Getting a signed engagement letter or retainer agreement used to mean printing, signing, scanning, and emailing — or waiting for a client to mail it back. E-signature has mostly closed that gap, but not all e-signature tools built into legal software are the same. Here’s what actually matters when you’re evaluating one for a law firm.
Legal Validity Comes First
In the United States, electronic signatures on most legal documents are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act and the state-level Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), provided the signature captures clear consent and intent to sign. Any e-signature tool you use should maintain a certificate of completion or audit trail — timestamps, IP address, and a record of what was shown to the signer — so that the signature can be defended if it’s ever challenged.
Unlimited Sends vs. Capped Plans
Some legal software caps the number of documents you can send for signature per month, or reserves e-signature entirely for a higher-priced tier. For a firm that sends engagement letters, retainer agreements, and intake forms regularly, a per-document limit or an added fee turns a routine task into something you have to ration or pay extra for. Check whether e-signature is included outright, and if there’s any cap on how many documents you can send.
Integration With Your Document Templates
E-signature is most useful when it’s connected to the documents you already generate — a retainer agreement or flat-fee agreement built from a template, populated with the client’s details, and sent for signature without leaving the platform. A standalone e-signature tool that isn’t connected to your document templates or client records still means copying information by hand.
Multi-Party and Sequential Signing
Not every document has a single signer. Settlement agreements, co-counsel arrangements, and some intake paperwork need more than one signature, sometimes in a specific order. Confirm that the tool supports multiple signers and, if needed, a defined signing order — rather than sending the same document around manually to collect each signature.
Mobile-Friendly Signing for Clients
Most clients will open a signature request on their phone, not a desktop computer. A signing experience that renders poorly on mobile — tiny text, signature fields that are hard to tap accurately — adds friction right at the moment you want a client to say yes and sign. Test the client-facing signing flow on a phone before you commit to a tool, not just the sending side you’ll use internally.
The Bottom Line
E-signature has become table stakes for running a modern practice, but the details — legal validity, sending limits, template integration, and multi-party support — determine whether it actually saves your firm time or just moves the paperwork problem somewhere else.
ProperFile includes unlimited e-signature on every plan, connected directly to your document templates and client records — no add-on and no tier upgrade required. Try it with a free retainer agreement template, or start a free trial to send your first document for signature.
See how ProperFile’s e-signature and document tools can help, or start a free trial to try it yourself.