Document Templates in Clio Grow

In Clio, document templates are used to quickly and efficiently draft documents that are used across multiple matters. In both Clio Grow and Clio Manage, you can use document merge fields to pull-in specific contact and matter information to prepare a document more quickly. This means that once a generic document template is uploaded, you can use it across multiple matters by changing merge fields. This article covers how to create document templates in Clio Grow. If you also use Clio Manage, you can learn how to create and manage Document Templates in Clio Manage.

Create PDF document templates in Clio Grow

In Clio Grow, you can use a pre-existing PDF document as a template to create editable document templates. PDF templates are best used to generate documents that require a signature and where editing is not required, such as court documents. You can add contact and matter merge fields, configure signature settings, and place fields directly onto the document using the template builder.

Step 1: Set up the template

1. Go to Documents > Templates.
2. Click Create New.
3. Select PDF Template.
4. Enter a name for the template under Document template title and upload your existing PDF file under Upload PDF.
5. Fill in the template details:
   • How many people are in this document: Select the number of person contacts to include.
   • How many companies are in this document: Select the number of company contacts to include.
   • Select which fields to make available for the template: Choose from person, company, custom contact, matter, custom matter, and other fields such as law firm name or date formats.
6. Under Dropbox Sign settings, under Will this document be e-signed by at least one contact? select Yes or No.
   • If you select Yes, select the number of contacts and law firm signers who will sign the document.
7. Click Create template.

Step 2: Build the template

After saving, the template builder opens with your uploaded PDFl. From the left panel you can drag and drop fields onto the document, then configure each field's properties using the right panel. You can select different parties from the left panel to see which fields are available for selection for each party.

1. Drag a field from the left panel onto the appropriate section of the document. Available field types include:
   • Signature fields: Signature, Initials
   • Auto-fill fields: Date signed, Full name, Email address, Company, Title
   • Standard fields: Textbox, Checkbox, Dropdown, Radio group

2. With a field selected, use the right panel to configure its properties. The options available depend on the field type. See the examples below for guidance. The list below is not exhaustive.

   Signature or Initials field

   When you place a Signature or Initials field on the document, use the right panel to set:

   • Assigned to: Select which signer this field belongs to.
   • Required field: Check this box to make the signature mandatory.
   • Field name: Enter a unique name for the field (e.g. Signature1 or Initial1).

   Date signed field

   When you place a Date signed field on the document, use the right panel to set:

   • Assigned to: Select which signer this field belongs to.
   • Formatting: Choose the date format (e.g. MM/DD/YYYY) and font settings.
   • Field name: Enter a unique name for the field (e.g. DateSigned1).

   Checkbox field

   When you place a Checkbox field on the document, use the right panel to set:

   • Assigned to: Select which signer this field belongs to.
   • Required field: Check this box to make the checkbox mandatory.
   • Options: Check Checked by default if the checkbox should be pre-selected.
   • Field name: Enter a unique name for the field (e.g. Checkbox1).
   • Conditional logic: Use Create rule to show or hide other fields depending on whether the checkbox is checked. For example, you can set a rule so that when Checkbox1 is checked, a different Dropdown field is shown for the signer to complete. The Dropdown field can have its own options configured.
3. Click Save Tempate.

Create text editor document templates in Clio Grow

In Clio Grow, you can use the built-in text editor to create editable document templates. Text editor templates are best used for documents that require editing or where content needs to be customized per matter. You can add merge fields to pull in contact and matter information automatically, and optionally configure signature settings.

1. Go to Documents > Templates.
2. Click Create New.
3. Select Text Editor Template.
4. Enter a name for the template under Document template title.
5. Optional: Under Document design, check Include your letterhead and/or Include page numbering.
6. Click Edit Settings to configure signature options and the number of involved parties, then click Save Settings to return to the editor.
   • How many people are in this document: Select the number of person contacts whose information will be inserted into the template when it is used to draft a document. Person fields are labeled with the letter "P" in the template.
   • How many companies are in this document: Select the number of company contacts whose information will be inserted into the template.Company fields are labeled with the letter "C" in the template.
   • Under Dropbox Sign settings, select Yes to make the document signable or No to make it not signable. If you select Yes, select the number of contacts and law firm signers who will sign the document.
7. In the Document Template Body, type or paste your document content. Use the field dropdowns to insert merge fields at the cursor position. Learn more about merge fields below.
8. Click Save Template.

Text-editor template merge fields

There are several different kinds of merge fields that you can add to a text editor template. They are color-coded throughout the template for easy visual recognition, as explained below:

Person fields

Includes all default contact fields and contact custom fields that you created. These fields will be highlighted in yellow within the document template builder.

Matter fields

Includes all default matter fields and matter custom fields that you created. These fields will be highlighted in orange within the document template builder.

For Personal Injury matters, a special set of matter fields are available pertaining to medical providers, recoveries, outstanding balances, etc. Since a matter can have multiple medical providers, you will be able to select the relevant medical provider at the time that you create a document from your document template.

For matters with multiple clients, you will be able to select the relevant client at the time that you create a document from your document template. If you do not select a specific client, the information for the matter’s default client will be used.

Company fields

Includes all default contact fields and contact custom fields. These fields will also be highlighted in yellow within the document template builder.

Dropbox Sign

You can add signature blocks, fillable text boxes, checkboxes, initials fields, or date fields into your template and they will automatically be converted into signable fields in Dropbox Sign. These fields will be highlighted in blue within the document template builder

Additional fields

Other relevant information such as the current day’s date in various formats, the name of the user drafting the document, or the name of the law firm. These fields will be highlighted in green within the document template builder

Edit and duplicate document templates in Clio Grow

After creating a document template in Clio Grow, you can still fully edit a text editor template and change merge fields for a PDF template. You can also duplicate a text editor template in case you need to create a second similar document with minor changes.

Archive and restore document templates in Clio Grow

If you no longer need to use a document template in Clio Grow, you can archive it. Archived templates are not deleted. They are sent to a hidden state where they can be restored if necessary.

Up Next

• Learn more about preparing documents and sending documents for eSignature
• Learn how to create and manage document templates in Clio Manage