The Lawyer Check
When the AI finds serious risks, a real lawyer can review your contract on request — with a free initial assessment via the advocado network.
⚖️ In short: SignGuard analyzes your contract in 60 seconds and flags risky clauses. If the risk is high, you can request a lawyer review right from the app. With your explicit consent — and only then — we pass your case to our partner advocado, which connects you with a suitable lawyer. The initial assessment is free and non-binding. You only pay if you subsequently accept the lawyer's fixed-fee offer.
1. What is the Lawyer Check?
The Lawyer Check bridges the gap between AI analysis and real legal advice. SignGuard reviews your contract automatically and uses the clause traffic-light system to show where the risks are. For most contracts, that is all you need. But if the analysis finds significant risks — say, a clause that is likely unenforceable and involves a lot of money — the app recommends a review by a lawyer.
The advantage over the traditional route: the lawyer doesn't start from zero. They receive your contract together with a structured case summary from the analysis — the groundwork is done, so the first conversation is specific instead of general.
2. How it works — in 5 steps
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. AI analysis | You upload your contract; SignGuard delivers a risk score and the clause traffic light. |
| 2. Recommendation | The card “Lawyer review recommended” only appears when the risk is high — it deliberately doesn't appear for low-risk contracts. |
| 3. Request a review | You optionally describe your main concern (e.g. “unclear notice period”) and consent to your data being shared with advocado. |
| 4. Referral | SignGuard sends the case summary and contract to advocado; its matching system connects you with a suitable partner lawyer. |
| 5. Initial assessment | The lawyer contacts you for a free, non-binding initial assessment — according to advocado, usually within a few hours (Mon–Fri, 9 am–6 pm). If you wish, you then receive a fixed-fee offer. |
3. What does it cost?
The short answer: the initial assessment costs you nothing — it is part of the advocado model and entirely non-binding. After that, the fixed-fee principle applies:
- Initial assessment: free and without any obligation.
- Fixed-fee offer: if the lawyer proposes to take on your case, you receive an offer up front with every cost itemized — no hourly-rate risk.
- You only pay if you explicitly accept that offer. If you decline, the matter ends at no cost.
Transparency note: SignGuard may receive compensation from advocado for the referral. This has no effect on you — the initial assessment remains free, and the terms of the lawyer's offer are not affected by it.
4. Who reviews my contract?
Your contract is reviewed by an independent lawyer licensed to practice in Germany (Rechtsanwalt) from the network of advocado — one of Germany's established lawyer-referral platforms. According to advocado, the platform works with over 550 partner lawyers across all areas of law; its matching system selects a lawyer whose expertise fits your contract type and concern.
On Trustpilot, advocado is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars (over 1,700 reviews, as of July 2026). In 2024, advocado took first place for legal advice in the Handelsblatt ranking “Beste Online-Portale” (best online portals) — a study of ten portals conducted by ServiceValue GmbH, September 2024.
Important to know: advocado connects you with a lawyer — the advice itself comes exclusively from the lawyer. If you decide to proceed, the client relationship is established directly between you and that lawyer.
5. What the Lawyer Check is — and what it isn't
| ✔️ What it is | ✖️ What it isn't |
|---|---|
| A referral to a free initial assessment by a lawyer — right from the app | Not legal advice from SignGuard or advocado themselves |
| A recommendation that only appears when the risk is significant | Not a mandatory step — you decide whether to use it |
| A prepared handover: contract + case summary for the lawyer | Not an automatic engagement — a lawyer only acts for you if you explicitly engage them |
| A fixed-fee model with no cost risk for the initial consultation | No guarantee of a particular outcome or a particular response time |
Legal classification: SignGuard is a digital contract manager with AI analysis — not legal advice within the meaning of the German Legal Services Act (Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz, RDG). Neither SignGuard nor advocado provides legal advice — advice is given exclusively by independent, licensed German lawyers (Rechtsanwälte). A client relationship is only established between you and the lawyer. There is no legal entitlement to a referral or an initial assessment.
6. Your data in the Lawyer Check
Not a single document leaves SignGuard without your active consent. Only once you explicitly agree in the request dialog do we transfer to advocado:
- your contact details (name, email; phone optional), so the lawyer can reach you,
- the case summary from the analysis (your concern and the area of law involved),
- the contract as a PDF, because the lawyer needs it for the assessment.
advocado processes the request for the purpose of the lawyer referral under its own privacy rules (advocado's privacy notice, in German); the referred lawyer is additionally bound by attorney-client privilege (anwaltliche Schweigepflicht). All details — data categories, legal bases, and how to withdraw your consent — are in our Privacy Policy.
7. Frequently asked questions
Is the initial assessment really free?
Yes. The initial assessment by the partner lawyer is free and non-binding. You only pay if you then explicitly accept the lawyer's fixed-fee offer.
Who advises me — SignGuard, advocado, or a lawyer?
The lawyer, and only the lawyer. SignGuard provides the AI pre-analysis and advocado makes the referral — the legal advice itself is given by an independent, licensed German lawyer (Rechtsanwalt), and it is with the lawyer, not with us, that you enter into a client relationship.
Do I have to hire the lawyer?
No. After the initial assessment, the decision is entirely yours. The fixed-fee offer is non-binding — if you decline, there are no costs and no further obligations.
When does the recommendation appear in the app?
Only when the AI analysis detects a high risk — for example, clauses that are likely unenforceable and carry real consequences. For uncritical contracts, we deliberately don't show the card: no false alarms, no unnecessary legal fees.
What does the lawyer get to see?
Your contact details, the case summary from the analysis, and the contract as a PDF — exactly what they need for a informed initial assessment. Nothing is transferred without your active consent.
Which contracts does this work for?
All contract types SignGuard analyzes — from residential leases (Mietvertrag) to employment and freelancer contracts to standard terms (AGB). According to advocado, its network covers all areas of law across Germany.
Can I withdraw my request?
You can withdraw your consent at any time at any time, effective going forward. Details on this and your other privacy rights are in our Privacy Policy.