This month, legaltech startup LexMeet launches LexDocs, an AI-driven tool for clients that need to quickly and affordably draft legal documents. LexDocs joins a full ecosystem of legaltech services, with more products slated for launch early next year.
CEO Atty. Marlon Valderama formally launched LexMeet in 2018 to address the stunning lack of access to legal services among Filipinos. According to a survey conducted by the World Justice Project that year, only 20% of Filipinos had access to any type of legal assistance. Of that 20%, most consult with friends, families, and institutions, with only 15% seeking help from actual lawyers.
Initially, Atty. Valderama sought to service the growing number of overseas Filipino workers needing legal advice for their affairs back home—a demographic that continues to account for more than half of LexMeet’s clients. Today, LexMeet caters not only to OFWs, but also SMEs and startups, connecting about 900 lawyers with over 40,000 clients served so far.
Their latest product, LexDocs, uses a simple chatbot interface that asks users about their general needs, specific requirements, and preferences for how aggressive or conservative their goals are in each agreement, in order to build an array of documents in real time. These documents, like a deed of sale, for example, can then either be downloaded or sent to one of LexMeet’s accredited lawyers for review. Options for free cursory reviews, or paid extensive reviews are then provided. Atty. Valderama hopes LexDocs will continue breaking down the barriers for Filipinos too intimidated to engage with lawyers to address their needs—a goal he says guides the development of all the services in his startup’s ecosystem.
Future iterations of this product will also incorporate machine learning tools to better tailor suggestions to the specific needs of longer-term users, while also integrating the feedback of lawyers. LexDocs joins a number of other services, including Consult, a teleconferencing platform connecting clients with partner lawyers, and Assist, a free service that allows users to post their legal issues, while incentivizing lawyers in LexMeet’s ecosystem to respond with free guidance.
LexMeet’s latest product launch kicks off a series of expansions scheduled over the next few years. “For 2022, our main focus is integrating our legal management software LexOffice,” Atty. Valderama said. “This is designed for small and medium-sized law firms to manage their day-to-day operations in their offices. We actually tried to pilot this in 2015, under the name e-Law Solutions. But despite getting a lot of interest, we encountered technical hurdles in the kinds of cloud services available at the time. So now we’re going to be rebranding it as LexOffice, integrating it fully into the LexMeet ecosystem.”
Atty. Valderama says that LexMeet’s goal is to be a one-stop shop for legal services in the Philippines and beyond. In 2023, Atty. Valderama will be adding another two products to LexMeet’s ecosystem. “I’ve already finished designs for an e-notary service and an online dispute resolution platform,” he said. “Those should be ready to launch as early as next year.” In total, LexMeet has 12 additional services in the pipeline, with partnerships already in place to begin offering those services in Malaysia in the near future.