Best contract management software for small to medium sized legal teams | Top CLM solutions 2025
For smaller in-house legal teams, managing contracts can feel like an uphill battle. With growing contract volumes, mounting pressure to reduce turnaround times, and limited resources, staying on top of contract obligations while minimizing risk isn’t easy. And yet, getting contracts right is critical for protecting the business and enabling it to grow. That’s why having the best contract management software in play is crucial.
In this article, we explore what to look for in the best contract management solutions on offer, compare options for small to medium sized legal teams, and recommend contract management solutions for in-house teams wanting to scale efficiently and effectively.
The growing need for contract management software in small legal teams
Smaller legal teams face big challenges. Despite often having just one to five lawyers or legal ops professionals, they’re expected to support the entire business across sales, procurement, HR, compliance, and more. As organizations scale, contract volumes increase – along with risk, complexity and stakeholder expectations.
Without the right tools, contracts become a bottleneck. Teams end up juggling email threads, static templates and spreadsheet trackers, leading to version control issues, missed deadlines, poor visibility, and so much more.
In fact, new IDC data reveals inefficient processes are stifling the potential of in-house legal teams. They are struggling to meet the demands of the business and fulfil their roles as strategic partners because of widespread legal friction: inefficient manual and administrative workflows which undermine productivity, inflate costs and hinder high-impact work. So much so that it is now quantifiable:
According to IDC, legal friction is costing businesses* on average USD$141 million per year in lost or delayed revenue, and up to USD$300,000 per year in time wasted by legal on low-value tasks.
(*Businesses surveyed with mean revenue of over USD$1 billion per annum.)
Given the volume of contracts which legal teams execute and manage each day, investing in the right CLM software can have a significant impact on the legal friction (and resulting costs) that is experienced, helping small legal teams to:
- Centralize contracts and data in one place
- Standardize processes like approvals and renewals
- Collaborate more easily with business stakeholders
- Reduce risk by surfacing critical obligations and dates
- Save time by automating repetitive tasks
For smaller teams, the right contract management software isn’t just about functionality – it’s about scalability, simplicity and impact. That’s why making the right choice in your investment is crucial.
The best contract management software – features to look for
Not all contract management platforms are built for smaller in-house teams. Many are too complex, expensive, or geared toward large enterprise departments, or are missing many key CLM benefits and features that should be available to you, no matter the size of your team.
For leaner legal teams, here are the CLM features that matter most:
Centralized document storage
Easily access the latest version of any contract, along with key metadata like renewal dates or termination clauses. Centralized storage reduces risk and supports fast decision-making.
Seamless integration with matter management
Legal work is rarely limited to contracts. A CLM that integrates with matter management allows small teams to handle all legal tasks in one place, eliminating silos.
Easy collaboration tools
Look for features that enable commenting, task assignment, and sharing with internal and external stakeholders. This keeps contracts moving without back-and-forth email chaos.
Workflow automation (AI)
Automating repetitive processes not only boosts efficiency but also ensures greater consistency and compliance across every contract, and better business outcomes. AI-powered contract workflow automation is a game-changer for small to medium sized legal teams as it helps reduce manual tasks like approval routing, key clause identification, and deadline tracking – freeing up teams to focus on higher-value work rather than admin.
Legal front door (business portal)
Smaller legal teams are resource constrained, so a business portal, sometimes called a legal front door, provides ways for the business to self-serve legal needs such as NDAs, freeing up time for legal to focus their time on higher-value or more strategic work.
Simple, intuitive interface
Small teams don’t have time for steep learning curves. With minimal training, the right CLM should be easy to set up and use.
Integration with tools your business already uses
Think e-signature (e.g. Docusign), email or Salesforce. Integrations help legal stay connected throughout the contract lifecycle with the broader business ecosystem.
Role-based access and security
Protect sensitive information with permission settings that control who can view, edit or approve contracts.
Reporting and analytics
Even smaller teams need visibility. Built-in dashboards and reports help track contract volumes, turnaround times and workload trends, making it easier to prove legal’s impact.
Each of these features helps small teams move faster, reduce risk, and support the business without burning out.
Identifying the best contract management software for smaller legal teams
There are many contract management platforms on the market, but only a few are truly suited to the needs of small to medium sized in-house legal teams. Here’s a look at some strong options:
LawVu – best contract management software plus holistic management of all legal workflows
LawVu is more than just a contract management software – it’s a unified legal workspace purpose-built for in-house legal teams. Designed to scale with growing businesses, LawVu brings contract management, document management, matter management, spend management and insights and reporting into one intuitive platform.
Why it’s a stand-out for small legal teams:
- Combines CLM with legal task, intake and compliance tools
- Integrated with matter management for full context and oversight of all legal work
- Embedded AI to assist with contract data extraction, speed up review and negotiation times
- Clean, user-friendly interface with minimal setup
- Scalable pricing that works for smaller teams and startups
- Strong collaboration features for cross-functional work
- Role-based access to keep contracts secure
- Robust integration with popular business systems and specialized legal tools
- Easy- to-use contract workflow automation to reduce admin and ensure compliance
- Configurable and dedicated legal portal for the business to self-serve on low-risk contracts
- Whether you’re managing five contracts a week or 500 a month, LawVu makes it easier to stay on top of obligations, drive consistency and deliver legal services at scale.
For further insight into contract management in the LawVu legal workspace, check out this on-demand demo:
Other options for small to medium sized legal teams:
Ironclad – Best contract management software for teams focused on workflow automation
Known for its modern UI and customizable workflows. Can be complex for small teams without a dedicated legal ops resource.
ContractWorks – Best contract management software for simple contract storage and reminders
Straightforward and easy to implement. Great for teams which mainly need a repository and alerts. Less suited to end-to-end lifecycle needs.
Docusign CLM – Best contract management software for teams already using Docusign extensively
Offers robust functionality but can be complex to implement. Works well if your business is deeply embedded in the Docusign ecosystem.
Agiloft – Best contract management software for customization
Highly configurable, with strong automation. May be overkill for small teams unless you have specific customization needs and IT support.
Making a business case for the best contract management software
When selecting the best contract management software for your team, take a structured approach to ensure it meets your needs for now and in the future.
To get this right, we recommend developing a business case to help you evaluate and select the contract management software best suited to your legal function. Fortunately, we have a free downloadable guide and template to help you do this:
Ready to see what contract management software in a unified legal workspace could look like for your team?
For small in-house legal teams, contract management doesn’t have to be a manual, time-consuming grind. With the right contract management software, you can reduce risk, empower your legal team and the wider business, and deliver faster, smarter legal services without the need to scale your team overnight.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your existing system, CLM tools like LawVu offer an accessible, scalable path forward. The key is finding a solution that aligns with your unique workflows, goals and budget.
Take advantage of our suite of free on-demand demo videos you can watch in your own time, or book a personalized demo with us to explore the LawVu platform.
