---
title: "How to Use Notion: The Essential Moves for Legal Work"
url: https://notionforlawyers.com/learn/how-to-use-notion
updated: 2026-10-17
author: Raghav Handa
---

# How to Use Notion: The Essential Moves for Legal Work

To use Notion well, learn six things in order: create pages with the slash command, nest pages, build a database, save filtered views, link databases with relations, and reuse structure with templates. Ignore the rest until you need it.

## Key takeaways

- Type / on any page to add blocks; Cmd/Ctrl + K searches your workspace.
- Databases and saved views carry most of the value for lawyers.
- Use templates and buttons to avoid repetitive setup.
- Keep it simple: a smaller system that you update beats a large one you abandon.

## The six essential moves

1. Slash commands: Type / and choose a block: heading, to-do, table, toggle. This is how most content is added.
2. Nested pages: Create sub-pages inside pages so a matter holds its notes, documents and tasks.
3. Databases: Create a table, add properties, and treat each row as a record.
4. Views: Save filters and sorts as views such as 'Active matters' and 'Due this week'.
5. Relations: Link databases so deadlines, tasks and time connect to their matter.
6. Templates: Save a page layout so every new matter starts with the same checklist.


## Shortcuts worth learning

A short video of five shortcuts saves time every day. The creator, Thomas Frank, publishes free general Notion tutorials.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QiJwjR_KCLI

- Notion help: views, filters and sorts: https://www.notion.com/help/views-filters-and-sorts
- Notion help: buttons: https://www.notion.com/help/buttons


## Habits that keep a legal Notion tidy

- Name things consistently, for example Client - Matter - Type.
- Put one source of truth for each fact and link to it elsewhere.
- Review permissions before sharing any page.
- Archive closed matters with a status, not by deleting.
- Do a weekly five-minute tidy of your Active view.

Confidentiality deserves its own attention before you add client material, so read our security guide.

- Client confidentiality in Notion: https://notionforlawyers.com/resources/guides/client-confidentiality-in-notion
- Learn Notion for lawyers: four-week plan: https://notionforlawyers.com/learn/notion-for-lawyers


## Your first useful page

A practical first build is a Monday page. Create a database of Actions with a title, due date, status and matter name. Add a view called This week that filters for due dates in the next seven days and not done, then pin it to the top of a home page. Opening that page each morning is the habit that makes everything else worth maintaining.


## FAQ

### What should I learn first in Notion?

Pages and the slash command, then databases.

### Do I need formulas?

Not at first. They help with calculated fields like days until a deadline.

### Can I share a page with a client?

Yes, with permissions, but consider confidentiality and whether a portal built for clients suits you better.

### Where are the official guides?

In Notion's help centre, linked from this page and our resources section.