How to set up a Notion template: a step-by-step guide for lawyers

What do I need before I start?

• A Notion account. Duplicating a template works on the free plan.
• The duplicate link from your purchase receipt.
• To be signed in to the right workspace, if you have a personal one and a firm one.
• One real matter with its upcoming deadlines, to set up first.

How do I duplicate a Notion template?

1. 1

   Open the link

   The template opens as a public Notion page.

2. 2

   Click Duplicate

   Top-right corner. Sign in first if Notion asks.

3. 3

   Pick the workspace

   Choose your firm workspace.

4. 4

   Open the copy

   Notion opens your copy when it is ready.

Where does the copy go, and how do I tidy it?

Your copy lands in the Private section of the sidebar, with every sub-page, visible only to you. To share it with colleagues, move it into a teamspace or share the top page. If any block shows 'No access', delete it: it points to something that was not meant to be copied.

What's inside LawyerOS Starter and Pro with AI?

LawyerOS Starter ($49)

• Lawyer OS Starter home page with navigation
• “Deadlines this week”: court dates, filing windows and limitation dates due in the next 7 days, shown automatically
• “Active matters”: every open matter sorted by key date, most urgent first
• Matters database: matter type, matter stage, key date and status, with a full page for each matter
• Deadlines database: date, type, linked matter, and court / authority

LawyerOS Pro with AI ($99)

• LawyerOS Pro with AI home page with navigation
• Matters database: status, stage, client, practice area and responsible lawyer. Views: Active, Due Soon, High Priority, Pipeline (Stage)
• Actions database: status, due date, priority and dependency. Views: My Week, Overdue, Waiting / Blocked, High Priority
• Time database: date, timekeeper, duration and amount. Views: Uninvoiced, Billable + Uninvoiced, My Week, Billable Only
• Team, Evidence and Research databases
• Clients and Invoices databases
• Quick Start Guide
• Custom AI Agents page

Pro with AI includes a Quick Start Guide inside the template; follow it alongside this page.

How do I customise a template without breaking it?

• Rename select options (matter types, stages) rather than deleting them, so existing entries and views keep working.
• Do not delete relation or rollup properties; hide them from the view if you do not need them.
• Duplicate a saved view before editing its filters, so you can always go back.
• Change wording to your jurisdiction's terms; every database, property and view can be renamed.
• Set a default database template so every new matter page starts with the same sections.

How do I add my first matter and deadlines?

1. 1

   Create the matter

   Add it in Matters with its type, stage, key date and status.

2. 2

   Add its deadlines

   Enter each court date, filing window and limitation date in Deadlines, linked to the matter, with the court or authority.

3. 3

   Check the home page

   Confirm the deadline appears in 'Deadlines this week' if it is due within seven days, and the matter in 'Active matters'.

4. 4

   Remove sample entries

   Delete the sample matters and deadlines once your own are in.

On Pro with AI, continue with Actions, Time, Clients and Invoices for the same matter before adding more matters.

What if something goes wrong?

• I can't find my copy: look in the Private section, or press Cmd/Ctrl + K and search for LawyerOS.
• I duplicated it into the wrong workspace: duplicate it again into the right one and delete the extra copy.
• A home-page view is empty: check that your entries have dates and statuses the view's filter expects.
• I see 'No access' blocks: delete them.

• Notion: Duplicate public pages
• Buy LawyerOS Starter
• Buy LawyerOS Pro with AI

Frequently asked questions

How do I duplicate a Notion template?

Open the template link, click Duplicate in the top-right corner and choose your workspace. The copy appears in the Private section of your sidebar.

What exactly do I get when I buy LawyerOS?

A Notion template. After purchase you receive a link to duplicate it into your own Notion workspace. Templates only: no software, hosting or subscription.

Do I need a paid Notion plan?

The databases and views work in a standard Notion workspace. Notion's AI features, which the Custom AI Agents page in Pro relates to, need a Notion plan or add-on that includes Notion AI.

Can I customise LawyerOS for my practice area?

Yes. It's a normal Notion template, so every database, property and view can be renamed, edited or removed.

Will deleting the sample entries break anything?

No. Deleting sample matters and deadlines is safe. Deleting properties or relations can break views, so hide those instead.

Can my colleagues use the same copy?

Yes. Move the template into a teamspace or share the top page with workspace members.

Sources and further reading

• Notion: Duplicate public pages
• Notion: The ultimate guide to Notion templates
• Notion: Database templates
• Notion: Sharing and permissions