AI for law firms

The practice management software handles files, deadlines and billable time. The following cases are about written submissions, contracts and records that are read, compared and answered in the firm.

First, the opposing party’s submission. A statement of defence or reply arrives as a PDF. Under Article 222(2) ZPO, the defendant sets out in detail which factual allegations it acknowledges or disputes. Vectoryon compares the submission with the files and earlier submissions and lists contradictions, undisputed points and allegations without evidence, each with a page reference. From this, a draft statement is created with references to the enclosures. The lawyer assesses the submission, revises the draft and signs.

Second, the list of evidence. Under Article 221(1)(e) ZPO, the statement of claim names the individual items of evidence for each alleged fact, and under paragraph 2(d) a list of evidence is part of it. The enclosures from the file are numbered, each factual allegation in the draft gets an item of evidence, and allegations without proof are flagged. The lawyer decides which evidence is offered and also closes the gaps.

Third, the opposing party’s draft contract. Next to the firm’s template, a list shows every deviation and every missing clause, together with a wording proposal. One example is the non-compete clause in an employment contract: under Article 340(1) CO it must be in writing, and under Article 340a(1) CO it must be reasonably limited in place, time and subject matter and may only exceed three years in special circumstances. The lawyer assesses whether the clause holds in the individual case.

Fourth, the fee note. Under Article 12(i) BGFA, the lawyer informs the client of the principles of invoicing and, on request, of the amount of the fee. Under Article 400(1) CO, she must account for the conduct of the mandate on request. The assistant checks the draft fee note against the export of the time records and the fee agreement and lists items without a time entry, duplicate entries and deviating hourly rates. The lawyer corrects the note and approves it.

Fifth, the formation of a limited liability company (GmbH) at the notary’s office. Article 71(1) of the Commercial Register Ordinance lists the supporting documents for registration, including the articles of association, proof that the managing directors have accepted their election and, for cash contributions, the bank’s confirmation. Vectoryon checks the documents received against this list and the notary’s office checklist and writes the draft of an email to the client listing the missing documents. Notarisation and registration with the commercial register office stay with the notary.

Legal tech in Switzerland covers very different tools: practice management software for files, time recording and invoicing, databases with case law and literature, programs for document review in due diligence, and tools for contract templates.

Vectoryon belongs to none of these groups. It is an AI workspace that works on the firm’s email, calendar and documents and prepares the office work around a mandate. It reads what is in the mailbox and in the connected file store. The practice management software remains responsible for time recording, file management and invoicing. A typical use: in the morning, the assistant summarises the new incoming items of all mandates and lists the proposed deadlines.

Nor does Vectoryon replace a legal database. The assistant has no access to case law and commentaries from paid collections. Anyone who needs research uses the database the firm subscribes to. What the assistant delivers is order in the inbox, deadlines in the calendar and drafts from the firm’s own templates. How an AI agent works with tools is explained under AI agents.