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On Building Git for Lawyers

(jordanbryan.substack.com)
162 points jpbryan | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.615s | source
1. jefecoon ◴[] No.42138474[source]
Few misc thoughts here: - Lawyers want this all to work in Word.docx

- Many [ / most? ] law firms have a large, overly-complicated "doc database." These have Word plugins, and they're usually required to 'check-in' each version they prepare prior to sending out. This seems like a very natural point of attack for a dramatically superior git-esque solution.

- Most lawyers / firms have a massive distrust of cloud-hosted tools. I've heard "well, Google can read everything in Google Docs!" more times than I can count. Maybe the public is better educated now, but... maybe don't count on that.

- Toolset for bundling up *ALL* edits compiled by one side, having these "merged" and some sort of formal "approved to send" step would be huge.

- Please continue to track which person made every edit, when, and ideally, if said edit was "merged" and "approved to send" to counter-party.

- Over-invest in super easy UX & eye-candy: you're trying to overcome engrained use of a tool that's about as ubiquitous as the air we breath -- you're going to have to deliver 10x value, and ease-of-use will be critical for adoption. The current demo, and dragging links between boxes.... well, imho, perhaps not quite there yet.

- Finally, I've worked inside MSFT publishing docs & books, worked on hundreds of contracts in biz-dev & corp-dev & investment banking, and please let met state very clearly the need for this product is overwhelming. Please please please build this, and wish you all the luck in the world.

PS: Contractual.ly was pretty great. Wish it had caught more traction.

Happy hunting!

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2. tomwheeler ◴[] No.42138607[source]
> Lawyers want this all to work in Word.docx

You've got some bleeding edge lawyers if they're using Microsoft Word. The legal industry is one of the main reasons that WordPerfect continues to exist.

replies(1): >>42140071 #
3. egypturnash ◴[] No.42140071[source]
The entire publishing industry operates on Word too. https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2013/10/why-mic...