The Document Collection Tool We’re Now Recommending to Every Law Firm We Work With
Getting documents back from clients is one of the oldest problems in legal practice, and one of the hardest to automate well. Christian Frank, CEO of Virtualaw, has spent 20 years testing every solution available, from fax machines to shared Dropbox folders. In this demo, he walks through the tool he now uses in his own immigration practice: Fetcher.
Why Document Collection Keeps Breaking Down
Christian’s practice history maps almost exactly to the last two decades of legal technology. He started with fax and unsigned PDFs, moved through Pipefile, then Dropbox, then Google Drive, and ran into the same wall every time: clients without technical know-how, without Google accounts, or without anything but a borrowed cellphone at the border. Every workaround added friction for the client and hours to the file.
Fetcher removes the login requirement entirely. Clients get a branded link, upload from any device, and never need an account.
What the Demo Covers
- Branded upload links that clients can open and use without creating an account
- Automated reminders by email and text on a schedule you set, from daily to yearly for recurring compliance filings
- Approve or decline uploads individually, with the client notified automatically and told exactly what needs to be fixed
- Reusable templates, including AI-generated checklists for common case types like I-130 and I-140 filings
- Evidence discovery support, with a shareable link and zipped file you can send to opposite counsel and use as a compliance record
- End-to-end encryption, with the option to hold your own encryption key so no one but you has access
- Role-based team access for administrators, reviewers, and paralegals
- English and Spanish support now, with more languages planned
- Full white-label branding on the portal and every client email
- Reporting and KPIs on completion rates, exportable to CSV or PDF
It works for law firms, but also for accounting firms, real estate transactions, and mortgage closings, anywhere a business needs documents back from a client on a deadline.
Why This Fits Our Approach at Virtualaw
Document collection is one of the seven stages we automate when we build intake pipelines for law firms, and Fetcher solves it in a way that matches how we think about the rest of the stack: self-hosted control, strong encryption, and a single attorney review point before anything moves forward. Christian has been testing the platform directly with the Fetcher team and consulting with them on privacy and compliance, including HIPAA considerations for sensitive case types.
Try It Yourself
Fetcher is offering 60 days free, no credit card required, and you can cancel anytime.
If you want to see how document collection fits into a full automated intake pipeline for your firm, book a demo with Virtualaw.
This demo was recorded for the Virtualaw Nexus, a free community for law firms focused on AI-enhanced legal automation. Join the Nexus to share how you’re using Fetcher or ask questions about the tools covered here.