Lawyer vs. online legal document: which is best for you?

A lawyer or an online document: what suits your situation?

When you need a legal document, a question quickly arises: should you book time with a lawyer, or is an online solution good enough? The short answer is: it depends on the situation. The longer version is that in the great majority of standard situations you can save thousands of kroner by using a legally verified online document.

In this article we set out exactly when you need a lawyer, and when you can easily manage without one.

What does a lawyer cost?

A business lawyer in Denmark typically charges DKK 1,500-3,500 per hour excl. VAT. When you have a document drafted from scratch, for example an employment contract, a cooperation agreement or a tenancy agreement, you would normally expect:

• Employment contract: DKK 3,000-8,000
• Cooperation agreement: DKK 5,000-15,000
• Shareholders' agreement: DKK 10,000-30,000
• Tenancy agreement (private): DKK 2,000-5,000

VAT (25%) is added on top, and in many cases a case fee is charged in addition to the hourly rate.

When is an online legal document enough?

Online legal documents are well suited when:

The situation is standardised

Most legal documents follow fixed patterns. An employment contract for a salaried employee in Denmark has the same mandatory elements regardless of industry. A private tenancy agreement must comply with the Danish Tenancy Act, and that is best done with a template that is already up to date.

The amounts are moderate

If you hire your first employee at DKK 35,000/month, it makes no sense to spend DKK 8,000 having the contract drafted by a lawyer when a verified online document costs under DKK 200.

You use a well-tested template

Platforms like LegalDock offer legally verified templates that are updated on an ongoing basis in step with legal changes. You fill in the information, and the document is generated automatically with the correct wording.

When should you use a lawyer?

There are situations where a lawyer is the right solution:

Complex negotiations

When the other party has their own lawyers, and you are negotiating significant amounts or terms that deviate markedly from standards.

Disputes and litigation

Legal conflicts, debt collection processes and court cases require a trained legal adviser.

Very large transactions

Company acquisitions, mergers or property deals over DKK 5 million typically have a complexity that justifies legal assistance.

Special legal constructions

Bespoke agreements with unusual terms, international contracts or complex tax structuring.

Comparison: lawyer vs. LegalDock

	Lawyer	LegalDock
Employment contract	DKK 3,000-8,000	From DKK 149
Tenancy agreement	DKK 2,000-5,000	From DKK 149
Cooperation agreement	DKK 5,000-15,000	From DKK 149
Delivery time	3-10 days	Under 10 minutes
Legally verified	Yes	Yes
Updated on an ongoing basis	No (one-off service)	Yes

The most-used documents: you do not need a lawyer

The following documents are drawn up daily by individuals and companies across Denmark without legal assistance:

• Employment contract: a mandatory document with clear standard requirements
• Tenancy agreement: governed by the Tenancy Act, which the template already follows
• Cooperation agreement: standard terms for cooperation between self-employed parties
• Shareholders' agreement: an internal agreement between company owners

Conclusion: save money on the standard, invest in a lawyer for the complex

The rule is simple: use online documents for standard situations, use a lawyer for the complex ones. The vast majority of legal documents that private individuals and small businesses need fall into the standard category.

With LegalDock you get access to legally verified templates that comply with Danish law, at a fraction of the lawyer's price.

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