Clio for Word Template Builder

Clio for Word is a Microsoft Word add-in that delivers different capabilities depending on your subscription. After you sign in, the add-in automatically surfaces the features available to you.

• Clio Draft: Build and manage templates using the Clio for Word Template Builder. You can also convert existing Word documents into Clio Draft templates using conversational templating. Finally, you can draft documents from the Word add-in.
• Clio Work and Vincent for Enterprise: Access Vincent AI directly in Word to review, revise, and draft documents. Vincent can propose changes as native Word Track Changes (redlines) that you accept or reject individually, or apply changes directly to your document without requiring your review at each step. Learn more about Clio for Word with your Clio Work subscription.

This article covers how to install and sign in to the Clio for Word add-in, and how to build and use templates in Microsoft Word when you have Clio Draft.

Install Clio for Word

Install the Clio for Word add-in from Microsoft AppSource directly within Microsoft Word. No additional credentials are required.

1. Open Microsoft Word on your computer.
2. In the Home ribbon, click Add-ins.
3. Search for Clio for Microsoft Word.
4. Click Add next to the add-in.
   • A panel opens on the right side of your Word window.
5. Sign in to Clio by following the on-screen prompts.
   • You may be asked to allow Clio access to your Microsoft Word account.

Build Templates in Word (Clio Draft)

With a Clio Draft subscription, you can build and manage templates directly from the Clio for Word add-in panel. Template building follows three main steps: set up your template and add cards, insert merge fields into your document, and add conditional logic where needed.

Step 1: Create your template and add cards

1. Open a document (blank or existing) in Microsoft Word and click Clio for Word in the Home ribbon to open the add-in panel.
2. In the add-in panel, select Build a template from scratch or Create template from a document.
   • Build a template from scratch: When choosing this option, make sure to start with a new, blank Word document. Otherwise, an existing document’s text will be erased in order for you to start with a blank document.

   • Create template from documents: When choosing this option, you can either use the Word document you currently have open, upload a document from your computer, or select a document from Clio Manage.

     Tip: You can allow Vincent AI to analyze your document and take the initial steps to turn it into a template. For example, if you uploaded an existing contract from Clio Manage with specific case information and/or contact information, Vincent AI will offer to replace the specific information with placeholders, that is your merge fields, effectively taking care of the second step of this process.
3. Enter a name for your template and click Continue.
4. Click Add new card and select a card type:
   • Role: Sets of information about your contacts (persons and companies) in Clio, such as plaintiffs, defendants, and courts.
   • Other: Sets of information about general case information, dates, etc. available in Clio.
5. Select or type a card name.
6. Click Save.

Each card and its fields appear in the add-in panel.

Optional: To add a custom field to a card, click Add new field, enter a field name, select a field type, and click Add field. Available field types are:

• Short text: for names, addresses, and other short-form data
• Long text: for paragraphs of text
• Single-select: for multiple choice options where one answer applies
• Multi-select: for multiple choice options where more than one answer can apply
• Date: for date-formatted fields

Step 2: Insert merge fields into your document

Once your cards and fields are set up, insert the merge fields into your document to replace static text with placeholders that populate when you draft from the template.

1. In your Word document, select the text you want to replace with a merge field.
2. In the add-in panel, find the corresponding field under its card and click the + icon. Clio for Word replaces the selected text with the merge field placeholder.
3. Repeat for all merge fields you want to insert.
4. Click Save template in the add-in panel when finished.
   • You can access these saved templates again by selecting Use a template from your library from the home panel of the add-in.

Step 3: Add conditional logic

Conditions control what text appears in a drafted document based on available case information or answers to questions. There are two types: standalone conditions and triggered conditions.

• Standalone conditions: With standalone conditions, you create a question in your Clio for Word template with multiple answers. The answer the document drafter chooses when creating their draft controls which text is included or excluded in the draft.
• Triggered conditions: Triggered conditions activate automatically depending on information related to specific fields added from your cards into your template.

Before creating conditions, add the text you want each condition to control into your template document. You'll select that text when applying the condition in the last step below.

Add a standalone condition

Use a standalone condition when you want the document drafter to choose between options that determine what language appears in the final document. For example, if your template includes the clause "The parties have experienced an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage due to irreconcilable differences," you can set up a standalone condition so that clause only appears when the drafter selects "Irreconcilable differences" in response to the question "What is the ground for divorce?".

1. In the Template Builder add-in panel, click Add, then select Add condition. If no conditions exist yet, select the Conditions tab and click Create new.
2. Under Is this condition triggered by one of the inserted fields?, select No.
3. Under Question, enter the question you want the document drafter to answer, for example, "What is the ground for divorce?"
4. Under Choices, enter the available answers, for example, "Irreconcilable differences" and "Separation." Click Add choices to add all choices.
5. Optional: Enter a hint if the question needs context.
6. Click Save.

Add a triggered condition

Use a triggered condition when you want language in the document to change automatically based on the presence or value of a field — for example, whether a field contains any data at all, whether it equals a specific value, or contains certain text, etc. For example, if a defendant's address is available in the matter, the document might read "The defendant residing at [address] has stated that..." but if no address is on file, it should read simply "The defendant has stated that..." The triggered condition checks whether the address field exists and inserts the appropriate version automatically.

1. In the add-in panel, select the Conditions tab and click Create new.
2. Under Is this condition triggered by one of the inserted fields?, select Yes.
3. Under If field, select the card and the triggering field (for example, the defendant card and the address field).
4. Under Condition, select the trigger type (for example, Exists) and enter a conditional value if required.
5. Click Save.

Apply a condition to your document

1. In your Word document, select the text you want the condition to control.
2. In the Conditions tab, find the relevant condition and click Insert.
   • The selected text in the document is wrapped in If and End condition tags. When a drafter generates a document, everything between those tags appears only if the condition is met.