Every CLM demo features a "Drag-and-Drop Workflow Builder." The sales rep drags a box labeled "Approval" and connects it to a box labeled "Signature." It looks so easy.
But real life isn't a straight line. Real life is: "If the contract is >$50k AND the region is EMEA, route to Sarah; UNLESS the vendor is 'High Risk', then route to Mike; BUT if Mike is on vacation..."
The "Spaghetti Logic" Trap
When you try to build complex logic using visual boxes, you end up with a spiderweb of connections that nobody understands. We call this "Spaghetti Logic."
In a "No-Code" platform, debugging this mess is impossible. You can't "search" for a rule. You have to click open 50 different boxes to find out which one is breaking the workflow.
The Maintenance Curve
Why "easy setup" leads to "impossible maintenance" as you scale.
Why You Need a Legal Engineer
The solution isn't to avoid automation; it's to treat it with respect. Automation is engineering.
You don't need a lawyer who "likes tech." You need a Legal Engineer—someone who understands:
- Data Structure: How to define fields so they can be reported on later.
- Conditional Logic: How to write clean `IF/THEN` statements that don't conflict.
- API Integrations: How to connect CLM to Salesforce without breaking both systems.
The Consultant's Advice
Stop asking "Can my lawyers build this?" The answer is "Yes, but they shouldn't."
Your lawyers cost $300/hour. Do you really want them debugging a workflow error? Hire a Legal Engineer (or a consultant) to build the pipes, so your lawyers can focus on the water flowing through them.