ocr pdf for lawyers →
OCR PDF for lawyers
Updated July 2026
Arthize lets legal teams OCR a scanned PDF in a private workspace — free, with no watermark. OCR adds a searchable text layer to a scanned PDF, turning a picture of text into words you can select, search, copy and convert.
Why lawyers OCR a scanned PDF
Before a filing, a paralegal merges statements and exhibits into one bundle, adds consistent page numbers for the court, and redacts personal data so nothing privileged leaks — all inside a private workspace rather than a free public converter.
Built for contracts. Whether it's contracts, court bundles, exhibits, Arthize's ocr pdf keeps the work inside your private workspace. Client files are privileged. A contract or discovery packet uploaded to a stranger's ad-funded server is a confidentiality risk lawyers can't take.
What matters when you OCR a scanned PDF
OCR adds an invisible, selectable text layer over the scanned image.
Without OCR, a scanned PDF is just a picture and can't be searched.
Running OCR first is what makes a scan convert cleanly to Word or Excel.
How to OCR a scanned PDF
- 1
Open the OCR tool
Sign in and open the OCR tool.
- 2
Add your scan
Upload the scanned or image-only PDF.
- 3
Run OCR
Arthize recognises the text and adds it as an invisible, selectable layer.
- 4
Download
Get a searchable PDF whose text you can copy and convert.
Common questions
- How do lawyers OCR a scanned PDF for free?
- OCR adds a searchable text layer to a scanned PDF, turning a picture of text into words you can select, search, copy and convert. On Arthize it's free with no watermark, and the file is deleted after the job — which is why legal teams can use it for contracts without a confidentiality risk.
- Is it private to OCR a scanned PDF sensitive contracts?
- Yes. Client files are privileged. A contract or discovery packet uploaded to a stranger's ad-funded server is a confidentiality risk lawyers can't take. Files are processed inside your private Arthize workspace and deleted after the job.
- How do I make a scanned PDF searchable?
- OCR adds a searchable text layer to a scanned PDF, turning a picture of text into words you can select, search, copy and convert. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.
- What is OCR and why does my scan need it?
- OCR adds a searchable text layer to a scanned PDF, turning a picture of text into words you can select, search, copy and convert. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.
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