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Create a Simple Precedent

Daniel Martin
  • Updated

Overview

Create a simple, working precedent in OneLaw using a real conveyancing example.

This walkthrough guides you through the full document assembly process - from setting up a Precedent Library, to creating an InfoSheet, building a Precedent in Word, and running the precedent from a matter.

By the end of this process, you will have:

  • A configured Conveyancing Precedent Library
  • A Conveyancing InfoSheet with relevant fields
  • A reusable Initial Letter to Client precedent
  • A generated document created from your precedent

Who can do this

  • Template Administrators

Before you start

  • Ensure you have access to the Administration tab in OneLaw
  • Ensure you can open Microsoft Word with the OneLaw add-in enabled
  • Confirm the Developer tab is enabled in Word (for date formatting)

Note: Click any screenshot to expand it for a clearer view while following the steps.

Steps

  1.  Set up your external Precedent Library location

    Create a folder structure to store your precedents, so OneLaw can access and use them when running documents.

    Before creating the Precedent Library in OneLaw:

    • Open your shared drive or SharePoint location
    • Create a folder named Precedents
    • Inside this folder, create a subfolder named Conveyancing

    You will select this folder when setting up the Precedent Library in the next step.

     

  2. Create a Precedent Library in OneLaw

    Create a Precedent Library in OneLaw to link your folder, so users can access and run your precedents from within the system.

    In OneLaw, go to the Administration tab on the navigation ribbon.

    • Select Manage Libraries
    • In the Precedent Libraries section, select the green Add Precedent Library + icon
    • Enter Conveyancing as the Name
    • Select Choose Folder, then browse to and select the Conveyancing folder you created earlier
    • Update the default drive in the folder path (for example, C:\) with %USERPROFILE%
    • Select the checkboxes as per the below screenshot
    • Select Save & Close
    Precedent Library window displaying a library named Conveyancing with the folder path set to %USERPROFILE%\OneLaw\Precedents\Conveyancing, Document library type selected, Word, Excel, and PDF file options enabled, Fee Type set to Conveyancing, and Save & Close and Cancel buttons available

    The Conveyancing Precedent Library is now available in OneLaw.

     

  3. Create a Conveyancing InfoSheet

    Create an InfoSheet to store matter-specific details, so those details can be automatically inserted into your precedent when it is run.

    Note: If you prefer not to create the InfoSheet from scratch, you can use the example file (conveyancing.json) attached to this article. Import the Conveyancing InfoSheet using the steps in Export and Import InfoSheets (JSON), then continue from Step 6 and proceed from there.

    In OneLaw, go to the Administration tab on the navigation ribbon.

    • Select InfoSheets
    • Select the green Add InfoSheet + icon
    • Enter Conveyancing as the Name
    • Leave the Field Code Prefix as default
    • Leave the InfoSheet Type as Matter
    • Set Fee Types to Conveyancing, or your firms equivalent
    • Choose whether the InfoSheet should automatically attach to matters
    Create InfoSheet window displaying an InfoSheet named Conveyancing with Field Code Prefix set to Conveyancing, InfoSheet Type set to Matter, Fee Type set to Conveyancing with Automatically attach to new matching matters enabled, an empty Fields section, and Save & Close and Cancel buttons available

     

  4. Add fields to the InfoSheet

    Add fields to the InfoSheet to capture the details that will be automatically inserted into your precedent.

    In the Conveyancing InfoSheet.

    Add the first field

    • Select the green Add a New Field + icon
    • Set Field Type to Heading
    • Enter Agreement Details as the Field Name
    • (Optional) Add a description for user guidance
    • Select OK
    New Field window displaying Field Type set to Heading, Field Name entered as Agreement Details, Description populated with explanatory text, Show Description As set to Inline Text, and OK and Cancel buttons available

    Add the remaining fields

    Repeat the same process to add the following fields under Agreement Details, selecting the Field Type first and then entering the Field Name exactly as shown:

    • Select Date, then enter Agreement Date
    • Select Single Line Text, then enter Property Address
    • Select Money, then enter Purchase Price

    Create a new section in the InfoSheet by adding a Heading field, then repeat the same process to add the following fields for a Conditions section, selecting the Field Type first and then entering the Field Name exactly as shown

    • Select Heading, then enter Conditions
    • Select Date, then enter Finance Due Date
    • Select Date, then enter Insurance Due Date
    • Select Date, then enter LIM Due Date

    Once complete, select Save & Close.

    Edit InfoSheet window displaying an InfoSheet named Conveyancing with Agreement Details and Conditions sections, including fields for Agreement Date, Property Address, Purchase Price, Finance Due Date, Insurance Due Date, and LIM Due Date, each with corresponding input fields and date selectors.

    Resulting InfoSheet

     

  5. Check your InfoSheet on a Matter

    Attach the Conveyancing InfoSheet to a Matter and enter sample values so the precedent can populate correctly when it is run.

    Open a Matter, then add the Conveyancing InfoSheet.

    To do this:

    • On the InfoSheets tab in the Matter
    • Click Select, then choose the Conveyancing InfoSheet in the Edit Matter window
    • Select Save & Close
    Edit Matter window with the InfoSheets tab selected displaying a list of available InfoSheets, with Conveyancing checked under Attached InfoSheets and Save & Close and Cancel buttons available.

    Use the screenshot below to check:

    • The Agreement Details section is visible
    • The Conditions section appears below
    • All fields are listed as expected
    Matter view with the InfoSheets tab selected displaying the Conveyancing InfoSheet with Agreement Details and Conditions sections and associated fields, with Select and Edit buttons available.

    Enter sample values into the fields to confirm they behave as expected. These values will be used to populate your precedent when it is run.

    Matter view with the InfoSheets tab selected displaying the Conveyancing InfoSheet populated with sample data, including Agreement Date, Property Address, Purchase Price, and condition due dates for Finance, Insurance, and LIM.

     

  6. Create a Precedent

    Create a new Precedent configured to use merge fields and content controls so it can be used as a precedent in OneLaw.

    Note: If you prefer not to create the precedent from scratch, you can use the example Precedent (Initial Letter to Client.dotx) attached to this article, then continue to Step 8 and proceed from there.

    Open Microsoft Word and go to the OneLaw Templates tab.

    Microsoft Word ribbon with the OneLaw Templates tab selected and New Template highlighted.
    • Select New Template
    • Enter Initial Letter to Client as the Document Name
    • Leave Based on as None
    • Leave Template Plugin as None
    • Select Template uses MergeFields
    • Select OK
    New Template window displaying Template Name entered as Initial Letter to Client with Template Uses MergeFields enabled and OK and Cancel buttons available.

    A new document will open.

     

  7. Configure the template and insert fields

    Apply stationery

    Apply default stationery to the template so the document uses your firm’s standard formatting.

    Word_OneLaw Templates_Template Stationery.png
    • On the OneLaw Templates tab, select Template Stationery
    • Select Auto Apply Default Stationery
    • Select Apply
    Default Stationery Settings window displaying Auto Apply Default Stationery enabled under Choose Default Headers and Footers, with Apply and Cancel buttons available.

     

    Attach the InfoSheet

    Attach the Conveyancing InfoSheet so its fields are available to insert into the precedent.

    Word_OneLaw Templates_InfoSheets.png
    • On the OneLaw Templates tab, select InfoSheets
    • Select the green + icon
    • Choose Conveyancing
    • Select Close
    Attached InfoSheets window displaying Conveyancing selected in the Attached InfoSheets list, with add and remove icons and a Close button available.

     

    Insert the document date

    Insert the document date as a content control so it can be dynamically populated.

    Microsoft Word ribbon with the OneLaw Templates tab selected and Editor highlighted.
    • On the OneLaw Templates tab, select Editor to open the XML Mapping pane
    • From the dropdown, select OneAuthor Base Document Schema
    XML Mapping pane displaying the XML Part dropdown with OneAuthor Base Document Schema selected and available document fields listed below.
    • Drag DocumentDate into the document
    Word document displaying a DocumentDate content control being dragged from the XML Mapping pane under OneAuthor Base Document Schema into the top of the page.

    (Optional) To change the format:

    • Select the field
    • Go to the Developer tab
    • Select Properties
    • Choose your preferred date format
    Microsoft Word ribbon with the Developer tab selected and Properties highlighted in the Controls section.
    Content Control Properties window displaying Date Picker Properties with the date format set to d/MM/yyyy and available display format options listed, with OK and Cancel buttons available.

     

    Insert recipient and matter details

    Insert merge fields for recipient and matter details so the document pulls data from OneLaw.

    Microsoft Word ribbon with the OneLaw Templates tab selected and Merge Field Names highlighted.
    • On the OneLaw Templates tab, select Merge Field Names

    A new Word document will open showing all available merge fields.

    • OneLaw fields appear first and are prefixed with OP.
    • InfoSheet fields appear at the end and are prefixed with the InfoSheet name (for example, Conveyancing.)

    Copy and paste the following fields into your document, using the screenshot to position them correctly:

    • «OP.Recipient.MailingName»
    • «OP.Recipient.PostalAddress.MultiLine»
    • «OP.Recipient.PostalAddress.PostCode»
    • «OP.Recipient.Salutation»
    • «OP.Matter.Name»

    Place each field in the correct section of the letter:

    • Recipient name and address at the top of the letter
    • Salutation after the address block
    • Matter name in the subject line

    Refer to the screenshot to confirm layout and spacing before continuing.

    Word document displaying merge fields inserted for recipient and matter details, including Mailing Name, Postal Address, Salutation, and Matter Name positioned within the letter layout.

     

    Insert the letter content and fields

    Insert the letter content and add merge fields and content controls so the document is populated with InfoSheet and OneLaw data when the precedent is run.

    Type the body of the letter as shown in the screenshot.

    Note: The date values shown (1 January 1900) are default placeholders and will be replaced with InfoSheet values when the precedent is run.

    Word document displaying letter content with merge fields and date content controls inserted, alongside the XML Mapping pane with the Conveyancing InfoSheet fields visible and Finance Due Date selected.

    As you build the content, insert the following fields into the correct positions in the letter:

    • Copy and paste the merge fields «Conveyancing.Property-Address» and «Conveyancing.Purchase-Price»
    • From the XML Mapping pane, select Conveyancing, then drag and drop the following fields into the document where shown:
      • Agreement Date
      • Finance Due Date
      • Insurance Due Date
      • LIM Due Date 

    Use the screenshot to guide:

    • the wording of the letter
    • where each merge field is placed within the text
    • where each date field is inserted as a content control
    • the overall layout and spacing

    Confirm your document matches the example before saving.

     

  8. Save the Precedent

    Save the template into your external Precedent Library (Shared drive or SharePoint) so it becomes available to run in OneLaw.

    • Select File > Save As
    • Choose your Conveyancing Precedent Library
    • Save the file as a Word Template (.dotx)

    The precedent is now saved to your external Precedent Library and available to run from within OneLaw

     

  9. Run the Precedent

    Run the precedent from a Matter to generate a document using the entered InfoSheet and OneLaw data.

    Open the Matter where you attached and completed the Conveyancing InfoSheet.

    Matter view with the Precedents tab selected displaying the Conveyancing folder and the Initial Letter to Client precedent available to open.
    • Go to the Precedents tab
    • Select the Conveyancing folder
    • Open Initial Letter to Client
    New Document window displaying Document Type and Document Name set to Initial Letter to Client, with Party, Matter, and Recipient populated, and Author, Office, and Categories options available, with OK and Cancel buttons.
    • Select OK

    A new document opens with all fields populated using values from the Conveyancing InfoSheet and OneLaw merge fields.

Result

You have created a Conveyancing InfoSheet and a working precedent, and generated a document using both InfoSheet and OneLaw data, demonstrating the full Document Assembly process.

You can now:

  • Capture structured data using InfoSheets for your own matters
  • Insert that data into precedents
  • Generate complete Word documents from within a matter

This is the core Document Assembly workflow in OneLaw.

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