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I recently met some guys in a coffee shop to hear their idea, and before we talked about their idea, they asked me to sign an NDA. They had two printed copies, and we each signed both, and then we moved on.

I've done this many times for many different kinds of documents. I can't be the only person that hates having to hold on to to these magic pieces of paper, and hates having to scan for anything silly in the terms.

I'm thinking about building a web app for this situation. Paying subscribers would be allowed to pick a template from a list of legal-document templates by answering a few questions about the nature of the agreement they want.

Think about how the creative commons site works with software licenses -- you answer simple questions and they point you to the license that is appropriate. You don't write your own license. I'd use a similar approach. I'd create templates with version numbers and release the document templates under some open-source license.

Instead of using a goose quill feather dipped in squid ink to sign some parchment, people would authenticate with the web app, see the documents they are invited to sign, and then decide what to do.

The advantages here are:

  • all documents are backed up online, so I don't have to keep that drawer full of magic paper.

  • no need to review for weird clauses in the documents, since the documents are only using templates, all available for offline review.

  • we all get access to well-written legal documents without paying some a-hole attorneys $200/hour to run find-and-replace on Microsoft Word.

I'd probably charge a non-trivial amount for the right to authenticate with the web app, and the initial signup would be fairly elaborate, since the webapp really needs to make sure you are who you say you are.

And anyone anywhere would be allowed to just grab the templates and print them out, and use those the old-fashioned way.

Of course, then there's no on-line backup and no guarantee that some weird little clause hasn't snuck in somewhere.

If this already exists, great! Just let me know where.

Otherwise, would people here pay for this?

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closed as off topic by Zuly Gonzalez♦ Apr 13 '12 at 18:21

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5 Answers

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we all get access to well-written legal documents without paying some a-hole attorneys $200/hour to run find-and-replace on Microsoft Word.

And how do you propose to do that without paying "some a-hole attorneys"?

I also wonder about how well the "electronic" signing will hold up in all jurisdictions. Sounds like a bunch of challenges, but if you figure them all out and address the issues it might work.

I wouldn't pay for it though.

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Interesting idea. I have to imagine something like this exists already, but you're trying to bring it to the independent, which may be a novel idea. I worked on a system that did a similiar thing for HR departments to bring on a new employee. It would allow them to do all the form filling on the web, and then digitally sign it. So, in my experience, you can absolutely get past the digital signature stuff.

I think your biggest challenge will be finding a "one size fits all" agreement for all of these documents. I would imagine the research is where the most work/expense is in this project, not the technical piece of it.

Best of luck!

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The idea already exists in several forms, one of which is: http://www.twostep.com/solutions/for_corporations.asp

Legalzoom does this to a limited degree as well, though their storage and customization options aren't very advanced. There are other solutions that do break this kind of ground which I won't disclose right now ;-)

You'll have to conjure up a way to make the service a little more interesting than simple document storage and editing. What about the legal expertise needed to create some portions of these docs or to help users make judgment calls on these docs?

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Also google virtual law firms- that is the lawyer's term to something that sounds similiar to what you are describing. I believe that many law firms are moving in that direction as a cost effective solution for clients with simple needs.

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Excellent idea. There are at least 3 law firms that are already providing excellent start up documents free to entrepreneurs: Wilson Sonsini, Goodwin Procter, and Cooley Godward. These do not have the standard NDAs yet you are referring to or the online storage, but they are excellent resources. Thanks for the reference to our software in the comment above - Corporate Focus www.twostep.com, but it is for start ups and VC backed companies who want to store minute book documents and capitalization tables online.

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