Legal insight

The importance of UX in contract design Copy Copy

Date:

23 Jan 2025

Do you invite your salespeople to the table when you rewrite your sales contracts?

Most of our prospects would not... And yet their input can be invaluable in improving contract processes and their content.

This blog explores why engaging stakeholders in contract design is a game-changer and highlights the tangible benefits of embracing a collaborative approach to contract design.

Why is sales interested in contracts?

What role does user research play in contract drafting?

The importance of iterative improvement

5 reasons why user research should be on your agenda

Why sales is interested in contracts?

A common refrain we hear from prospects is, “Sales isn’t interested in legal matters and shouldn’t be involved in the contract design.” This assumption couldn’t be further from the truth—and overlooking the value of sales input is a missed opportunity.

In our experience, sales teams are not just willing but often eager to engage in conversations about contracts. After all, contracts play a pivotal role in their ability to close deals, achieve targets, and support the company's revenue growth. Poorly written or overly complex contracts can slow down the negotiation process, create friction with clients, and even jeopardize deals entirely.

When sales is involved in contract development, they bring firsthand insights into the challenges and sticking points they encounter with clients. This perspective helps identify bottlenecks, streamline terms for clarity, and align contracts with client expectations—all of which accelerate deal closures.

Including sales in the process not only enhances the practicality and usability of contracts but also ensures they become tools that enable business success rather than obstacles to it.

What role does user research play in contract design?

Bridging the understanding gap

One of the biggest challenges in contract drafting is ensuring that contracts are not just legally sound but also practical and comprehensible for the people who use them. From sales teams to end clients, a diverse set of stakeholders interacts with contracts in different ways.

Contracts often contain dense legal jargon, which can alienate users who lack legal expertise. User research allows us to analyze how different stakeholders interact with contracts and adapt the language to suit their needs.

For example:

Sales Teams: Contracts must empower them to confidently negotiate terms with potential clients. A sales manager should understand and explain critical clauses without needing a legal background.

Clients: The agreement must clearly outline commitments and expectations, ensuring transparency and reducing friction during negotiations.

By adopting this user-focused approach, contracts become tools for collaboration rather than sources of confusion. This aligns closely with the principles of UX design, where products are optimized to provide seamless user experiences.

Proactively managing risk through user insights

Legal disputes frequently arise when there are misunderstandings or differing interpretations of contract terms. These issues can lead to costly legal battles, damaged business relationships, and lost time. However, user research provides a proactive strategy for managing risk by identifying potential points of contention before they escalate into serious conflicts.

By engaging with the users who interact with contracts on a regular basis—such as sales teams, consultants, or operational staff—we gain a deeper understanding of how they interpret and navigate the terms. This feedback can uncover recurring sources of confusion, unclear clauses, or contractual terms that are often misinterpreted. For example, a vague clause about delivery timelines might be seen as flexible by one party but as a strict deadline by another. Such discrepancies can lead to disputes if not addressed upfront.

Enhancing Employee Empowerment

When stakeholders are involved early in the contract creation process, they gain a deeper understanding of the context, reasoning, and choices behind the terms. This transparency fosters not only clarity but also a sense of ownership, making them far more likely to adopt and champion the resulting agreements.

The importance of Iterative Improvement

The job is not done when you have revised your sales contracts once.

Contracts are not static documents—they are living tools that must adapt to evolving circumstances. Just as digital products benefit from constant updates and refinements to improve usability and performance, contracts require iterative improvement to remain effective and relevant.

Why Iteration is Essential

Business environments are in a constant state of flux: Companies expand into new markets, adopt new technologies, and encounter shifting priorities.

At the same time, legal landscapes evolve, with changes in regulations, court rulings, and industry standards. These dynamic factors mean that a contract that was perfectly suitable a few years ago might no longer adequately address current needs or risks.

Through an iterative process, contracts can:

Business environments are in a constant state of flux: Companies expand into new markets, adopt new technologies, and encounter shifting priorities.

Through an iterative process, contracts can:

Reflect current business realities: Ensuring that agreements account for operational changes, new goals, or updated services.
Align with updated laws and regulations: Avoiding risks of non-compliance by incorporating the latest legal requirements.
Incorporate stakeholder feedback: Addressing pain points or confusion experienced by users to improve clarity and usability.

By addressing these issues, businesses can eliminate sources of friction, ensuring that contracts not only protect their interests but also support smooth collaboration and decision-making.

A Regular, Systematic Approach

Iteration should not be an ad-hoc exercise.

Instead, it should be a regular, systematic process. Periodic reviews of contracts—triggered by business milestones, regulatory changes, or stakeholder feedback—ensure that agreements remain relevant and effective over time. This could involve:

Annual updates: Incorporating changes in laws or industry standards.
Post-project evaluations: Reviewing contracts after significant transactions or partnerships to identify areas for improvement.
Stakeholder workshops: Gathering direct feedback from users to pinpoint areas of confusion or inefficiency.

Five reasons why user research should be on your agenda

Building Trust and Reducing Disputes

When contracts are transparent and user-friendly, they foster trust between parties. Clear terms reduce the likelihood of disputes arising from miscommunication. Additionally, by addressing potential issues upfront, businesses can save significant time and resources that would otherwise be spent resolving conflicts.

Accelerating Deal Velocity

User-friendly contracts streamline the negotiation process. When terms are clear and tailored to the client’s needs, discussions are more focused, and agreements are reached faster. This accelerates deal closures and helps businesses maintain a competitive edge.

Strengthening Client Relationships

Contracts are often the first formal interaction between a business and its clients. A well-designed, comprehensible contract sets the tone for a positive relationship, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and a commitment to mutual success.

Supporting Long-Term Growth

As businesses scale, the complexity of their contracts often increases. By establishing a foundation of user-centered contract design, companies can navigate this complexity without sacrificing clarity or efficiency. This ensures that their legal frameworks remain adaptable to future growth and evolving market dynamics.

Enhancing Internal Alignment and Efficiency

User research ensures that contracts are not only client-friendly but also aligned with the needs of internal teams.

When stakeholders such as sales, operations, and legal teams are involved in the design process, they better understand the intent and functionality of the contract. This clarity reduces internal miscommunication, minimizes reliance on legal departments for explanations, and empowers teams to handle contract-related discussions with confidence. The result is a more cohesive, efficient workflow that drives both employee satisfaction and business results.

Conclusion

ncorporating user research into contract drafting is not just a legal innovation—it is a strategic imperative.

By understanding the needs of stakeholders, tailoring contracts to specific business contexts, and proactively addressing potential risks, we transform contracts into powerful enablers of collaboration and growth.

This approach reflects a broader shift in the legal industry toward empathy-driven, user-focused solutions. At Legal Freaks, we are committed to helping businesses harness this potential, ensuring that their contracts are not only legally sound but also practical, user-friendly, and aligned with their goals.

Ready to transform your contracts into a strategic advantage?

Freekje De Vidts

Co-founder, Legal Expert

& Branding&Marketing