How We Run Reidel Law Firm on Open-Source and Cutting-Edge Tech in 2025

The Evolution of Our Law Firm’s Tech Stack

The legal industry is notoriously slow to adopt new technology, but at Reidel Law Firm, we’ve always embraced efficiency, security, and mobility as core principles in running a modern law practice. Our commitment to open-source software (FOSS), automation, and decentralized legal tools has only strengthened over the past few years, allowing us to operate lean, secure, and highly productive—without relying on traditional law firm software monopolies.

When I first wrote about my DEX-powered law firm, I was transitioning away from laptops and running my legal practice entirely from a Samsung Galaxy Fold4 with Samsung DeX. I was focused on reducing complexity, increasing portability, and eliminating unnecessary dependencies on proprietary software. Since then, the law firm’s tech stack has evolved significantly—not just in hardware, but in how we leverage AI, cloud computing, and workflow automation to serve our franchise and international trade clients more efficiently.

One of the biggest shifts in our tech strategy has been the deeper integration of AI-powered legal tools to automate contract analysis, streamline FDD reviews, and enhance client communications and understanding. While we remain committed to privacy-first, self-hosted solutions, the right blend of machine learning and workflow automation has helped us cut down on repetitive tasks while increasing accuracy and speed in document reviews.

Security and data control remain a top priority. As before, we continue to self-host our cloud storage, office suite, and legal matter management, ensuring that sensitive client data is never at risk with big tech providers like Google or Microsoft. At the same time, we’ve refined our approach to remote work, cross-platform compatibility, and AI-assisted legal workflows, making it easier than ever to run a fully functional law office from anywhere in the world—whether I’m in Texas, Panama, or the UAE.

This article is an update on how we’ve improved and refined our law firm’s tech stack, from hardware upgrades and AI-driven legal work to automation and mobile-first lawyering. If you’re a legal professional looking to optimize your workflow, reduce costs, and increase security, I hope this breakdown provides insights into how to make technology work for you—not the other way around.

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Core Hardware & Setup (Office & Travel)

📍 Office Setup: A Lean Yet Powerful Workstation

My primary office setup remains focused on simplicity, performance, and security. I still prefer a Linux/Android-based workstation, but my peripherals and workflow integration have improved significantly.

🔹 Computer: A Samsung Galaxy Fold5 running Dex as my primary working OS. Within Android I am also able to run a Linux desktop environment (XFCE) or a full Linux OS (Manjaro XFCE) through Termux and Andronix. This gives me nearly unlimited flexibility to run additional software or handle additional tasks that are not possible or easy in Android. Note that it is no longer necessary to root your Android phone to be able to install a Linux DE or OS, but it is for advanced users. Don’t expect to come from Apple products and have it all done for you.
🔹 Monitor and Cam: A Dell 27” UltraSharp for a clean, minimal desk setup. On top of that is a Logitech [] USB-c webcam. Great resolution and easy to use.
🔹 Keyboard & Mouse: ThinkPad TrackPoint II keyboard + Elecom Relecon ergonomic trackball mouse (perfect for both office and travel).
🔹 Speaker/Microphone: Ankerwork S600 Speaker which has noise canceling with an AI model trained on my voice to eliminate extra noise and other office sounds during calls and presentations.
🔹 Docking & Connectivity: Anker 6-in-1 USB-C hub for streamlined connections & Minisopuru USB-C hub for additional USB-C ports when needed.

This setup gives me maximum flexibility while maintaining control over sensitive legal data. I continue to self-host critical business tools, ensuring we never rely on Google, Microsoft, or Apple’s ecosystems for our client work.

🛫 Travel Setup: A Mobile Law Office That Fits in a Backpack

For years, I’ve focused on eliminating the need for a laptop when I travel internationally (have you ever tried to fly into the US with multiple electronics and gadgets? – and, no from Europe doesn’t count. Try from Turkey, UAE, Russia, China, etc. – not fun), and that approach has only improved with new technology. My current travel setup allows me to work anywhere in the world with a full legal workstation—without the bulk of a traditional laptop setup.

🔹 Computer: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 running Samsung DeX.
🔹 Wearable Display: XREAL Air AR glasses (formerly Nreal Air) for a large virtual screen while on flights or working from a hotel. Previously I used to also carry a Uperfect portable monitor but I have also stopped bringing that along as it tended to negate my travel without a laptop since I would have to take it out for security checkpoints. Also, with the advent of wireless Dex, I can now even use Dex wirelessly to the smart TV in my hotel room. Or in a worst case scenario, I can use the monitors in the hotel business station.
🔹 Keyboard & Mouse: ThinkPad TrackPoint II Keyboard & Elecom Relecon ergonomic trackball mouse (perfect for travel and lightweight).
🔹 Docking & Connectivity: Anker 6-in-1 USB-C hub (portable and versatile) & Anker PowerCore III wireless battery for all-day mobile power.

The biggest upgrade to my travel setup has been the improved performance of DeX and wireless capabilities, allowing for true laptop-free productivity with minimal compromises. The XREAL Air AR glasses have also been a game-changer, giving me an on-demand, floating workspace while traveling without needing to set up a monitor.

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Operating Systems & Security: Keeping Client Data Safe Without Big Tech

Security and privacy remain top priorities at Reidel Law Firm. As a law firm handling sensitive client matters—especially in franchise law and international trade—we can’t afford to rely on Big Tech services that harvest data, track user activity, or lack transparency. Instead, we’ve built a custom, self-hosted infrastructure that gives us complete control over our data, while ensuring seamless collaboration and mobility.

📌 Linux as the Core OS: No Windows, No Mac, No Problem

At Reidel Law Firm, we continue to run an Android/Linux-first office, using Android as our primary operating system with Linux running our servers. Why?

✅ Enhanced Security – No forced updates, no bloatware, no hidden tracking.
✅ Customizability – We tailor our setup for legal workflows, rather than being stuck with pre-packaged, one-size-fits-all solutions.
✅ Reliability – Linux systems are far less prone to crashes, bugs, and security vulnerabilities than Windows or macOS.
✅ No Licensing Fees – The entire setup is free, with no costly software subscriptions draining the firm’s budget.

For daily operations, my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (running DeX) acts as a full workstation, while my self-hosted cloud ensures I have access to everything I need without relying on Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud.

Our core software and application tech stack includes the following list. We will cover each in more detail a bit later but this is the quick cheatsheet for you. Note these are not all of my apps but they are the core apps I use everyday for business and legal work.

Local Apps:

• Nextcloud Files
• Verizon OneTalk
• FairEmail
• Collabora Office
• Vivaldi
• Xodo PDF
• Logseq
• Tasks.org
• Solid Explorer
• Nextcloud Talk
• Nextcloud Deck
• GPTmobile
• Librera FD
• Perplexity AI
• Nextcloud News
• Samsung Notes
• Samsung Voice Recorder
• KeepassDX
• ProtonVPN
• Kagi Search
• AVNC
• Termux
• Andronix
• Davx5
• USB Camera Pro
• Tasker
• GoodLock
• LinkedIn
• X

Cloud Based Apps:

• Nextcloud Server:
  • Files
  • Collabora Office Suite
  • Calendar
  • Deck
  • Tasks
  • Mail
  • Contacts
  • Talk
  • Appointments
  • Collectives
  • News
• WordPress:
  • Groundhogg
  • Gravity Forms
  • Uncanny Automator
  • LifterLMS
• MayanEDMS
• Docuseal
• Calibre-Web
• OpenContracts
• ZuvaAI
• Carbone.io

Let’s examine the most important categories for our software and explore how they keep our law practice running smoothe.

Self-Hosted, Cloud Applications

Instead of storing sensitive client documents on Google Drive or Dropbox or paying for various other insecure SAAS applications, we use a self-hosted Nextcloud server, which gives us:

✅ 100% data ownership – No risk of third-party access or government overreach into client files.
✅ Secure, encrypted storage – Full end-to-end encryption for all client documents and communications.
✅ Seamless collaboration – Documents are synced across our devices while remaining under our control.

More specifically we use Nextcloud as the core digital business hub for all of our law firm projects, tasks, and documents. Nextcloud has expanded from simple secured file storage to a full business suite of tools. Here are the Nextcloud apps we use and how we use them:

• Files – We use the base Nextcloud Files application for storing our law firm documents, client files, and project files. It allows us to find and use our documents anywhere in the world, securely. We host Nextcloud on our own server and add custom extensions and workflows to automate routine tasks.
• Collabora Office Suite – We have Collabora Office built-in to our Nextcloud server which allows us to create, open, edit office documents from the browser or from the app anywhere in the world. It keeps our versions in order, auto-saves, and tracks who and what has changed to a document. It is an invaluable replacement to Microsoft or Google office applications.
• Calendar – Our firm calendar is kept within Nextcloud Calendar. We can set individual calendars, team calendars, and even allow clients to set their own appointments based on our calendar availability (with the Appointments app). I sync my NC calendar and various team calendars to my Fold5 so I am kept up to date on the latest and keep my calls and tasks on time.
• Deck – Deck is a powerful kanban board where we track client projects and higher level, long term internal projects. This is differentiated from NC Tasks through the kanban project management methodology and allows us to assign team members, set dates, add comments/note, add tags, and even to link the Deck card to our client’s project file in Nextcloud. This is the primary project management driver for our client work.
• Tasks – For our more granular tasks and internal, one-off tasks we use the Tasks app. It has a great set of features such as specialized lists, priority settings, deadlines, assignments, notes, tags, locations, and even an option to add to calendars within NC. I use a Tasks list called ‘Inbox’ to dumb any important thoughts or tasks that I need to organize and schedule later. This helps me keep my working flow remain uninterrupted and lowers the barrier to get an idea or task down for later handling. I then organize the Inbox list and move specific tasks to their organized list, set the correct priority, and a deadline if needed at that time. It creates a seamless workflow for capturing, organizing, and accomplishing lower level, non-project based tasks.
• Mail – Now the NC Mail app is not something I would recommend daily driving. It still has some bugs and the UI is not conducive for power users. But it is a nice app to have handy, I do like the AI generated summaries of my email threads to keep me aware of what is happening and ge the details I need at a quick glance. For more robust daily power email use, I recommend another app in NC, SnappyMail. It has a dated UI but is very functional and familiar for people emailing all day. Note that my primary email client is a local application, FairEmail, but I do like to have the option and ability to read and respond to emails from NC in the browser when needed.
• Contacts – Nextcloud has a built-in contacts manager application that I use for both personal and business contacts that I then sync to my phone and other devices to keep my lists backed up and available wherever I am. Be aware that NC Contacts app is only that, it is not a deep database manager like many other contact applications. For example, NC Contacts does not have the ability to add custom fields for your contact cards. While this is probably not the biggest deal breaker for many people, it is annoying for someone who wants everything customt o my own workflows. I would like to make my contact cards more robust and link to other details in NC – like a specific client file, or email, or task, etc. I will likely build my own solution for this which I can do because Nextcloud is open source, another great benefit.
• Talk – NC Talk is the video calling and chat app within Nextcloud. It has grown strides in recent years and is now my team communication and collaboration tool of choise for my law firm. We have chatrooms for specific internal teams and can link or add files, tasks, deck cards, and more from within NC Talk. This lowers friction from having to upload a document to a separate chat application and either risk losing the document in the future or having to download and then manually add the document to your cloud storage. With NC Talk, it is all integrated. Another great feature of Talk is that you can invite non-team members to your calls. So for clients who need a video call or presentation, we can schedule the call and automatically send them a link to join. No more separate calendar, calling, and collaboration apps even with clients.
• Appointments – The Appointments app allows us to setup specialized meeting calendars and lets clients schedule their own intro or followup calls based on our availability in the firm calendars. This is a tremendous help in streamlining and automating my law firm. Now I don’t have to worry about emailing back and forth to set a time or having clients ask when I am available. I just have to send the link and let the client choose the day and time best for them. The Appointments app checks my calendar and only allows bookings when I am free, then updates my calendar to make sure that new appointment is set and not double-booked. No more Calendly and Zapier integrations and fees.
• Collectives – Collectives is an interesting wiki app inside NC. It is where I create and store our internal company policies, SOPs, manuals, and other assorted tips & tricks for my team. I like that ability to assign teams or individuals to see specific collectives so I can keep my documents narrowly tailored for the team and projects necessary. Collectives also handles markdown structure, so you can create a wide range of visually appealing documents. I have spent a lot of time developing various project management and team manuals in Collectives. That will be the subject of future articles. It is a great tool to keep your documentation streamlined and relevant.
• Notes – Notes app is simply that, an easy note taker like a notepad. I do not use this app specifically very often but I wanted to mention it because it can be useful and I also use it in conjunction with another local app I use, Logseq. I will expand more on Logseq later, NC Notes allows me to view my Logseq markdown files within Nextcloud. So I can view my database anytime and anywhere.
• News – I am a big believer in using RSS feeds to get your daily news. If you are still browsing to a news website to catch up the daily essentials, you are wasting a huge amount of time. Those news websites are now designed not to inform you, but to keep you on their page and feed you ads. So they create dark patterns that subconciously influence you to do certain things – think clickbait but without you even being aware of it. Time waste, awful. I use old fashioned RSS feeds from my top news sites to streamline my daily news reading and cut out all the noise and garbage.

Besides Nextcloud, we use several other self hosted cloud applications for various other tasks and workflows. Several of these are based within our WordPress site. WordPress is an open source and highly customizable platform for website content and interaction. Within WordPress we use the following:

• Groundhogg – Most law firms rely on proprietary, cloud-based CRM systems that come with high subscription costs and limited customization. Instead, we’ve implemented a self-hosted CRM (Groundhogg) + Nextcloud-based workflow system, allowing us to fully control client data, automate intake, and streamline case tracking. Groundhogg holds our full email contact list, it has contact cards we customize with tags and specific meta data from our contacts (industry, questions they asked, information about their company they have shared, etc.), it also runs our marketing and outreach funnels with both SMS and emails, and with robut reporting for our key marketing metrics. This is our marketing and outreach engine that automates much of the routine law firm marketing tasks.
• Gravity Forms – Our law firm handles everything on a flat fee basis. We also have specific packages for the most common work that we undertake for clients. With Gravity Forms we can automate the client onboarding by taking their necessary details, documents, and even payment to get started on one of our packages. This has been a lifesaver for automating my client onboarding and project creation workflow. It is all done automatically when the client submits the form. Gravity Forms also has integrations with Groundhogg, Uncanny Automator, and its own PDF generator to streamline data sharing to other apps and create easy client documents.
• Uncanny Automator – Do you use Zapier? It probably gets a bit expensive the more you want to use it. Well I am here to say that there are robust Zapier replacements like Uncanny Automator that can help automate your workflows without costly subscriptions or proprietary software. We use UA to send our clients to our Academy site and enroll them in specific courses automatically. We also use it to generate customized responses and analysis based on our AI agents from data that clients submit. This is only breaking the surface of what automator tools like UA can do for law firms.
• LifterLMS – Our Reidel Law Firm Law Academy is hosted using LifterLMS on WordPress. It is easy to setup and very robust for our needs as a client learning platform. Our clients get exclusive, on-demand access to our courses and commentary based on the project they have with Reidel Law Firm. This helps take the burden of answering repetitive and basic questions from our lawyers and team and allows the client to find the specific questions and answers they need at any time. This has helped cut our FDD Review followup calls from 90 minutes to less than 45 minutes.

There are other applications we utilize in the cloud that either self hosted on our server or maintained by a third party. These applications cannot be hosted within Nextcloud or WordPress so it requires their own server. These apps include:

• MayanEDMS – Shamefully I have not used MayanEDMS to its full potential as a document management system. I primarily have used it as a document repo and archive for inactive case files. I have some big plans for better utilizing Mayan but they are still in the planning phase. I am good friends with the Mayan team and we pitch ideas back and forth often, I suspect in future updates Mayan will have some major workloads.
• Docuseal – Many law firms are still paying for a third party e-sign software, and those rates have become very expensive lately. It still doesn’t solve the full problem of getting your signed documents to the right client folder, which many firms still do manually as well. Instead, I use Docuseal, an open source, selfhosted e-sign platform that I can customize with our own workflows to automatically create, send, and store our signed docs in our Nextcloud server.
• Calibre-Web (with Calibre server backend) – How about those big bulky law libraries we were all so accustomed to in law school? Well those have gone the way of the Dodo. Including my law and personal libraries, I have over 6500 books. This would be impossible to manage in physical form or stuck on a laptop or harddrive. Using Calibre server and Calibre-Web, I am able to host all of my e-books at all times and access it from anywhere in the world. This reduces the need for on-device storage and keeps me informed anywhere I go.
• OpenContracts – One of the biggest tools we use in Reidel Law Firm is AI. Our document reviews are faster with less errors utilizing AI. To use AI you need to have some user facing UI, our choice is a customized OpenContracts intall. This platform allows us to take our AI extractions from ZuvaAI and other platforms and display and manipulate them to meet our needs. This basically means double checking the AI answers and adding any final commentary before the client letter is generated. We previously paid for an all-in-one AI provider which trained a model on our data and needs and then had a GUI to use these extractions in a productive way. That previous provider was bought out by a larger legal firm and the service dropped and cost went up. So I cut that provider and built our own with OpenContracts.
• ZuvaAI – ZuvaAI is our current AI review provider of choice. It is primarily an API based platform which means we send documents and requests using code and receive back the answers and extractions through code. Then we plug in the extractions and data into our OpenContracts platform to use it for legal work. Zuva also has the ability for us to special train their extraction model on the questions and answers we want. Meaning we can better utilize AI by basing its responses and answers on our own data which leads to better outputs for us and clients that are more tailored to how Reidel Law Firm approaches legal work.
• Cabone.io – Now once we have those extractions and reviewed data from Zuva and OpenContracts, we have to send that data to generate a client letter. This is where Carbone.io comes in. While it is a simple report generator at surface level, it has some customizations and abilities that fit our need to generate client letters based on the data we extract. This helps cut our drafting and client work times dramatically. Automate everything!

Local Applications

As you saw earlier I have a long list of local apps I utilize. Most of them are fairly routine and easy to understand their use case. For the most important or those that I think have unique use cases that are interesting I will profile next:

• NextCloud Files – Its the generic Files app right? Well, yes mostly. But what I find most unique and helpful about the NC Files app for Android is that it doubles as a document editor with the full capabilities of Collabora Office. So even if I don’t want to open the file locally and edit it in the Collabora Office Android app, I can just open it in Nextcloud Files and edit the document on the server. Quick and easy. Another unique feature of the NC Files app is that you can access the NC Assistant inside the Files app. This is very helpful if you selfhost your own AI models and want to run certain tasks or questions to your own AI model without it going to any big tech or suspicious AI platform.
• Collabora Office – This app is a full-featured document editor and a great open-source alternative to Microsoft Office with DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and real-time collaboration support. We use this app every day for drafting, editing, and finalizing client and firm legal documents and maintaining consistency with templated legal documents stored in Nextcloud from any device, anywhere in the world. No monthly fees!
• FairEmail – FairEmail has become my favorite email client with extreme customizations and integrations that put other proprietary apps to shame. It is a privacy-focused, but very customizable email client – no tracking, no ads, and full encryption support. Multi-account management and rules & filters are the email poweruser killer features – Automates sorting, flagging, and prioritizing client correspondence.
• Vivaldi – Browsers are a bit of a double edged sword on Android, they are almost all proprietary and very few work well with Dex or other non-touchscreen interfaces. I went through every browser available on Android and Vivaldi is by far the most feature rich and useable browser in any device mode. Specifically I chose Vivaldi because: Highly customizable (change your menus, themes, UI, favorite functions, and more), multiple windows – yes just like your computer!, superb tab management (tabs within tabs), note-taking features, works with 1Password and KeepasDX password managers, and a sometimes reliable sync feature to share your browser tabs across devices. Other options that didn’t work: Firefox – horrible, I mean horrible tab management, not designed for desktop mode, and has really fallen behind other browser development in recent years. Samsung Internet – limited customizations, cannot import bookmarks from other browsers (really, they expect you to write it all up by hand!?), no support for password managers, and the built-in Samsung password manager does not recognize subdomains, meaning only about half of my passwords were even functional.
• Verizon OneTalk – Pretty basic stuff here. Reliable major carrier softphone, easy to use overseas on any physical sim network. One business number, multiple devices.Lot of other features you can use that I haven’t spent the time to figure out. Good luck getting a rep who is reposnive though…
• Xodo PDF – This is my PDF editor of choice on Android. It has all the essential and power features I need and an easy UI that I can get through quickly. Advanced PDF editing and annotation – Perfect for reviewing Franchise Agreements, FDDs, and Leases.
• Logseq – Logseq is one of my favorite and most used apps. It is a personal knowledge management platform that uses plain markdown files and blocks to be easily customizable and highly efficient. When I am exploring ideas or need to take down a quick though before it vanishes, I use Logseq to capture and later process it for future use. Privacy-first knowledge management – An offline alternative to Notion or Obsidian. Powerful idea linking & note-taking – Great for legal case tracking, research, and strategy.
• Tasks.org – A fairly straightforward tasks application. Fully customizable task manager – Open-source alternative to Todoist or Microsoft To-Do. Syncs with Nextcloud Tasks – Works with our “Inbox” task system for streamlined workflows.
• Solid Explorer – An faster, more feature filled replacement for the Samsung My Files app. Puts a real file manager at your finger tips for local or cloud files.
• GPTmobile – This is a neat AI platform aggregator. This means I can send a single query or request to multiple AI platforms. Currently I have it able to pull responses from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Grok models. Based on the best response from all three, I can then choose which to use for the specific task I need with the best outputs.
• Librera FD – This is a fantastic, feature packed PDF reader. While I prefer to edit PDFs in Xoho, you can’t beat the features in Librera that I love including: automatic PDF scrolling, voice reader mode, automatic syncing to Calibre-Web, and screen customizations to make it easier to read without eye strain in any light condition. it is now my go-to after ditching kindle.
• Perplexity AI – Perplexity is well on its way to becoming my AI assistant of choice on Android. They have released some fantastic new features such as voice search and cited research requests. If you haven’t used Perplexity, check it out it is a great research tool. AI-powered search engine – More accurate legal research than Google. No tracking, no ads – Keeps research focused on factual sources.
• KeepassDX – This is a basic privacy and local password manager. I never used LastPass but seeing how easily they got hacked and billions of unique, supposedly secure passwords were dumped was a major reason I do not trust third party password managers any longer. This keeps my passwords encrypted, local, and accessible whenever I need it.
• Kagi Search – Google search is dead, they just don’t know it yet. Seriously, have you seen the results these days, almost all garbage. Not to mention the heavy handed censorship they have in place. I abandoned Google many years ago but finally found a home with Kagi in 2023. It is a paid search engine that has an incentive to actually provide good results and not serve trashy ads to you. I don’t utilize all of their custom features but I should in the future, its great. Ad-free, unbiased search engine – Ideal for legal research and fact-checking. Supports private, high-quality search indexing.
• Termux – This app creates a full Linux command-line environment inside your Android. Now you may ask, what does a lawyer need with a linux command line interface? Well this interface allows for a full Linux desktop environment install or full OS. For the former only Termux is needed, for the latter you need another app, Andronix. Termux gives me the flexibility to have a full desktop suite of tools on my android anytime and anywhere I need it.
• Andronix – This app pairs with Termux to create a full Linux OS desktop on Android. You can now run a full Linux environment without rooting your device. Supports Manjaro, Ubuntu, and Debian. Keep a portable Linux workstation accessible on any mobile device. Never not have the tools you need to get the job done.
• USB Camera Pro – One of the challenges with using Android as the primary OS for my law firm is that something as simple recording a video in my office for our youtube channel is not so easy given the limitations many video recording apps have for their Android apps. Android as an OS does allow for external webcams to be used to record videos but most video apps do not choose to utilize that function. With this app, I can easily record from my external webcam to record superior video without having to rely on the internal cameras on my device.
• Tasker – This is a local automation application for Android with a ton of tools. Automates repetitive workflows – Connects apps for time-saving automation. I have not yet used this to its full potential either but I have a few offline automations that I can rely upon wherever I am with the Tasker app locally on my device.

Why This Setup Works for a Law Firm

By carefully selecting the right software stack, we’ve built a more efficient, secure, and scalable law firm—without being trapped in Big Tech ecosystems like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Below is a detailed breakdown of the software, platforms, and automations that power our firm.

Most law firms default to overpriced, locked-in SaaS solutions that sacrifice control for convenience. At Reidel Law Firm, we’ve built a system that:

✔ Reduces costs (no unnecessary SaaS fees).
✔ Enhances security (self-hosted, encrypted legal operations).
✔ Improves efficiency (AI + automation handling routine tasks).
✔ Prioritizes mobility (Linux, DeX, and AR-powered workstations).
✔ Maintains client privacy (no third-party data exposure).

The key to this tech stack evolution is reducing dependency on bulky, traditional tech while maintaining full operational capability anywhere at anytime. With this mobile-first, Android-powered, cloud-enabled setup, I can:

✅ Work securely without relying on Big Tech (Google, Microsoft, Apple).
✅ Draft, review, and redline legal documents from any device.
✅ Host client calls, video conferences, and meetings seamlessly.
✅ Automate workflows with self-hosted tools and AI-assisted legal tech.
✅ Maintain complete control over sensitive client data.

As a result, Reidel Law Firm operates just as efficiently anywhere in the world as it does from our Texas office—without sacrificing performance, security, or mobility.

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📌 AI-Powered Document Review & FDD Analysis

🔎 ZuvaAI + OpenContacts + Carbone.io: Automating Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Reviews

AI isn’t here to replace attorneys, but when used correctly, it can enhance legal work and free up time for higher-level client engagement, strategy, and negotiations. Here’s how we’ve integrated AI and automation into our franchise law and international trade law practice.

Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) are long, complex, and dense legal documents that every prospective franchisee must review before signing a franchise agreement. In the past, reviewing these documents required hours of manual work—extracting data points, highlighting risks, and summarizing key clauses for clients.

Now, we’ve streamlined the process using:

✅ ZuvaAI – A legal AI model that extracts key legal terms, financial data, and risks from FDDs. Trained on our data with input on what is important for our industry and our clients. Totally customized for our needs.
✅ Carbone.io – A report generator that takes the extracted data and automatically formats it into our standardized FDD Summary Review Letter.
✅ OpenContracts – User-faceing GUI that allows us to review and revise the extractions from Zuva and the client’s documents.
✅ Nextcloud & Groundhogg CRM – Automated workflows that track FDD reviews and manage client interactions.

🔹 Before AI: A single FDD review required 3-5 hours of attorney time.
🔹 Now with AI: Initial review + data extraction is completed in minutes, allowing us to focus on legal strategy and client counseling rather than administrative tasks. By integrating AI-driven automation, we’ve cut down document processing time, improved consistency, and enabled faster turnarounds for franchisee clients.

🔍 Why Our Approach to AI & Automation Works

Unlike many traditional law firms that are hesitant to embrace technology, we see AI and automation as tools that enhance, not replace, legal expertise. By integrating AI-powered workflows and automation, we’ve achieved:

✔ Faster FDD reviews (from hours to minutes).
✔ More efficient client intake & case tracking.
✔ Better risk analysis & legal research tools.
✔ Higher conversion rates for franchisee clients.
✔ More time for strategic legal counsel, less time on repetitive tasks.

By balancing AI automation with human expertise, Reidel Law Firm continues to set the standard for tech-enabled, high-efficiency franchise law services.

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The Future of Legal Tech & Reidel Law Firm

At Reidel Law Firm, we’ve built a future-proof legal practice by embracing automation, AI, and open-source technology. But innovation never stops. As the legal industry evolves, so will our tech stack, workflows, and client services. The goal is not just to keep up with technology but to lead the way in using it effectively while maintaining our core principles of efficiency, security, and client-focused legal work.

Most law firms still operate like they did 20 years ago—relying on outdated technology, inefficient workflows, and expensive proprietary software. At Reidel Law Firm, we’ve proven that the legal industry can be modernized, without compromising security, client service, or quality legal counsel.

Looking ahead, we will continue to:

✔ Push the boundaries of legal AI & automation
✔ Eliminate reliance on Big Tech SaaS solutions
✔ Expand mobile-first and AR-powered legal work
✔ Enhance franchisee education through tech-driven legal learning
✔ Remain a leader in open-source, security-focused legal practice

The future of law isn’t just about technology—it’s about leveraging technology in a way that makes legal services more efficient, accessible, and secure.

At Reidel Law Firm, the future is already here. 🚀