How to Create Documents

Documents (including emails, letters and other documents) are created within ContactsLaw using templates/precedents within the system. There are three convenient entry-points into document creation:

1. Getting Started

To create a new document:

• Option 1: Select the Home tab on the ribbon and, under Documents, click Create Document.
  

  

  Creating a template using the "Home" tab on the Documents dropdown.
• Entry-point 2: Under the "Create" tab on the ribbon, click New Document.
  

  Creating a new document using the "Create" tab on the ribbon.
• Option 3: From either a workgroup tab or the subscription tab, select Documents from the navigation pane and choose the All Documents view. Click New Document.
  

  Creating a new document from the "Documents" view of a workgroup.

2. Specify Options

Each entry point will open the "New Document" Window

• Destination - where the document can be stored. Documents can be stored against a Contact, a Matter or a Workgroup
• Workgroup - get a list of templates available in that workgroup. (e.g Court Actions, Court Actions - Magistrates Court (WA), Demo Workgroup, Litigation, Probate, Wills)
• Template - where you want to generate the document from.The drop-down allows you to filter the templates by particular types (e.g. Letter, SMS. You can also filter by typing into the search window.
• Options: Indicates that the new document will be uploaded to the system, and is open for editing.

Naming and specifying options for a new document.

3. Add Custom Details

The below window is effectively the opportunity to insert the custom details into the template:

• Folder: This is the folder in which the document will appear. If there is no folder by that name, one will be created.
• Parties: These are the contacts associated with the document (e.g. author and addressee of a letter). Where an associated entity is relevant, this can be selected.
• Description: This will become the name of the document in ContactsLaw. The description will often pre-build based on the above settings and will re-generate if the settings are changed. To stop this occurring, you can click the lock button to the right-side.
• Attributes: "Discoverable" is an attribute that allows you to sort by discoverable and non-discoverable documents in the system. "Pinned" allows you to display the document at the top of the window in a document list, notwithstanding the other sorting criteria (e.g. date).

Cataloguing information for a new document.

4. Final Steps

The below window will then give you a summary of the assets upon which the template is drawing on for data to pre-fill the document. It is an opportunity for you to review and make any changes.

Attachments - add or upload a document

When you are finished, click the Finish button.

Adding new assets and attachments to a new document.

You can find the document you created in the destination you selected during document creation.

New document destination.