WordRake LLC, a Seattle-based company that claims to be the creator of the first editing software for lawyers, announced earlier this month that it has entered a strategic alliance with the Washington State Bar Association.

WSBA employees have been using WordRake's law practice software in-house, and now WSBA has signed a contract to offer the editing software to its 35,000 members with preferential pricing under the WSBA's law office management-assistance program.

WordRake claims its software for attorneys can edit a 10-page document in 30 seconds, detecting and highlighting words that add no meaning. To use WordRake software, a lawyer composes in Microsoft Word, hits the "rake" button, and accepts or rejects the WordRake suggestions.

WordRake asserted in a press release about the new alliance that its software "helps lawyers write clearly and concisely, and saves them—and their clients—time and money. The WordRake law firm software is there every hour of every day, the editor all lawyers need."

Peter Roberts, a WSBA practice management adviser for 13 years, relies on WordRake's law office software in his own office, the press release said. In comments quoted in the release, Roberts says, "I was enthusiastic about trying the WordRake software because its creator, Gary Kinder, is well qualified for teaching lawyers how to write better. Now he's been awarded patents for his editing methods, and he's developed software to help us."

He says, "Our members face tough challenges for upholding professional conduct, persuading judges, and expressing complex subjects in plain English. The WordRake legal practice software helps them meet these challenges with increasing ease."

For more information about the WSBA alliance with WordRake, visit: www.wsba.org/resources-and-services/member-benefits-and-tools/sponsored-member-benefits/wordrake. The WSBA website lists the cost for members to use the software at 25 cents a day, which includes a WSBA discount.

WordRake says its software "rakes" through each document to suggest edits for tighter writing. The company says it has been awarded six patents by the U. S. Patent & Trademark Office for its "unique technology."

Kinder founded the company in 2011. The WordRake news release describes him as a best-selling author and nationally-known speaker who has taught more than 1,000 writing programs to law firms. For the American Bar Association, the release says, he has created an online, interactive series titled "Advanced Writing for Lawyers," presented writing webinars,and taught 20 live, all-day ABA programs on writing.

The WSBA exercises a governmental function authorized by the Washington state Supreme Court to license the state's lawyers.