Lawyaw

Lawyaw operates as a specialized software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform focused on document automation for the legal sector. Founded in 2016 by attorney Tucker Cottingham and co-founder Vahed Qazvinian, the company was established to address inefficiencies in legal workflows. Cottingham's direct experience as a law firm partner, where he observed the repetitive and fragmented nature of document creation, served as the primary catalyst for the venture. His goal was to develop a tool that would allow legal professionals to dedicate more time to substantive client work and complex legal issues by streamlining document-heavy processes.

The company's core offering is a cloud-based platform that enables law firms to convert standard Microsoft Word documents into intelligent, reusable templates. This system allows for the rapid population of client-specific information, significantly reducing manual data entry. The platform's features include automated document generation, collaborative editing for legal teams, and integrated e-signature capabilities. Initially, the service provided a comprehensive library of California Judicial Council and local court forms, later expanding to include forms for all 50 U.S. states and federal immigration cases. The business model is subscription-based, with pricing tiered per user.

A significant milestone in the company's trajectory was its participation in the Y Combinator accelerator program's Winter 2018 batch. This event provided crucial early-stage support and visibility. Lawyaw had a pre-existing integration with Clio, a prominent legal practice management software, and was the first document automation application available in Clio's app store. This relationship culminated in September 2021, when Clio acquired Lawyaw. Following the acquisition, the entire Lawyaw team, including Cottingham, joined Clio to continue developing the product. In February 2024, Lawyaw was officially rebranded as Clio Draft, signaling a deeper integration into Clio's suite of legal technology products.

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