A little preparation makes building a template much faster. How you prepare depends on whether you already have a suitable document or are starting from scratch.
Optional - you can skip this step. If the content is already settled and you have the necessary know-how, go straight to building the template in Lawlift. This preparation is mainly worth it when content or expertise still has to be gathered - or when the content owner and the person building the template are not the same.
This step is for the content owner - the person with the legal know-how to decide which text applies under which condition.
If you already have the document
Upload it straight into Lawlift and add the logic there - no need to plan on paper first:
- Import the document (see Import a Word document).
- Mark the variable parts as placeholders and set the rules that decide when each part appears.
- Add references where clauses point to one another (see References).
If you don’t have a document yet
Sketch the logic first, then build it in Lawlift:
- For each variable part, write down the options and conditions - when should which text apply? (for example “only for a GmbH” or “either clause A or clause B”).
- Name your placeholders clearly and unambiguously, so it’s obvious what goes where.
How automation works
The basic principle: an answer triggers one or more elements - a text, a question, or further answers. Lawlift follows the order of the texts you group under headings, top to bottom.
The four question types
You don’t have to decide these upfront - you or the template creator can choose them while building:
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Text | Fills a placeholder with text the user types in. |
| Select | Offers several options; the user picks exactly one. |
| Multiple | Offers several options; the user can pick more than one. |
| Serial | Repeats the linked text elements as often as a case needs. |
Good to know
- Prioritize by leverage. Start where shared logic, complexity, risk or team reach creates the greatest value, then refine over time.
- You can split the roles. The content owner can hand the document or the notes to a template creator and stay out of the editor.