David Kaplan On the Lessons from Australia’s Changing Will Industry

The legal industry has been resistant to change, maintaining traditional practices and fee structures that have remained largely unchanged for decades. However, Australia’s estate planning sector is demonstrating how technology can transform legal services while maintaining quality and legal compliance. The lessons emerging from this digital transformation offer valuable insights for the broader legal profession.

The Traditional Legal Service Model Under Pressure

For generations, creating a will in Australia meant scheduling appointments with lawyers, taking time off work, and paying substantial fees that could reach thousands of dollars. This traditional model created significant barriers to access, resulting in half of Australian adults having no written will.

“The traditional estate planning process was expensive, time-consuming, and often intimidating,” explains David Kaplan, co-founder of the online estate planning service Willed. “It was clear that the traditional way of writing your will could be done better.”

The Digital Disruption Model

Australia’s online will revolution has demonstrated several key principles that are reshaping legal service delivery.

1. Accessibility Through Technology

Digital platforms have eliminated traditional barriers by offering 24/7 access to legal services with clients able to complete their estate planning at any time convenient to them. That’s a good thing, because according to a Willed customer survey, 50% felt relieved after writing their will.

The implications are profound. Working parents, people in remote areas, and those with mobility issues can now access quality legal services that were previously difficult or impossible to obtain.

2. Cost Transparency and Affordability

Traditional legal billing often involved unpredictable hourly rates and unclear cost structures. Digital legal services have introduced transparent, fixed-fee pricing that makes legal assistance affordable for all.

“We’ve reduced the cost of creating a will from potentially thousands of dollars to under $200, all while maintaining full legal compliance.”

4. Scalability Without Quality Compromise

Technology allows legal service providers to scale their offerings while maintaining quality and compliance. Automated document generation, guided questionnaires, and built-in quality checks ensure consistency across thousands of clients.

The Future Landscape

Looking ahead, the lessons from Australia suggest several trends for legal services.

• Hybrid service models: Combining digital efficiency with human expertise for complex matters
• Increased specialization: Technology handling routine work while lawyers focus on specialized, high-value services
• Global service delivery: Digital platforms enabling legal services to cross traditional geographic boundaries
• Continuous innovation: Ongoing technological advancement driving further improvements in accessibility and efficiency

“The lawyers of the future will be those who can effectively combine legal expertise with technological innovation to serve clients better,” says Kaplan.