Accessing and Opening Precedents

18/06/2026
Knowledge

How To

A precedent becomes a document when the base-precedent is generated on a matter and is populated with relevant matter related data.

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Access Forms & Precedents

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
You can browse the window to locate the precedent you need.
Select the precedent and click Select, or double-click to open it.

Click to edit heading

If you're having issues accessing or opening precedents in a matter, make sure your Word settings are properly configured by following the instructions on Resetting the connection between LEAP and Word. Alternatively, if the list of precedents does not load, you may be able to resolve the issue by performing a LEAP Repair.

Access Your Custom Precedents

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Make sure you're on the Browse tab.
Click then select Show Custom Precedents Tab.

The Custom Precedents tab will be added.

Click to edit heading

If the Custom Precedents tab does not appear even when the Show Custom Precedents Tab option is selected, you will need to restart your computer.

Search for a Precedent

You can search for precedents by following the steps below:

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Make sure you're on the Browse tab.
Click into the Search precedents field then start entering the search keyword or search by precedent code.
Next to the Search precedents field, click the drop-down list to change your search filter.

Click to edit heading

You are also able to search keywords within a precedent's content.

Enter your search keyword in the Search precedent field, click the drop-down arrow next to X then select Search Precedent Contents.

Preview a Precedent

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Make sure you're on the Browse tab.
Hover over the precedent then click .

The Preview window will open.

Create Multiple Precedents - One Client

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Make sure you're on the Browse tab.
In the precedent list, hold down Ctrl (or Shift) + click to select multiple precedents to generate at the same time.

Create a Precedent for Multiple Recipients

new If more than one recipient is listed on the matter, you can now generate the same precedent for multiple recipients of the same type, such as clients, other sides, or other parties.

Click to edit heading

Note that this feature is only available for precedents based on the 'Letter' document type.

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Browse for the precedent you wish to use and click Select.

Click to edit heading

The precedent should be the 'Letter' Document Type.
The Select Recipients window will open displaying the clients you can address the precedent to.
Tick the recipients you wish to generate the precedent for.
Click Select.

A copy of the precedent will be generated for each recipient selected.

Compare Two Precedent Versions

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Make sure you're on the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select History of Changes.
Hold the Ctrl key then select two precedent versions.
Click Compare.

The Compare Documents window will open.
Click Swap Documents if you wish to swap between the Original and Revised Documents.
Click Compare.

A Word document will open and highlight the revisions and differences between the two precedent versions.

Changing the Default Tab in the Forms and Precedents Window

To change the default tab in the Forms and Precedents window in LEAP, follow these steps:

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Click into whichever tab you would like to be set as default.
Click the ... (ellipsis) button in the right corner
Click Set as Default Tab.

This tab will now open now load as the default tab when opening Forms & Precedents.

Additional Options

You can access additional options if you wish to perform tasks such as restoring precedents that were accidentally deleted.

Click to select from the following options:

Show Deleted Precedents
Highlight Custom Precedents
Show Custom Precedents Tab
Set as Default Tab
Append Form Number to the start or end of Precedent Name

Save Forms & Precedents

After a Form or Precedent has been generated, click Save & Close from the top of the LEAP ribbon to save the the changes you have made in the form or template.

Access Forms & Precedents

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.

Search for a Precedent

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Click into the Search precedents field then start entering the search keyword.

You can also search for a precedent by Form Number.
Next to the Search precedents field, click the drop-down list to change your search filter.

Preview a Precedent

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Right-click the precedent then select Preview Precedent.

The Preview window will open.

Access Forms & Precedents

Open a matter.
Make sure you are on the Correspondence tab.
Tap the icon and tap Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents screen will open.

Search for a Precedent

Open a matter.
Make sure you are on the Correspondence tab.
Tap the icon and tap Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents screen will open.
Tap on the Search field, then start entering the search keyword.
Next to the Search field, tap the icon to change your search filter.
- Search in Current Matter Type
- Search in All Matter Types
- Search in Content

Click to edit heading

If you would like to browse precedents in a different area of law, tap to select another Matter Type. To view precedents from a different state, tap and select the desired State.

Access Forms & Precedents

Open a matter.
Make sure you are on the Correspondence tab.
Tap the icon and tap Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents screen will open.

Search for a Precedent

Open a matter.
Make sure you are on the Correspondence tab.
Tap the icon and tap Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents screen will open.
Tap on the Search field, then start entering the search keyword.
Next to the Search field, tap the icon to change your search filter.
- Search in Current Matter Type
- Search in All Matter Types
- Search in Content

Last Modified Date

18/06/2026 12:08 pm

Title

Accessing and Opening Precedents

URL Name

Accessing-and-Opening-Precedents-NZ

Resolution