For the moments that come with fine print.
A new job. A first lease. A handshake that becomes a partnership. Each one arrives with a contract, and with a domain-specific read built for exactly that kind of agreement.
Work & Employment
The new job and the next gig. These are the words that decide what you keep.
Employment Agreements
Catches overbroad non-competes, hidden IP assignment clauses, and at-will termination traps
Example flag: Non-compete exceeding 12 months with no geographic limitation
Read this kind of contractFreelance & Contractor
Spots missing kill fees, scope creep exposure, and IP ownership gaps before they cost you
Example flag: Work-for-hire clause claiming ownership of pre-existing tools
Read this kind of contractConsulting Agreements
Flags uncapped liability, vague deliverables, and non-competes that outlast the engagement
Example flag: Non-compete extending 24 months post-engagement, no limit
Read this kind of contractNDA & Confidentiality
Flags unlimited scope, missing carve-outs for prior knowledge, and unreasonable perpetual term lengths
Example flag: No carve-out for independently developed information
Read this kind of contractReal Estate & Property
The keys, the closing, the build. Some of the biggest things you will ever sign.
Real Estate & Leases
Identifies hidden rent escalation, excessive CAM charges, and holdover penalty traps
Example flag: Auto-renewal buried in Section 14 locking tenant into 5-year term
Read this kind of contractConstruction & Trades
Surfaces retainage traps, missing mechanics lien protections, and change order loopholes that shift risk
Example flag: Retainage at 10% with no release timeline after completion
Read this kind of contractLoan & Mortgage
Detects prepayment penalties, cross-default triggers, and hidden variable rate adjustments in the fine print
Example flag: Prepayment penalty of 3% within first 5 years on a 30-year mortgage
Read this kind of contractBusiness & Commercial
A partnership, a platform, a deal. The terms here shape what you are building.
Business & Partnership
Reveals one-sided drag-along rights, missing buyout mechanisms, and capital call traps
Example flag: Drag-along allowing majority to force sale with no price floor
Read this kind of contractSaaS & Technology
Uncovers weak SLA guarantees, data portability gaps at termination, and vendor lock-in provisions
Example flag: SLA guarantees 99.5% uptime but caps remedies at one month
Read this kind of contractConsumer & Service
Exposes auto-renewal traps, buried cancellation windows, and hidden fee structures in the terms
Example flag: Auto-renewal with 15-day cancellation window buried in fine print
Read this kind of contractIP & Licensing
Pinpoints missing reversion clauses, uncapped exclusivity windows, and royalty audit right gaps
Example flag: Exclusive license with no minimum royalty or performance terms
Read this kind of contractFinancial Agreements
Highlights uncapped personal guarantees, cross-collateralization risks, and confession-of-judgment clauses
Example flag: Personal guarantee with no cap on a business line of credit
Read this kind of contractPersonal & Family
A plan, a policy, a promise. These are the agreements closest to your life.
Estate Planning
Spots overbroad powers of attorney, ambiguous trust distributions, and missing successor provisions
Example flag: Power of attorney with no limit on real property transactions
Read this kind of contractFamily Law
Identifies unenforceable prenup terms, custody gaps, and hidden asset division asymmetries
Example flag: Prenup waiving alimony entirely (unenforceable in many jurisdictions)
Read this kind of contractInsurance Policies
Reveals coverage gaps, exclusion traps, and claims filing deadlines that work against policyholders
Example flag: Water damage exclusion covering all moisture events including pipes
Read this kind of contractSpecialized
The unusual agreement that still deserves a careful, plain-English read.
Government Contracts
Flags non-negotiable FAR clauses, compliance traps, and termination-for-convenience exposure
Example flag: Termination for convenience with no pay for work-in-progress
Read this kind of contractEntertainment & Creative
Detects overbroad rights grants, net-profit participation traps, and missing reversion clauses
Example flag: Net profit participation using studio-defined "net" that pays zero
Read this kind of contractSettlement & Dispute Resolution
Surfaces overbroad release waivers, one-sided non-disparagement, and missing statutory protections
Example flag: General release waiving unknown future claims without required terms
Read this kind of contractGeneral / Other
Applies a full risk review to any contract not covered by a specialized playbook
Example flag: One-sided indemnification covering losses including own negligence
Read this kind of contractWhatever you are about to sign, you do not have to read it alone.
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Employment Agreements
BeforeJD analyzes employment contracts for hidden restrictions that could limit your career. We scrutinize non-compete and non-solicitation clauses for enforceability, flag overbroad IP assignment provisions that could claim your side projects, and verify that compensation, benefits, and severance terms match what was discussed. We check at-will language, clawback clauses, and garden leave provisions against current state law.
Documents covered: Offer letters, Employment contracts, Severance agreements, Executive compensation packages, Amendment letters
Freelance & Contractor
Freelance agreements are where most independent workers get caught off guard. BeforeJD flags IP assignment traps that could give clients ownership of your pre-existing tools, missing kill fee protections, and vague scope definitions that invite unlimited revisions. We check payment terms against state prompt-payment laws and flag misclassification risk indicators that could expose you to tax liability.
Documents covered: Independent contractor agreements, Statements of work, Master service agreements, Project-based contracts, Retainer agreements
Consulting Agreements
Consulting agreements often blur the line between advisory work and full-time employment. BeforeJD checks for scope creep risks, unclear deliverable definitions, and non-compete clauses that could prevent you from working with competitors. We flag missing liability caps, verify that indemnification obligations are proportional, and ensure payment milestones are tied to clear deliverables rather than subjective satisfaction.
Documents covered: Advisory agreements, Consulting retainers, Strategy engagement letters, Fractional executive agreements
NDA & Confidentiality
A poorly drafted NDA can prevent you from using general knowledge you already had, or expose you to liability for information that becomes public through no fault of yours. BeforeJD checks confidentiality scope definitions for overbreadth, verifies that standard carve-outs exist for independently developed information and public knowledge, and flags unusually long or perpetual confidentiality periods. We distinguish between mutual and one-way NDAs and flag missing whistleblower immunity notices required by federal law.
Documents covered: Mutual NDAs, One-way confidentiality agreements, Trade secret agreements, Evaluation agreements, MNDA master frameworks
Real Estate & Leases
Real estate contracts are among the most consequential agreements most people sign. BeforeJD applies specialized rules for residential leases, commercial leases, ground leases, and purchase agreements. We check rent escalation mechanisms, security deposit compliance with state law, CAM reconciliation rights, early termination penalties, and holdover provisions that could lock you into an extended term at a premium rate.
Documents covered: Residential leases, Commercial leases, Ground leases, Purchase agreements, Letters of intent, Sublease agreements
Construction & Trades
Construction contracts involve complex payment structures, risk allocation, and regulatory requirements. BeforeJD checks retainage terms, change order procedures, substantial completion criteria, and warranty periods. We flag missing mechanics lien protections, verify insurance certificate requirements, and ensure liquidated damages provisions are proportional to actual potential loss.
Documents covered: General contractor agreements, Subcontractor agreements, AIA standard contracts, Design-build agreements, Lien waivers
Loan & Mortgage
Lending agreements contain some of the most consequential fine print in any contract. BeforeJD checks for prepayment penalties that could cost thousands when refinancing, cross-default clauses that could trigger cascading failures across multiple loans, and acceleration provisions that demand immediate full repayment. We verify that interest rate structures, late payment terms, and escrow requirements comply with federal and state lending laws.
Documents covered: Mortgage agreements, Promissory notes, Home equity lines of credit, Personal loan agreements, Refinancing documents
Business & Partnership
Business formation and partnership agreements define the most important relationships in your professional life. BeforeJD analyzes equity split provisions, vesting schedules, capital contribution obligations, and management authority structures. We flag missing buyout mechanisms, one-sided drag-along provisions, and dissolution triggers that could leave minority partners without recourse.
Documents covered: LLC operating agreements, Partnership agreements, Shareholder agreements, Joint venture agreements, M&A purchase agreements
SaaS & Technology
Technology agreements govern your access to critical business tools and your data. BeforeJD checks SLA commitments and remedy structures, data processing and privacy provisions against GDPR and CCPA requirements, data portability obligations at termination, and API usage limits that could constrain growth. We flag vendor lock-in risks, unilateral terms change provisions, and auto-renewal traps.
Documents covered: SaaS subscription agreements, Software licenses, Data processing agreements, Cloud service agreements, API terms of use
Consumer & Service
Consumer agreements are designed to be signed quickly and rarely read. BeforeJD catches the provisions most people miss: auto-renewal clauses with short cancellation windows, binding arbitration with class action waivers, hidden fee structures, and unilateral terms change provisions. We check compliance with state automatic renewal laws and flag provisions that may be unenforceable under consumer protection statutes.
Documents covered: Terms of service, Membership agreements, Warranty contracts, Service agreements, Subscription terms
IP & Licensing
Intellectual property licensing agreements determine how your creative work and inventions generate value. BeforeJD analyzes exclusivity scope and territory restrictions, royalty calculation methods and audit rights, sublicensing provisions, and termination triggers that could leave your IP locked up. We flag missing reversion clauses, quality control provisions that could affect your brand, and the critical difference between exclusive, sole, and non-exclusive licenses.
Documents covered: Patent licenses, Trademark licenses, Copyright licenses, Royalty agreements, Technology transfer agreements
Financial Agreements
Financial agreements carry risks that compound over time. BeforeJD checks interest rate structures for hidden costs, personal guarantee provisions that could expose personal assets, cross-collateralization clauses, and default triggers that could accelerate repayment without warning. We verify compliance with Truth in Lending requirements and flag confession-of-judgment provisions that waive your right to defend against collection.
Documents covered: Investment agreements, Promissory notes, Securities purchase agreements, Credit facility agreements, Factoring agreements
Estate Planning
Estate planning documents govern the most important decisions about your assets and care. BeforeJD reviews trust provisions for ambiguous distribution language, powers of attorney for overbroad grant of authority, and beneficiary designations for potential conflicts. We flag missing successor trustee provisions, unclear incapacity definitions, and revocation clauses that may not achieve their intended effect.
Documents covered: Revocable living trusts, Irrevocable trusts, Powers of attorney, Healthcare directives, Will supplements
Family Law
Family law agreements affect your most personal relationships and financial future. BeforeJD analyzes prenuptial and postnuptial agreements for enforceability issues, checks custody arrangements for ambiguous decision-making authority, and reviews asset division provisions for hidden asymmetries. We flag provisions that courts commonly refuse to enforce and identify missing disclosure requirements.
Documents covered: Prenuptial agreements, Postnuptial agreements, Custody agreements, Property settlement agreements, Separation agreements
Insurance Policies
Insurance policies are contracts designed to pay out only under specific conditions. BeforeJD identifies coverage gaps between what you expect and what the policy actually covers, flags exclusion clauses that could void coverage when you need it most, and checks claims procedures for unreasonable documentation requirements or tight filing deadlines. We review deductible structures, coverage limits, and cancellation provisions.
Documents covered: Property insurance policies, Liability insurance policies, Professional indemnity policies, Life insurance contracts, Business interruption policies
Government Contracts
Government contracts operate under a fundamentally different legal framework. BeforeJD identifies mandatory FAR and DFARS clauses, checks termination-for-convenience provisions that give the government unique exit rights, and flags compliance and reporting obligations that carry severe penalties for non-compliance. We note which provisions are non-negotiable under procurement law and where limited negotiation flexibility exists.
Documents covered: Federal procurement contracts, State and local government agreements, Grant agreements, Cooperative agreements, Government task orders
Entertainment & Creative
Entertainment contracts determine how creative work is owned, distributed, and monetized. BeforeJD checks rights grant scope and holdback windows, backend profit participation definitions (net vs. gross can mean millions in difference), credit and billing requirements, and option provisions. We flag missing reversion rights, overbroad work-for-hire claims, and audit rights for royalty and residual calculations.
Documents covered: Music recording agreements, Film production agreements, Publishing contracts, Talent agreements, Brand partnership deals
Settlement & Dispute Resolution
Settlement agreements end disputes, but poorly drafted ones create new ones. BeforeJD analyzes the scope of release provisions to ensure you understand exactly which claims you are waiving, checks for proper known-versus-unknown claims language, and flags confidentiality obligations that could prevent you from discussing the matter when legally permitted. We verify compliance with age discrimination release requirements and ensure enforcement mechanisms are balanced.
Documents covered: Settlement agreements, Mutual releases, Arbitration agreements, Mediation agreements, Consent orders
General / Other
When your contract does not fit a specific category, BeforeJD applies comprehensive general analysis. BeforeJD still reviews every clause, flags risk provisions, checks indemnification scope, verifies termination terms, and generates negotiation language. You get the same structured report with severity scores, clause quotes, and actionable recommendations. The specialized playbooks add extra domain expertise on top, but the core analysis engine works on any contract.
Documents covered: Any contract format, Hybrid agreements, Custom agreements, International contracts