Have you ever proofread a contract and discovered a remnant from an unrelated matter? Maybe you spot a fact that doesn’t make sense, a she that should be a they, or even a previous client’s name or file number? When you start from a previous file or copy and paste sections from another document, it’s a common misstep—but one you can eliminate entirely by turning your key documents into templates.

Why Templates Are a Game-Changer

Starting from a template saves you time, reduces errors, and ensures you always begin from a clean, well-drafted foundation. No more worrying about overlooked client names or messy formatting. Templates help you focus on crafting the substance of your document, not scrambling to fix a patchwork of outdated text. And once you’ve got your templates set up, you’ll be able to delegate a lot of the drafting to others, and even automate document generation.

Top Benefits of Using Templates:

1. Time Efficiency: Pre-formatted documents mean you can jump straight into content creation without reinventing the wheel each time.
2. Consistency and Accuracy: A solid template ensures the highest drafting standards and avoids common mistakes, such as leaving outdated details behind.
3. Professionalism: Templates provide a polished, uniform look across all your documents, making a strong impression on clients and colleagues.
4. Client Service: If you start with the final version of an agreement from a previous matter, you’re starting from a negotiated position that may already have conceded valuable rights and obligations. With a template, you’re always starting from your strongest position. 

Three Quick Tips to Create Effective Templates:

1. Start with Your Best Work: Identify your strongest, most frequently used documents—like contracts, engagement letters, or briefs—and build templates. Clean up any client-specific references and leave placeholders where details will vary.
2. Keep Them Flexible: Design templates with editable fields or notes where customization is needed. This ensures the template remains versatile while providing a clear guide for input.
3. Regular Updates: Periodically review and refine your templates. Laws change, and so should your documents. Set a schedule—perhaps quarterly or biannually—to keep them current.

Bonus Tip: Don’t overcomplicate it. Even a simple checklist or outline can be a template to standardize your process and get you started quickly.

Ready to transform how you work? Templates are your secret weapon for greater efficiency and better results. 

Join us on January 28 at 1 p.m. Eastern, as we’ll be hosting Nika Pidskalny, the founder of Splendr.ai. Nika will share best practices for creating and using clause libraries and give us a demo of Splendr (spoiler alert: we’ve seen it in action, and it is amazing!).

Register Today!

- Karen and David