TextExpander Review: Legal Document Automation for Lawyers

Free Trial

Although TextExpander has four pricing tiers, they offer a generous “test drive” of the product with a free 30-day trial.

Searchable Snippets

Remembering what keyboard combination one assigned to a given snippet can be challenging. To combat this problem, TextExpander provides a helpful in-line search function. If users give Snippets memorable or relevant names, one can simply press Ctrl+/ ( or Cmd+/ for Mac), and be prompted to search Snippets.

Shareable

Once a user creates a Snippet, TextExpander makes it easy to share that shortcut with any other TextExpander user. This could be helpful if multiple attorneys share an office and want to all access the same robust templates. Additionally, if the firm opts for the Business, Growth, or Enterprise plans, a firm-designated administrator can control access to particular Snippets, share among particular groups, and even specify who may change a team’s Snippets.

Fill-ins

With TextExpander’s Fill-ins, an office can create Snippets allowing a user to enter information, like a recipient’s name, execution date, or appointment time, after the user invokes the Snippet. All one does is create the Snippet with the form fields placed where the user’s typed information should appear. TextExpander provides many Fill-in types, such as open text form fields, drop-down menus, checkboxes, and even optional long-form sections that can be turned on or off based on the moment’s needs. In our view, Fill-ins are TextExpander’s most beneficial feature for attorneys.

Cross-platform & Cross-device

Most shortcut and template features on the market are built directly into a piece of software and must be used within that application. For example, creating email response templates in Gmail or Outlook is relatively simple. However, those templates won’t work in an MS Word document or a text message from your phone. With TextExpander, one’s shortcuts are available everywhere: within the browser, in document creation software, in instant messaging services, and in any other software that accepts text input. Additionally, TextExpander works on iOS and Android mobile devices, including within texting apps.

TextExpander is for any attorney (or law firm) looking to increase their efficiency by creating shortcuts for their often-typed content. Attorneys who specifically like to control the format and tone of all correspondence and documents that leave their offices will find sharing snippets through the Teams feature to be extra helpful. If you already have a well-built template system, and comprehensive autoreplies, it may not be worth the extra monthly expense.