Contract Red Flag Scanner

Most contract problems aren't hidden in subtle legal language — they're in the standard clauses people skim past. Unlimited liability. One-sided indemnification. Auto-renewal with a 90-day opt-out window buried on page 7. IP assignment that sweeps up work you did before the engagement started. This scanner runs a structured first-pass across seven risk categories — payment terms, IP, liability and indemnification, termination, non-compete and restrictive covenants, auto-renewal, and dispute resolution — and flags every clause that's unusual, one-sided, or missing.

Findings get graded. Red is a clause that should be negotiated or removed before signing. Yellow is unusual or one-sided language worth questioning. Missing is an expected protection that isn't there — often the most dangerous category, because a contract with no liability cap is worse than one with a high cap. Every flag includes the actual quoted clause, a plain-English translation of what it means in practice ("they could claim their entire lost profits from you with no cap" instead of "unlimited consequential damages"), a note on what standard practice looks like in fair contracts, and a specific suggestion for what to negotiate.

The scan is honest about what it didn't see. If you only paste payment terms, the other six categories get marked "not reviewed — cannot assess." A partial review never implies a full one. You also get a key terms summary table — duration, payment, termination notice, IP ownership, liability cap, non-compete scope, governing law — so the headline numbers sit on one page. And the scan ends with a prioritised question list for your solicitor, tied to the specific flags found. That's where the leverage is: paying a solicitor £200 to answer five sharp questions, instead of £800 to find the questions and answer them.

This is a first-pass review tool, not legal advice. It identifies common red flags and helps you ask better questions. It does not replace professional legal review — especially for contracts involving significant money, long-term commitments, complex liability, or anything jurisdiction-sensitive. A qualified solicitor should review anything material before you sign. The skill is a starting point for that review, not a substitute for one.