PDF tools for lawyers — without uploading privileged documents to a third-party server
Redact, Bates-number, e-sign, and encrypt — all in your browser. No file ever touches our servers, so attorney-client privilege stays intact.
Browse all toolsLegal documents have unique requirements: black-bar redaction that survives forensic recovery, sequential Bates numbering for discovery, sealed-envelope encryption for opposing counsel, and a paper trail of who signed what when. PDFShed handles all of it free, in your browser, with no upload — which matters because uploading a privileged document to a third-party SaaS is, in most jurisdictions, a client-confidentiality risk.
Why this matters for lawyers & legal professionals
When you redact a document on Smallpdf, iLovePDF, or any server-based tool, the unredacted original sits in their queue, then their cache, then their backups. Even with a 2-hour deletion policy, that's 2 hours where opposing counsel could subpoena their records or a breach could expose your work product. PDFShed processes everything client-side — there is no server copy because there is no server. Open Chrome DevTools, watch the Network tab, run any tool: zero outbound traffic with file content.
Top tasks
Redact privileged information from discovery exhibits
Black-bar redaction that fully removes underlying text — not just visual coverage. Survives copy-paste extraction and forensic tools.
Open toolBates-number a deposition packet
Sequential numbering across hundreds of pages, with custom prefix (e.g., SMITH-001234). Exports clean for production.
Open toolE-sign a settlement agreement
PKCS#7-compliant signatures readable by Acrobat and any PDF reader. Adds timestamp and certificate metadata.
Open toolEncrypt a draft brief for opposing counsel
AES-256 password protection. Set print/copy/edit restrictions per recipient.
Open toolMerge a hearing exhibit binder
Combine 50+ exhibits into a single bookmarked PDF the judge can navigate.
Open toolCompress a 200 MB scan for court e-filing
Most courts cap PDF uploads at 25–50 MB. Compress without losing legibility.
Open toolExtract pages for a privilege log review
Pull specific page ranges into a new PDF without touching the original.
Open toolAdd watermarks ("DRAFT", "PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL")
Diagonal text watermark on every page, opacity-controlled, reversible.
Open toolWhy redaction-by-upload is risky for legal work
In a malpractice or sanctions context, "I uploaded the privileged document to a free online tool" is not a defense. The American Bar Association's Model Rule 1.6(c) requires reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized disclosure. Server-based redaction creates a window — however brief — where the unredacted original lives outside your control. Browser-based redaction never creates that window.
Bates numbering done right
Bates numbers must be sequential, prefix-customizable, and survive PDF concatenation without renumbering. PDFShed's page-number tool supports custom prefix + start number + suffix patterns (SMITH-EXH-001234), positioning (footer right, footer center, custom), and skip-ranges for cover pages.
Encryption, signatures, and chain of custody
PDFShed produces standard ISO 32000 PDFs. Signatures are PKCS#7-compliant — opposing counsel's Acrobat will recognize them, courts will accept them. Encryption is AES-256, the same standard government-classified PDFs use. Nothing proprietary, nothing locked behind a paywall.
FAQ
Is PDFShed compliant with attorney-client privilege rules?
PDFShed processes all files in your browser — they never leave your device. This eliminates the third-party data exposure risk that server-based tools create. As always, your local IT setup (encrypted drives, screen locks, secure backups) is the rest of the equation.
Does redaction survive forensic recovery?
Yes. PDFShed's redact tool removes the underlying text and image data, not just paints over it. The redacted PDF has no recoverable layer underneath the black bar.
Can I use PDFShed for HIPAA-related work?
PDFShed is HIPAA-friendly because no PHI is transmitted to a server. For BAA paperwork and compliance documentation, your covered entity's standard procedures apply — PDFShed simply doesn't add a third-party processor to the chain.
How does Bates numbering work for multi-volume productions?
Open the merged volume in PDFShed → Page Numbers tool → set prefix (e.g., SMITH-V2-) and starting number (e.g., 1500 if Volume 1 ended at 1499) → apply. Each volume gets continuous, non-overlapping Bates ranges.
What about signing on behalf of a client?
PDFShed handles document signatures (you sign, they sign). For "send for client signature via email workflow," use Adobe Sign or DocuSign — that's a different product category.
Built for confidential work
Every PDFShed tool runs in your browser via WebAssembly. Your files never upload, never log, never leak.
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