NSW DCJ looks for new legal services docs assembly tool

The New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice (NSW DCJ) has released a request for information for a new document assembly solution to modernise its conveyancing operations.

The department seeks to replace its existing document management product suite from Softdocs with a future-ready solution that can integrate with its core Legal Activity Matter Application.

The comprehensive tender document outlines 37 must-have requirements for software that will integrate with the department's cloud-based case management system built on the appian platform.

These include requirements for a solution that will generate various precedents, letters, forms, memos and contracts related to property and conveyancing based on matter details and interview questions.

A key requirement includes the ability to handle conditional content that may appear or be hidden based on user responses and matter data.

Integration with Microsoft Active Directory is required, along with robust access control measures.

Any artificial intelligence components incorporated into the solution must adhere to the mandatory ethical principles for the use of AI outlined in NSW circular DCS-2024-04.

Any proposed system must support dynamic fields including text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and dates, as well as conditional fields.

Security features figure prominently in the requirements, with mandatory encryption of data during transmission and while at rest.

Vendors will need to demonstrate compliance with NSW state and Australian federal legislation including privacy laws.

A successful vendor will need to maintain an internal audit regime and provide evidence annually that security audits have been carried out.

Information management functional requirements specify that records must be retrievable at any period and presented in human readable formats.

Vendors must demonstrate how their solution can utilise NSW legal templates from various agencies for document generation, including a service capability to update templates when agencies release changes.

The opportunity also exists for converting existing and owned templates into the new solution.

The tender represents a significant modernisation effort for the homes legal conveyancing team to streamline document generation processes.

Closing date for the tender is May 15, with decision estimated by July 31 this year.