Using Document Layouts

Document Layouts in Whisperit help you maintain consistent formatting and professional standards across your legal documents. This guide explains how to create, manage, and use document layouts in your workspace.

What are Document Layouts?

Document Layouts are customizable templates that define the structure and formatting of your legal documents. They allow you to:

• Maintain brand consistency across all firm documents

• Save time by reusing standard formatting

• Ensure compliance with court or client requirements

• Standardize headers, footers, and document sections

• Apply firm-specific styling automatically

Accessing Document Layouts

To access Document Layouts:

1. Navigate to Workspace in the left sidebar

2. Click on Document Layouts

3. View your Personal and Shared layouts

You'll see two tabs:

• Personal: Layouts you've created for your own use

• Shared: Layouts shared by other workspace members

Creating a New Document Layout

Importing a template file

Document Layouts supports importing existing templates:

1. Click the "New Layout" button

2. Toggle on "Import Template" if you have an existing template file

3. Enter a descriptive Layout Name (e.g., "Contract - Client Agreement")

4. Click "Choose File" to upload your template document

5. Click "Import" to create the layout

Creating from scratch

You can also create layouts directly in Whisperit without importing:

1. Click "New Layout"

2. Toggle off "Import Template"

3. Enter a Layout Name

4. Build your layout using Whisperit's formatting tools

5. Save your layout

Best Practices for Document Layouts

Use descriptive names Name your layouts clearly to identify their purpose. Use naming conventions like:

• "Document Type - Specific Use" (e.g., "Motion - Summary Judgment")

• "Client Name - Document Type" (e.g., "ABC Corp - Service Agreement")

• "Court - Filing Type" (e.g., "Federal Court - Brief")

Standardize firm-wide templates Create shared layouts for commonly used documents:

• Client engagement letters

• Court pleadings and motions

• Contract templates

• Legal memoranda

• Discovery documents

Include essential elements Ensure your layouts include:

• Firm letterhead or logo placement

• Appropriate headers and footers

• Page numbering standards

• Signature blocks

• Required disclaimers

• Formatting for citations and references

Organize by practice area Create separate layouts for different practice areas to ensure each department has appropriate templates readily available.

Managing Existing Layouts

Editing layouts Click on any layout in your list to modify it. Update the template file, name, or formatting as needed.

Sharing layouts with your team Share useful layouts with colleagues to ensure consistency across the workspace. Check your workspace permissions to see if you can share layouts.

Deleting unused layouts Regularly review and remove outdated layouts to keep your template library organized and current.

Using Document Layouts in Your Work

Applying a layout to new documents When creating a new document in Whisperit, select the appropriate layout from your available templates. The formatting will automatically apply to your document.

Combining layouts with AI features Document Layouts work seamlessly with Whisperit's AI assistant. Generate content using AI tools while maintaining your firm's professional formatting standards.

Updating documents with layout changes When you update a layout, consider whether existing documents need to be updated to reflect the new formatting.

Troubleshooting

If your layout doesn't appear Check that you're looking in the correct tab (Personal vs. Shared). Refresh the page if needed.

If formatting doesn't apply correctly Ensure your template file uses compatible formatting. Some complex formatting may need adjustment after import.

If you can't create layouts Verify your workspace permissions allow layout creation. Contact your workspace administrator if needed.