A Candid Conversation on Legal Innovation
At echo.legal, we help law firms and in-house teams make document automation work in practice. Over the past two years, we’ve worked with Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS) to integrate automation into their workflows in a way that makes sense for their lawyers.
To explore their experience, we spoke with Tessa Bartley (Head of Legal Technology), Kate Knox (Knowledge Development Lawyer), and Antony Vundi (Trainee Solicitor) about what worked, what didn’t, and what advice they’d give to other firms.
Getting Started: Technology Without a Clear Plan
When Tessa Bartley joined CRS in 2021, the firm already had Contract Express, HighQ, and DocuSign. These tools had been introduced during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but without a dedicated legal tech team, they weren’t used to their full potential.
“The challenge was making sure we used these tools properly,” Tessa said. “Without an internal team, things just weren’t progressing.”
“Working with echo.legal helped us get things moving”
With echo.legal’s help, CRS automated frequently used documents first, showing quick wins to get buy-in from lawyers across the firm.
Breaking Old Habits: Getting Lawyers to Trust Automation
One of the biggest obstacles wasn’t the technology itself. It was getting lawyers to trust it. Many knowledge lawyers and senior associates still kept manual versions of documents “just in case.”
“There was hesitation,” Tessa said. “People worried about what would happen if the system went down, so they kept their own versions. But that made things less efficient.”
By refining automation, providing hands-on training, and proving reliability, CRS gradually moved towards making automation the default.
“echo.legal worked with us to make sure automation fit the way our lawyers worked”
Tessa added. “That made all the difference.”
A Big Shift: No-Code & All-Options Templates
A turning point came with the introduction of no-code, all-options templates. These allowed CRS lawyers to generate clean, flexible precedents from a single automated source.
Kate Knox, who manages the firm’s precedents, explained:
“We automated a suite of consultant appointments but still maintained both automated and manual versions. One reason was the need for clean versions for clients, training, or industry-wide comparisons, especially with recent construction law changes”
By introducing all-options templates, CRS eliminated redundant work and ensured everyone worked from up-to-date documents.
Another game-changer with these types of templates is the ability to generate partial precedents. If an associate or trainee needed just the retail version of a lease, for example, they can generate it instantly instead of editing a master document manually. Features like this can save so much time and make sure everyone is using the most up to date language.
What Trainees Really Think About Automation
Some worry that automation reduces learning opportunities for junior lawyers. At CRS, the opposite is true.
“Using automated templates doesn’t mean going into auto-pilot. It can actually be a better way of learning” said trainee solicitor Antony Vundi.
“Instead of spending hours formatting documents, we focus on reviewing, negotiating, and problem-solving”
Kate agreed. “The real learning happens in the next stage – negotiations, structuring deals, and understanding why different clauses matter. If we free up time by automating structural work, that’s a win.”
To ensure trainees still learn, CRS built guidance into the templates, so they understand why specific clauses are used rather than just copy/pasting precedents.
The Russell Up Programme: Teaching Legal Tech from Day One
To keep innovation going, CRS launched Russell Up, a programme where trainees work on legal tech projects as part of their training.
“Trainees work on projects covering document automation, AI, data visualisation, and process automation,” Antony said.
“By the end of each [trainee] seat, they’ve delivered a real tech solution to their team”
This approach ensures junior lawyers learn the tech skills they’ll need as the profession evolves but also helps to solidify innovation into the CRS culture as the trainees move through the Firm.
Beyond Automation: The Bigger Picture
Under Joe Cohen’s leadership, CRS’s Advanced Client Solutions team has been rethinking legal service delivery, making legal work more efficient, cost-effective, and engaging.
“We’re not adding tech just for the sake of it”
Tessa said. “We’re looking at how work is delivered overall. Whether it’s automation, AI tools like our Sidekick chatbot, or alternative legal resources, it all has to fit together.”
What Other Law Firms Can Learn from CRS
For firms considering document automation, CRS’s experience offers a few key lessons:
✅ Start small, but think long-term – quick wins build confidence, but automation should be part of a bigger strategy.
✅ People need to trust the system – if lawyers don’t believe automation works, they won’t use it.
✅ No-code templates save time – they reduce duplication and make updates easier.
✅ Train lawyers on legal tech – future lawyers must be comfortable with automation and AI.
✅ Technology should support the business strategy – automation should align with the firm’s broader goals
Watch the Full Conversation
To hear more from the CRS team, watch the full video interview here
To find out more about the work we have done with CRS, read our recent case study
If you’re thinking about document automation in your firm, whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve what you already have, get in touch with echo.legal.
We’d love to help.