Magistrate
Web and SaaS
contract management
SHOW HN2022
279points
101comments
#156of 2,570 in 2022
Top 7%of 2022 by points
How HN took it
DebatedReal support and real criticism
14 positive, 23 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 13 critical, out of 52 comments about the project. Thread score +0.09.
Idea: 12 for, 7 againstDesign: 0 for, 4 againstExecution: 0 for, 2 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Plain text contracts are a good idea that could improve workflows
From 3 comments
This is really really good. If you can build a collaboration ecosystem around this a kind of GitHub meets Seedlegals then you can create a huge amount of value and disrupt an…
thruflo on HNThis is great! I too have wondered why contracts can't be in plain text since the versioning and back-and-forth between legal and business teams could be handled so much more…
otoburb on HNI have to say, I've wanted someone to do this for years. Amazing to see it coming about. Imagine if it were possible to describe more and more things the way Creative Commons does?
robertlagrant on HN
Simpler e-signing than DocuSign is welcome
From 2 comments
I've used eSignatures.io in the past, which uses Markdown for contracts, and found it to be exponentially easier to use than DocuSign, so I appreciate simpler solutions coming…
programmarchy on HNThis is a great first step towards better online signing of contracts. I agree with what the FAQ says: "I've always thought that the fake cursive signatures that most electronic…
jaza on HN
Objections
Lawyers will stick with Microsoft Word due to opposing counsel and history needs
From 2 comments
I have found it impractical to get lawyers to use anything other than Microsoft Word even when there are clear benefits (like online collaboration and shared version history).…
mushufasa on HNI used to be Director of Research at "one company that makes some of the leading legal information access products". You won't likely divorce lawyers from their beloved Word…
jll29 on HN
Signatures are just typed text without cryptographic verification
From 1 comment
This is a great first step towards better online signing of contracts. I agree with what the FAQ says: "I've always thought that the fake cursive signatures that most electronic…
jaza on HN
No standard formatting or clause numbering for plain text contracts
From 1 comment
Have you developed a standardised format for expressing a legal contract as plain text (including clause numbers, definitions, etc)? The example I see on your Docs page doesn't…
NoboruWataya on HN
Contracts are not like code; the analogy is weak
From 1 comment
Lawyer here. Much like "Smart Contracts" (presently the worst named thing for anything these days), this is that thing where a tech person believes that lawyer problems are like…
jrm4 on HN
Requests
Templating with inline parameters
From 2 comments
I've used eSignatures.io in the past, which uses Markdown for contracts, and found it to be exponentially easier to use than DocuSign, so I appreciate simpler solutions coming…
programmarchy on HNIt would be awesome if you used a templating system for the writing process. Then the writers can have templates and just change who $ {partyA} is.
olah_1 on HN
Webhooks and metadata on contracts
From 1 comment
I've used eSignatures.io in the past, which uses Markdown for contracts, and found it to be exponentially easier to use than DocuSign, so I appreciate simpler solutions coming…
programmarchy on HN
Security documentation and audit trails
From 1 comment
I appreciate the concept here, but I have to ask: do you have a security page for this that documents the controls in place? I get that that's probably not a priority for a…
eganist on HN
A GUI rather than only an API
From 2 comments
I used to be Director of Research at "one company that makes some of the leading legal information access products". You won't likely divorce lawyers from their beloved Word…
jll29 on HNThis is a neat idea. So is there a repository where the contract is stored, and does every one have read access to it? Does a version control track changes? I do feel you'd have…
webmobdev on HN
Questions
Where is proof of signing stored and will it outlast the company
From 1 comment
So where is the proof that all parties signed located? On your servers? So do I rely on your company still offering the service if there is a contract dispute 5 years down the…
andi999 on HN
Which legal jurisdiction it targets
From 1 comment
I couldnt tell what country and thus legal system this was aimed at, so I've assumed this is geared for the US and not European countries and spent like 20seconds on it before…
Terry_Roll on HN
Whether the signatures hold up in court
From 1 comment
Is there a legal way to demonstrate the legally binding aspect? I mean could you, for example, sign a document with your friend, have them purposefully violate it, and then take…
omarhaneef on HN
Alternatives named
eSignatures.io
From 1 comment
I've used eSignatures.io in the past, which uses Markdown for contracts, and found it to be exponentially easier to use than DocuSign, so I appreciate simpler solutions coming…
programmarchy on HN
DocuSign
From 1 comment
I've used eSignatures.io in the past, which uses Markdown for contracts, and found it to be exponentially easier to use than DocuSign, so I appreciate simpler solutions coming…
programmarchy on HN
Thomson Reuters Contract Express
From 1 comment
I used to be Director of Research at "one company that makes some of the leading legal information access products". You won't likely divorce lawyers from their beloved Word…
jll29 on HN
Microsoft Word
From 1 comment
I have found it impractical to get lawyers to use anything other than Microsoft Word even when there are clear benefits (like online collaboration and shared version history).…
mushufasa on HN