Proving the Impact: Real Outcomes with DOKODOC Legal Services
At DOKODOC Legal Services, we are committed to providing the U.S. legal community with free and open access to a broad selection of legal documents in PDF format. Our service is based on a philosophy of making legal information accessible, shareable, and living online. To provide concrete examples of how our service is used, we have assembled this series of case studies that describe how law students, lawyers, educators, and aspiring legal writers have used DOKODOC to further their work, increase their efficiency, and add value directly to the practice of law. Read on to see how DOKODOC Legal Services is making an impact-one document at a time.
Case Study 1: Helping Legal Interns and Law Students Tap Academic Resources
Background: Samantha Lee was a 2L at the University of Illinois College of Law when she faced difficulty finding an extensive set of up-to-date, reliable case law analyses and legal guides to supplement her required reading for the constitutional law curriculum. On-campus library resources were scarce and many websites required paid subscriptions to access certain cases or legal guides.
Solution: By simply adding a DOKODOC Legal Services subscription, Samantha was able to search and download hundreds of no-cost PDF documents relating to U.S. constitutional law, including case briefs, commentary, and legal research guides. The ability to filter search results by jurisdiction, document type, and/or publication date proved helpful because it streamlined the process of getting exactly what she needed depending on the course requirement for class.
Results: Samantha credits DOKODOC with increasing both her understanding of complex legal topics and her ability to consistently perform with much higher grades than before. She eventually began uploading her own annotated case briefs to the community and creating focused collections to contribute back as well as build out an archival portfolio for future employment opportunities.
“DOKODOC took the process of researching the case law from a tedious process into something that was inspiring. The combination of not having to pay to access all the available documents combined with the collaborative platform really made a difference.”
Case Study 2: Accelerating Law Firm Processes for Attorneys and Staff
Chicago business law firm Rosen & Patel LLP needed a cost-effective, centralized source of legal forms and contracts for streamlining service delivery. The firm had previously attempted to create an in-house library of business- and IP law templates, but was hamstrung by time constraints and an inconsistent database of documents.
The managing partner at Rosen & Patel, David Rosen, turned to DOKODOC Legal Services for access to a broad selection of business law document templates and sample agreements. The curated (and user-generated) library of PDFs included forms for NDAs, corporate bylaws, bitlaw agreements and more-many were downloadable and ready for customization.
By adding DOKODOC resources to their workflow, Rosen & Patel increased compliance, reduced document drafting time by 40% and improved client satisfaction. Further, the team shared several of its own templates and garnered attention from their peers, publishers, and potential clients in the process.
“DOKODOC’s free legal documents really made a difference in our practice,” says Rosen, whose first choice now is to look for quality resources via DOKODOC.
Case Study 3: A Home for Emerging Legal Authors
Background: Jordan Mitchell, an attorney affiliated with Thomson Reuters’ Westlaw and an emerging professional in legal publishing, sought to publish his research on the evolving landscape of data privacy legislation. He encountered significant challenges with traditional academic journals, which often presented cumbersome submission processes and were generally unwelcoming to submissions from junior lawyers.
Solution: Jordan successfully uploaded his original research paper on data privacy directly to DOKODOC Legal Services, enabling him to publish his work for the legal community. The platform’s beginner tips sub-section and publishing resources section provided guidance on formatting, citation, and metadata best practices, instilling confidence that his work would reach the appropriate audience.
Results: Within weeks of publication, Jordan’s data privacy paper was highlighted as a featured document. The downloads from attorneys, educators, and fellow students nationwide opened doors to unexpected speaking opportunities and professional connections.
“DOKODOC gave me a voice and an audience I just couldn’t even imagine at this stage. The whole free to join open model is something that all new legal writers should have access to.”
Case Study 4: Enriching Law Teaching Resources for Professors and Students
Overview: DePaul University Law School Professor Emily Vasquez sought for the first time to expose her students in an advanced-level civil procedure class to more diverse legal materials. While the university’s law library collection contains a significant amount of resources, it does not necessarily cover the latest research geared specifically towards practitioners.
Solution: By offering DOKODOC Legal Services through her syllabus, Professor Vasquez was able to grant her students access to a constantly-updated trove of legal-focused PDF documents. The featured and latest document page helped to guarantee that students were continually exposed to relevant trends and cases, while the platform’s document uploads were used by many of her students to share peer-to-peer research.
Results: In addition to improved academic performance, the course also saw higher student engagement rates. Through DOKODOC, some students even took the initiative to publish their own research and case summaries.
“DOKODOC connects the scanned world of academia with that of the practitioner. It has quickly become a critical teaching resource within my classroom.”
Case Study 5: Making Law Firm Resources Easy to Find for Solo Practitioners and Small Firms
San Diego family law attorney and solo practitioner Lisa Chen needed quick access to state-specific legal guides, court forms, and procedural checklists. With a small staff, time was short and commercial document databases expensive.
By signing up for a free account on the DOKODOC Legal Services platform, Lisa had immediate access to downloadable non-interactive templates for family law documents she needed regularly, such as parenting plans and divorce settlement agreements. She also appreciated that those documents came with related state-specific court instructions, all easily organized through the platform’s simple interface and social login options.
Lisa estimates she saves several hours per week on document preparation and can spend more time advocating for her clients in court. She began uploading her own practice area checklists and best practice documents and quickly received positive feedback from other practitioners.
“DOKODOC levels the playing field for small firms and solo attorneys. I believe it is an essential tool for every attorney.”
A Community Curated Resource: Community Contributions in Action
One of DOKODOC Legal Services’ unique advantages is its collaborative community. Every day, legal professionals, students, and educators add new documents, guides, and information to the platform. This user-generated content not only allows the resource library to grow, but also creates an overall community of support and professional empowerment. Our users appreciate DOKODOC’s invitation to new voices and the ability to share legal ideas with a national audience. With daily news updates, emerging legal trends, and a growing history that spans all areas of U.S. law, DOKODOC is being shaped continually by its users.
What Makes DOKODOC Legal Services Effective: Why It Works
The impressive performance highlighted in the case studies above is a result of DOKODOC’s inherent capabilities:
- Completely free of charge: no paywalls or subscriptions, no hidden fees
- Comprehensive coverage of U.S. legal documents covering guides, manuals, templates, case law, and even academic papers
- Easy-to-understand publishing support platforms and tips to help new legal authors
- Secure user accounts and social logins to boost engagement
- Powerful search tools to easily find the right legal documentation in the right format
- Fresh featured documents and latest documents sections so that they remain current and relevant
DOKODOC has the tools and resources you need to effectively engage with clients or begin your career as a legal author if you are a practicing attorney, law student, educator, or aspiring legal author.
Get Involved: Begin Sharing, Downloading and Connecting Today
DOKODOC Legal Services is connecting with a nationwide community of legal professionals, professors, and students working at the forefront of legal publishing. Free registration allows you to upload your legal documents, access a full network of legal resources, and share your creative input on the law. Any support, feedback, or partnership opportunities may be directed to our Contact DOKODOC page, by phone at (312) 603-3105, or via email at [email protected]. Learn how DOKODOC can help you accomplish your goals and participate in the creation of the next wave of enduring legal scholarship.