How to Automatically Rename Scanned PDFs for Lawyers Using AI

A Fast and Private Way to Batch Rename Discovery, Court Filings, Exhibits, and Client PDFs

Lawyers and legal teams deal with dozens or hundreds of scanned PDFs every week: discovery packets, signed documents, pleadings, exhibits, correspondence, court notices, and intake forms.

Most of them arrive with filenames like:

scan_2025_12_03.pdf
Document (41).pdf
IMG_9021.pdf
final_signed.pdf

Manually renaming these files wastes time and increases the chance of misfiling something important.

If you’re new to AI Renamer, start here:

👉 What is AI Renamer?

In this guide, you’ll learn how to automatically rename scanned PDFs using AI so your legal folders stay searchable, consistent, and easy to navigate.

Why Scanned Legal PDFs Are Hard to Organize

Legal PDFs often come from scanners, mobile scan apps, email attachments, portals, and opposing counsel. That usually means:

Missing titles
Inconsistent naming across sources
Mixed document types inside one batch
Lots of “looks the same” files (especially discovery)

So you end up with folders full of:

scan001.pdf
client_docs.pdf
exhibit.pdf
Document(8).pdf

This creates friction when you need to:

Locate an exhibit quickly
Prep for depos or hearings
Build a filing package
Share the right version with a client
Keep case files consistent across staff

A dedicated AI-powered renamer removes this bottleneck by generating descriptive filenames based on what’s actually inside each PDF.

How AI Renamer Helps Lawyers

How AI Renamer Helps Lawyers AI Renamer analyzes the content of your files and suggests filenames based on what is clearly detectable, such as document type, visible parties, dates, and key terms.

It works great for renaming:

Scanned correspondence
Signed agreements
Court filings (motions, orders, notices)
Discovery PDFs
Exhibits and attachments
Intake forms
Demand letters
Medical records (if text is readable)
Evidence photos and scanned images (using basic visual descriptions)

What you can do:

Batch rename hundreds of PDFs at once
Keep everything private with Local Mode
Use Custom Instructions for consistent naming
Preview names before applying
Rename based on content, not just the original filename
Rename evidence photos and scanned images using general content descriptions

How to Automatically Rename Scanned PDFs with AI (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. Download AI Renamer

Download the desktop app for macOS or Windows. Setup takes under a minute.

Installation guides:

2. Choose Local Mode or Cloud Mode

Choose Local Mode or Cloud Mode Local Mode

Use your own AI model via Ollama, LM Studio, or API keys
Files stay on your device
Best for confidentiality and large batches

Cloud Mode

Use built-in models with prepaid credits
Great for speed and convenience

Both modes support PDF renaming.

3. Add Your Scanned PDFs

Add Your Scanned PDFs to AI Renamer Drag and drop a folder of scanned PDFs into the app, for example:

CaseName-Discovery/
Client Intake/
Court Filings/
Exhibits/
Client Files/

AI Renamer scans the content and prepares filename suggestions.

4. Preview the AI-Generated Names

Preview the AI-Generated Names on AI Renamer You’ll see suggested filenames based on what the AI detects. If a name looks off, click Regenerate or edit manually.

5. Rename All PDFs in One Click

Rename All PDFs in One Click on AI Renamer Click Rename All to apply the new names instantly.

How to Apply Consistent Naming Rules to Legal Documents

Legal teams usually want filenames that follow a consistent structure across the entire case.

Custom Instructions let you define that structure so the AI follows your convention.

Example Custom Instruction for Lawyers

You can write something like:

“Name each PDF and images using this format: {document type}-{party or client}-{date in YYYY-MM-DD format}. Keep it short and professional.”

This helps turn:

scan_003.pdf
Document (41).pdf
final_signed.pdf

into:

demand-letter-smith-2025-11-12.pdf
court-notice-johnson-acme-2025-10-03.pdf
signed-settlement-agreement-acme-2025-09-28.pdf

AI Renamer can only use what it can read from the file. If a scan is blurry or missing text, you’ll still be able to adjust the suggestion in the preview.

For more workflow ideas, see:

👉 10 Professional Use Cases for AI File Renaming Tool

Scanned PDF Examples for Lawyers

Below are realistic examples based on common legal workflows. (These are representative filename transformations.)

Example 1: Court Notice (Scanned PDF)

Before AI Renamer After AI Renamer Before: Document (8).pdf

After: court-notice-hearing-date-2025-12-01.pdf

AI Renamer typically detects:

“Notice” / “Order” style language
Dates (hearing date, filing date)
Court-related keywords

Example 2: Demand Letter

Before AI Renamer After AI Renamer Before: scan_001.pdf

After: demand-letter-property-damage-2025-10-14.pdf

AI Renamer can often detect:

Document type cues (demand, notice,)
Subject keywords
Date in header or footer

Example 3: Signed Agreement

Before AI Renamer After AI Renamer Before: Untitled.pdf

After: signed-agreement-service-contract-2025-09-03.pdf

AI Renamer typically detects:

“Agreement” / “Contract” keywords
Signature blocks (when readable)
Effective date or signature date

Example 4: Exhibit PDF

Before AI Renamer After AI Renamer Before: v_4.pdf

After: exhibit-email-thread-2025-08-22.pdf

AI Renamer can often detect:

Exhibit labels (Exhibit A/B, Attachment, etc.)
Source type (email printout, invoice, photo scan)
Dates inside the document

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AI Renamer work on scanned PDFs?

Yes. If the scanned PDF has readable text, AI Renamer can generate accurate names.

Is it private enough for legal documents?

Yes.

Local Mode: processing happens on your device
Cloud Mode: files are processed temporarily and not stored

If confidentiality is a priority, Local Mode is usually the best option.

Can it detect case numbers or party names?

Sometimes, if they’re clearly visible in the scan. If not, you can include your own structure using Custom Instructions and quickly tweak names in the preview.

Can I rename entire discovery folders at once?

Yes. Batch renaming is the core feature. Drop a folder and rename everything in one pass.

Keep Your Case Files Searchable Without Manual Renaming

If your legal folders are full of:

scan_001.pdf
Document (41).pdf
final_signed.pdf

…that’s normal. It’s how scanned legal paperwork arrives.

AI Renamer gives lawyers and legal teams a fast, private, and automatic way to batch rename scanned PDFs so your files stay clean, searchable, and consistent across every case.

👉 Try AI Renamer: airenamer.app