How Hartley & Associates Reduced Client Onboarding from 1 Week to Same-Day with Secure E-Signatures
About Hartley & Associates Law Firm
Hartley & Associates is a boutique law firm specializing in business law, contracts, and intellectual property. Founded by Jennifer Hartley in 2012, the firm serves startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs throughout New England. The team prides itself on providing big-firm expertise with personalized attention.
The Challenge
Wet Signature Requirements Were Slowing Everything Down
Legal documents traditionally require wet signatures, which meant clients had to physically come to the office or deal with printing, signing, and mailing documents. For busy entrepreneurs and out-of-state clients, this created significant friction.
New client onboarding often took a full week between sending engagement letters, waiting for signatures, and processing retainer agreements. Documents occasionally got lost in the mail, requiring the entire process to restart.
- Client onboarding took 5-7 business days on average
- Out-of-state clients required mail-based signatures
- Mailed documents were occasionally lost
- No visibility into where documents were in the signing process
- Physical document storage consuming office space
The Solution
Legally Binding E-Signatures with Complete Audit Trails
Hartley & Associates implemented Formfy for all client-facing documents including engagement letters, retainer agreements, NDAs, and contract approvals. Every signature includes a complete audit trail with timestamps, IP addresses, and signing certificates.
The firm created standardized workflows for different practice areas. When a new client inquiry comes in, they can send the entire onboarding package electronically and have a signed engagement letter back within hours.
Features Used
The Results
Same-Day Client Onboarding and Zero Lost Documents
The transformation in client experience has been remarkable. New clients can now complete their entire onboarding process — from initial intake form to signed engagement letter — in a single day, often within hours.
The firm has complete visibility into document status at all times. The detailed audit trails satisfy both compliance requirements and client expectations for security. They haven't lost a single document since implementing the system.
- Client onboarding reduced from 1 week to same-day
- 100% document tracking with complete audit trails
- Zero lost documents since implementation
- Out-of-state clients sign remotely with ease
- 75% reduction in physical document storage
The audit trail feature gives us and our clients complete peace of mind. Every signature is timestamped, every action is logged, and we have legally binding documentation for everything. Our clients appreciate the convenience, and our compliance team sleeps better at night.
Jennifer Hartley
Managing Partner at Hartley & Associates Law Firm
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