Donna, an AI case management assistant created by Taiwanese lawyer Jerry, has officially launched. The platform integrates case files, AI question-answering, and administrative tasks into a single workspace. Lawyers can ask a query like "Did the opposing counsel admit to the $60,000 loan?" and Donna reads the entire case file to answer, citing specific page numbers (e.g., p.69, p.148). Scanned documents hundreds of pages long undergo OCR before retrieval. If the file lacks the information, the system states so directly without fabricating.
Document filing is equally efficient. Upon receiving a file, Donna automatically analyzes its content and name to determine the correct case and folder. High-confidence items are filed automatically; low-confidence ones are flagged for lawyer confirmation. Scanned paper documents and emails are also auto-categorized. PDF files support highlighting, sticky notes, and stamping via a non-destructive overlay, leaving the original unchanged until export.
Security Built on Three Layers
Donna prioritizes data security alongside functionality. The official list includes encrypted transmission and storage (TLS for browser-to-backend, AES-256 for data at rest), firm-specific encryption keys with no universal master key, and nightly off-site backups. AI content is not used for model training. A "storage-neutral" design lets files reside on Donna's encrypted cloud or stay on lawyers' own OneDrive, Google Drive, or NAS—no forced migration. All data can be exported as a single ZIP file.
Technically, Donna uses Anthropic's Claude as the primary model. Firms can also bring their own OpenAI or Gemini API keys, handling AI calls themselves so Donna never touches the data. The platform has completed 37 security patches and offers 12 permission settings with 6 roles.
Over 70% of Firms Are Solo Practitioners—AI Targets Cost Pain
According to Ministry of Justice data cited by Donna, Taiwan has about 11,214 practicing lawyers, with solo firms in the Taipei-New Taipei area accounting for 71.8%. Nearly 90% of lawyers cannot afford a support team. Hiring one assistant costs around NT$50,000 (US$1,550) monthly including salary and benefits. Donna's pricing: free registration, pay-per-use for AI compute and storage, with individual lawyer monthly fees starting at NT$2,000 (~US$62), marketed as "start your practice for under NT$3,000 a month." The product is available for trial at donna.systems.
An unnamed law firm partner predicted that Taiwan's paralegal landscape will shift dramatically. Large international firms already deploy AI, and local products tailored to Taiwan's legal environment are emerging. Young lawyers increasingly see AI assistants as a way to deliver services previously requiring a full team, at a fraction of the cost.