Build vs Buy AI Document Review Software for Law Firms

Video transcript

The article compares buying shared document review software with building a custom reviewer.

Buying means subscribing to existing software and adapting the review process to it. Building means commissioning a reviewer that matches the firm's current workflow.

Buying suits standard needs, steady document volume, and a tool needed this quarter. Platforms are priced per seat and often by document volume, so cost grows. The trade-off is control because vendors set update schedules.

A custom build pays off when review logic is genuinely specific to the practice. High volume spreads development cost, and built reviewers improve with accumulated test data. A client-facing product needs ownership because licensing another engine limits pricing.

Buy-side cost follows seats, document volume, and premium modules. Build cost follows review rules, integrations, and accuracy testing, plus lawyer labeling time. A platform pilot can show useful output within weeks, while a build runs for months.

Test a platform trial and a build scoping sprint on one closed matter. Compare accuracy, time to useful output, and three-year cost including lawyer hours. With a vendor, get written answers on inference, retention, subcontractors, and training.