore the differences between legal tech and law tech in this blog post.

What Is Legal Technology?

Legal technology (or legal tech) is a blanket term for software applications that help lawyers and legal departments manage legal operations more efficiently and effectively. Legal tech can include contract management software, case management software, practice management software, and many others. Legal technology can improve legal operations in a variety of ways, including:

• streamlining tedious tasks.
• improving accuracy and minimizing errors.
• centralizing processes.
• standardizing legal documents.
• integrating with mission-critical third-party applications.

What Is Law Technology?

Law technology (or law tech) is a broad term for technology that empowers clients or consumers by making access to legal services easier and more efficient - thus improving the justice system. Law tech helps clients and consumers with:

• document automation.
• document management.
• remote access.
• legal services.

What Is the Difference Between Legal Tech and Law Tech?

Legal technology is used by lawyers and businesses to streamline internal interdepartmental collaboration as well as collaboration with counterparties, vendors, suppliers, and others. Law tech, meanwhile, is used by clients and consumers and improves the justice system - providing easier access to legal services for clients.

Law Tech & Who Benefits

Law tech tools for clients include:

• DIY (do it yourself) legal document creation.
• online legal services.
• AI to review and edit contracts.
  
• video conference technology.

Law tech ensures that everyone has access to legal technology and self-empowerment related to self-serve legal processes. As an example, video conference technology makes it easier for the following demographics to access legal services:

• those who are not in close proximity to lawyers and legal services providers.
• those in working situations that prevent them from having the time and means to access legal services in-person.
• those with elder care or disability care responsibilities.
• those with disabilities.

Legal Tech & Who Benefits

Legal tech tools for general counsel, corporate counsel, paralegals, legal departments, and businesses at large include:

• generative AI and machine learning.
• automated workflows.
• a secure contract repository with filterable searching.
• reports and dashboards for analytics.
• notifications and alerts (including for renewals).
• version control and comprehensive audit trails.
• a standardized template and clause library.
• much more.

Myriad business professionals can benefit from legal technology, including:

• legal departments.
• general counsel.
• corporate counsel.
• paralegals.
• collaborating departments.
• procurement professionals.
• IT professionals.
• many others.

To learn more about how legal technology can help your legal department and business, book a free demo of our award-winning contract management software today!

*Legal Disclaimer: This article is not legal advice. The content of this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. The information on this website may not present the most up-to-date legal information. Readers should contact their attorney for legal advice regarding any particular legal matter.