Modifying an Existing Template

Jan 14, 2026
Knowledge

How To

LEAP templates 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 templates, because if LEAP later changes the templates to comply with legislation, you may not get these updates.

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

Duplicate an existing template - Use this when the document is similar to an existing template, as in the above example, but the original is still relevant in some circumstances. You can also create a duplicate of a template 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 template is two identical templates. 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.

Desktop
Web

Open a Template in Modify Mode

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

The Forms & Templates window will open.
Make sure you're on the Browse tab.
Right-click the template then select Edit Template.

Modify a Template

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

For more information about Bookmarks, click here.

From the template 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 template needs to be entered.
Make the necessary changes to the Body of the template.
Click Save & Close.
Enter a Reason for Change then click OK.

View History of Changes of a Template

Find the template in Forms & Templates within the Browse tab.
Right-click the template 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 Template

Find the template in Forms & Templates within the Browse tab.
Right-click the template 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 template immediately after setting a previous version as the current version, you will need to change the Template's Class to None by right-clicking the template, selecting Change, selecting Template's Class and clicking None. Afterwards, you can try opening the template again.

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

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Template Class

Definition: A Template Class is used to categorise and manage different types of templates within LEAP. It helps in organising documents based on their purpose or usage.
Usage: For example, you can assign a default invoice template in Forms & Templates 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 template.

Revert a Template Back to LEAP Standard Template

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

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

Duplicate a Template

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

Find the template in Forms & Templates within the Browse tab.
Right-click the template then select Duplicate Template or Duplicate & Rename Template.

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

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

Change a Template Code

Find the template in Forms & Templates within the Browse tab.
Right-click the template then select Change > Template's Code.
Enter the new template code then click OK.

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

Create a Shortcut for Templates

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

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

The template shortcut should appear like this .

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You can also create shortcuts for Template Folders.

Template Folder shortcuts will appear with this .

Click here for more information.

Move a Template

Drag and Drop

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

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You can also drag and drop template folders.

Click here for more information.

Cut and Paste

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

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If you wish to return a LEAP template to its original location, right-click the template then select Change > Reset Template'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 template.

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

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You can only perform this action on a custom template.

Find the template in Forms & Templates within the Browse tab.
Right-click the template 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 Template

Find the template in Forms & Templates within the Browse tab.
Right-click the template then select Edit Template.
Highlight the Date field you would like to format in your template.
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 Template in Modify Mode

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

The Forms & Templates window will open.
Make sure you're on the Forms & Templates tab and not Legal Guides.
Right-click the template then select either:
- Modify template in Word Online; or
- Modify template in Word

Modify a Template

Click to edit heading

For more information about Bookmarks, click here.

From the template 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 template needs to be entered.
Make the necessary changes to the Body of the template.
Click Save & Close.
Enter a Reason for Change then click OK.

View History of Changes of a Template

Find the template in the Forms & Templates window.
Right-click the template 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 Template

Click to edit heading

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

Find the template in the Forms & Templates window.
Right-click the template then select Duplicate Template or Duplicate & Rename Template.

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

Format Dates in a Template

Find the template in the Forms & Templates window.
Right-click the template then select either:
- Modify template in Word Online; or
- Modify template in Word
Highlight the Date field you would like to format in your template.
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

1/14/2026 1:11 AM

Title

Modifying an Existing Template

URL Name

Modify-a-LEAP-Form-or-Template

Resolution