Document Templates are Word and PDF documents that can be added as templates into your CARET Legal and then generated as documents for whichever matters you desire. You can choose from two different styles of document templates: document templates with merge fields and document templates without.
With Document Templates that have merge fields, the template can be used over and over again to create the same templated document for whichever matter you desire, but for each matter it will only pull in that specific matter's unique data. An example is a letter template where the client's name and address are automatically populated in the letter.
To create a Document Template:
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Navigate to a matter, click the Documents tab on the matter, and then select Document Templates on the action bar.
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Click the Merge Fields button located under the Document Templates tab. Here you will see all the merge fields you can choose from, broken out by category/ type as noted below.
- Firm Information
- Matter
- Matter-Related Contacts
- Intake Forms - Available if forms were generated under the Intake Forms tab of a Matter.
- Matter Custom Fields
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Contact Custom Fields
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Click on each Category/ Type to display the merge fields and their resulting values.
- Note the merge fields that are displayed are fields on the matter you are currently on that have data filled in, so if you if you believer you are missing merge fields, check the matter to see if that field has data in it. For example: If the primary client's phone number merge field is not available, it could be because the primary client's phone number is not on the matter. You can always go to a matter that has more information/ data filled in so you have more merge fields to choose from.
- Open Microsoft Word or your PDF Creator on your desktop and start creating your Document.
- Click Copy
to the far right of the field to quickly copy a Merge Field from CARET Legal. For example, to address a client in the document, you would add the {{Matter.PrimaryClient.FirstName}} field, as shown below.
- Insert/ Paste the copied Merge Field where you would like the value to show in the document.
- Click Copy
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When you are satisfied with the template you created in Word or your PDF Provider, save the template to your computer desktop, then go to CARET Legal and click Document Templates under the Documents tab.
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Click the up arrow on the far right side to upload your newly created template to your document templates library. Make sure to upload a non-protected .docx file
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Enter a template name in the File Name field, then assign the newly created template to a Practice Area by selecting an option from the drop-down list. Note: though the template is stored in the practice area selected, matters from other practice areas can still use the template.
- Click Save Template.
The Template is now available to be merged with your Matters. Each time you generate a new Document using that template, the Merge Field will insert the corresponding value for the chosen Matter.
To see this in action, check out this helpful Video Guide.