Creating Your Own Precedents

Apr 29, 2026
Knowledge

How To

LEAP has an extensive library of Forms and Precedents. You can also add your own precedents to the library.

Desktop
Web

Create Your Own 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.
Navigate to the location where you would like to save the precedent.
Right-click on the right-hand pane of the Forms & Precedents window then select New > Word or Excel Precedent.
Select the Document Type and Recipient.

Click to edit heading

All newly created precedents are based on the selected Document Type. For more information regarding creating new or modifying an existing Document Type, click here.

You can also duplicate an existing precedent and modify it to create your own custom precedent if you prefer not to start from scratch. For more details, refer to Modifying an Existing Precedent.
Click OK.

A new document will open in Microsoft Word.
Enter the contents of your precedent where the body bookmark is placed. This is between the RE line and the signature.
Insert fields into your precedent to create automated documents based on the information entered on the matter.
Click Save & Close or Rename & Close to name the newly created precedent.

Create an Email 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.
Navigate to the location where you would like to save the precedent.
Right-click on the right-hand pane of the Forms & Precedents window then select New > Outlook Precedent.
Select the Recipient.
Click OK.

A new blank email will open in Microsoft Outlook.
Enter the contents in the Subject and Body sections of the email.
Under the Message tab, click Insert from the LEAP section.

The Insert Field pane will open on the right-hand side of the email.
Insert fields into your precedent to automate the information entered on the matter.
Click Save & Close.
Enter the name of the newly created Outlook precedent.

Import a Precedent

To upload and import your own Precedent into LEAP Forms & Precedents, follow these steps:

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.
Navigate to the location where you would like to import the precedent.
Right-click on the right-hand pane of the Forms & Precedents window then select Import Precedent.

The Import File dialog will open in a new window.
Select the precedent from your computer.
Click Open.

Click to edit heading

You can also drag and drop to import your precedents from your computer.

Select your precedents from your computer and drag and drop them into Forms & Precedents window.

Delete 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 Delete.
Enter a reason for deleting the precedent then click OK.

Restore a Deleted Precedent

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

The Forms & Precedents will open in a new window.
Click then select Show Deleted Precedents.

All deleted precedents are listed in red.
Right-click the deleted precedent then select Undelete.
Click Yes.

Click to edit heading

If you are missing precedents, please check if they have been deleted by selecting the Show Deleted Precedents option.

Create Your Own Precedent

Click to edit heading

This feature is only available when using Microsoft Office Desktop.

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 Forms & Precedents tab and not Legal Guides.
Click the New precedent button .
Select the Document Type and Recipient.

Select the None option if you do not wish to select a Recipient.

Click to edit heading

All newly created precedents are based on the selected Document Type. For more information regarding creating new or modifying an existing Document Type, click here.

You can also modify existing precedents if you do not wish to create a new one. For more information, see Modifying an Existing Precedent.
Click Create.

A new document will open in Microsoft Word.
Enter the contents of your precedent.
Insert fields into your precedent to automate the information entered on the matter.
Click Save & Close or Rename & Close to name the newly created precedent.

Delete 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 Delete.
Enter a reason for the deletion then click Delete to confirm.

Restore a Deleted Precedent

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

The Forms & Precedents window will open.
Click then select Show Deleted.

All deleted precedents are greyed out.
Right-click the precedent then select Undelete.

Last Modified Date

29/04/2026 5:44 PM

Title

Creating Your Own Precedents

URL Name

Creating-Your-Own-Precedents-NZ

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