When creating a draft in Lexlegis, the first step is to choose how you want to structure your document. You can either start from a predefined template or create your own structure from scratch.
This decision determines the base format and structure of the draft that Lexlegis generates.
If you are new to Draft, see Using Draft to Create Legal Documents.
1. What This Step Does
This step helps Lexlegis understand:
- Whether your draft should follow a standard legal format, or
- Whether you want to define the structure manually
The selected template, or custom structure, is used as the foundation for the entire draft.
2. Using Predefined Templates
When you choose Templates, you can select from a library of predefined legal formats available in Lexlegis.
2.1. How Templates Work
- Templates are organised by category, such as Contracts, Corporate, or Litigation
- Each template contains a standard structure commonly used for that document type
- Selecting a template ensures consistency, completeness, and recognised formatting
Templates provide a ready-made framework so you can focus on content rather than layout.
2.2. When to Use Templates
Use a predefined template when:
- You want to follow an established legal format
- You are drafting commonly used documents
- You want to save time setting up structure
Templates are especially useful for first drafts and standardised documents.
2.3 Uploading Templates During Drafting
If the template you want to use is not already available, you can upload a template directly from the Draft workflow.
From this screen, you can:
- Upload one or more template files
- Select an existing Template folder to store them
- Add tags for easier reuse and organisation
Once uploaded, the template becomes immediately available for selection in the current draft.
Important:
- You can upload templates only into existing folders from this step
- Creating, renaming, or reorganising template folders must be done from the Library
This allows you to continue drafting without leaving the workflow, while keeping template structure centrally managed.
Templates and custom structures are stored and managed in your Library. To understand how these resources are organised, see Understanding the Library in Lexlegis.
3. Making Your Own Template
If you prefer full control over the structure, you can choose Make your own.
3.1. How Custom Templates Work
- You can write or paste your own document structure
- Lexlegis uses this structure as provided while generating the draft
- No predefined formatting is applied
This option allows complete flexibility in how the document is organised.
3.2. When to Make Your Own
Use this option when:
- You already have a preferred structure
- You are adapting an existing document format
- The required format is not available as a predefined template
- You are working with firm-specific or internal formats
4. Switching Between Options
You can switch between Templates and Make your own before proceeding to the next step.
Once you move forward, the selected option becomes the base structure for the draft.
5. Best Practices
- Use predefined templates for speed and consistency
- Use custom templates for specialised or internal formats
- Keep custom templates clear and well-structured for best results
- Avoid mixing multiple structures within a single custom template
A clear structure leads to cleaner drafts and fewer revisions.
6. What Happens Next
After selecting a template or creating your own structure, the next step is to indicate whether the draft is being created in response to something.
To understand how this affects drafting context, see Drafting in Response to Something (Reactive vs Proactive).
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