Modifying an Existing Precedent

14/01/2026
Knowledge

How To

LEAP precedents are available for you to use as they are, but can of course be modified to make them your own.

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You need to be careful when modifying a LEAP precedent, because if LEAP later changes the precedent to comply with legislation, you may not get these updates.

Edit an existing precedent - This is recommended in the scenario where a precedent exists, but it does not quite fit your style, and you are happy to overwrite the version in LEAP. The benefit of editing the precedent is that you retain the full history of the original precedent and a notification is given when LEAP or By Lawyers update the precedent, allowing you to incorporate the changes into your version. If a standard LEAP precedent is customised instead of duplicated, any future updates from LEAP will overwrite those customisations.

Duplicate an existing precedent - Use this when the document is similar to an existing precedent, as in the above example, but the original is still relevant in some circumstances. You can also create a duplicate of a precedent if you wish to make a copy that is not affected by updates while also keeping a separate updated copy. The outcome of duplicating a precedent is two identical precedents. You then edit the duplicate, leaving the original intact. It is essential to understand that Update Notifications will no longer be displayed on the duplicate when a change is made by LEAP or By Lawyers.

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Open a Precedent in Modify Mode

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 Edit Precedent.

Modify a Precedent

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If the precedent has a Body bookmark, the content of the precedent must be entered/changed within the Body bookmark. Any information that is not within the Body bookmark of the precedent when you Save & Close, will not be saved.

For more information about Bookmarks, click here.

From the precedent in Modify Mode, locate the Body bookmark.
1. Click the Insert tab.
2. Click Bookmark from Links section. The Bookmark window will open.
3. Select Body.
4. Click Go To.
5. The highlighted section is the Body of the document, where all content for the precedent needs to be entered.
Make the necessary changes to the Body of the precedent.
Click Save & Close.
Enter a Reason for Change then click OK.

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Some LEAP precedents, such as the Settlement Statement [LL-NZ-PR-008], should not be modified or duplicated, as this removes the built-in functionality required for them to work correctly. For more info on using the Settlement Statement, click here.

View History of Changes of a Precedent

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select History of Changes.

The History of Changes window will open.

From the History of Changes window, you will be able to see:

Date & Time of the change
Reason for Change/Description
Action (Create, Edit or Change)
User Initials (no initials if modified by LEAP)

Restore a Previous Version of a Precedent

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select History of Changes.

The History of Changes window will open.
Select the version you wish to restore.

You can Open & Preview or Compare with other versions to make sure that is the version you wish to make current.
Click Set as Current.

The selected version will be in bold and set as current version to be used.
If unexpected changes occur to the precedent immediately after setting a previous version as the current version, you will need to change the Precedent's Class to None by right-clicking the precedent, selecting Change, selecting Precedent's Class and clicking None. Afterwards, you can try opening the precedent again.

If the issue persists, change the Document Type to None.

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Precedent Class

Definition: A Precedent Class is used to categorise and manage different types of precedents within LEAP. It helps in organising documents based on their purpose or usage.
Usage: For example, you can assign a default invoice precedent in Forms & Precedents by setting its class to "Invoice". This ensures that the correct template is used for generating invoices.

Document Type

Definition: A Document Type in LEAP ensures that your standard templates have uniform formatting, including your firm's logo and contact details on all outgoing documents.
Creation: You can create a new Document Type by opening a matter, navigating to the Details & Correspondence tab, and selecting "New Document". This allows you to set up a Word or Excel Document Type with specific formatting and fields.
Customisation: Document Types can be customised to include specific bookmarks and fields, ensuring that any changes made to the Document Type do not affect the precedent.

Revert a Precedent Back to LEAP Standard Precedent

If a precedent is not generating as expected (eg. signature fields are missing), you can revert it back to a LEAP Standard Precedent. Please refer to the following steps:

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select Revert to Standard.
Enter a Reason for Change then click OK.

Duplicate a Precedent

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A duplicated LEAP precedent will not receive any updates or changes made by LEAP.

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select Duplicate Precedent or Duplicate & Rename Precedent.

The duplicated precedent will display in blue (and identified with a -copy suffix if you used Duplicate Precedent).

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You can also copy and paste the precedent. Right-click the precedent then select Copy. Once copied, right-click within the window then select Paste.

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Change a Precedent Code

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select Change > Precedent's Code.
Enter the new precedent code then click OK.

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If you wish to reset the precedent's code to its original code for a LEAP precedent, right-click the precedent then select Change > Reset Precedent's Code to Original.

Create a Shortcut for Precedents

When a shortcut for a precedent is added, you will be able to access the precedent from multiple folders while updates to the precedent remain unified. Please see below for steps to create a shortcut to a precedent:

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent you wish to link then select Create Shortcut.

The precedent shortcut should appear like this .

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You can also create shortcuts for Precedent Folders.

Precedent Folder shortcuts will appear with this .

Click here for more information.

Move a Precedent

Drag and Drop

From the Forms & Precedents window, expand the folders on the left-hand side of the window so that the folder the precedent is being moved to is displayed.
Drag & drop the precedent into the folder you wish to move on the left-hand side.

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You can also drag and drop precedent folders.

Click here for more information.

Cut and Paste

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select Cut.
Navigate to the location you would like to paste the precedent.
Right-click within the window then select Paste.

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If you wish to return a LEAP precedent to its original location, right-click the precedent then select Change > Reset Precedent's Location to Original.

Replace the Default Reference

You can change the Default Reference (named as Card from Merge Fields or Content Control Fields) without having to open and edit the precedent.

This will allow you to change the recipient and all references to them or their details throughout the precedent to a different recipient on the matter.

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You can only perform this action on a custom precedent.

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select Change > Default Table.
Select the new recipient from the New Default Table drop-down list.

Tick Show All if you wish to select a different recipient that is not on the matter.
Click OK.

Format Dates in a Precedent

Find the precedent in Forms & Precedents within the Browse tab.
Right-click the precedent then select Edit Precedent.
Highlight the Date field you would like to format in your precedent.
From the LEAP Toolbar, click on Editing > Format Fields.

The Format Fields window will open.
Select Date under Field Type then select the desired Date format under Format.
Click OK.

Open a Precedent in Modify Mode

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.
Right-click the precedent then select either:
- Modify precedent in Word Online; or
- Modify precedent in Word

Modify a Precedent

Click to edit heading

For more information about Bookmarks, click here.

From the precedent in Modify Mode, locate the Body bookmark.
1. Click the Insert tab.
2. Click Bookmark from Links section. The Bookmark window will open.
3. Select Body.
4. Click Go To.
5. The highlighted section is the Body of the document, where all content for the precedent needs to be entered.
Make the necessary changes to the Body of the precedent.
Click Save & Close.
Enter a Reason for Change then click OK.

View History of Changes of a Precedent

Find the precedent in the Forms & Precedents window.
Right-click the precedent then select History of Changes.

The History of Changes window will open.

From the History of Changes window, you will be able to see:

Date & Time of the change
Reason for Change/Description
Action (Create, Edit or Change)
User Initials (no initials if modified by LEAP)

Duplicate a Precedent

Click to edit heading

A duplicated LEAP precedent will not receive any updates or changes made by LEAP.

Find the precedent in the Forms & Precedents window.
Right-click the precedent then select Duplicate Precedent or Duplicate & Rename Precedent.

The duplicated precedent will display in blue (and identified with a -copy suffix if you used Duplicate Precedent).

Format Dates in a Precedent

Find the precedent in the Forms & Precedents window.
Right-click the precedent then select either:
- Modify precedent in Word Online; or
- Modify precedent in Word
Highlight the Date field you would like to format in your precedent.
From the LEAP Toolbar, click on Editing > Format Fields.

The Format Fields window will open.
Select Date under Field Type then select the desired Date format under Format.
Click OK.

Last Modified Date

14/01/2026 7:11 pm

Title

Modifying an Existing Precedent

URL Name

Modifying-an-Existing-Precedent-NZ

Resolution