About this site

The Free Starter Kit: A Structure You Can Build Today

The starter kit is a structure you can build yourself for free: a Matters database, a Deadlines database, four saved views and a home page. If you would rather not build, LawyerOS Starter is the same idea ready made as a one-time purchase.

By Raghav Handa · Updated 17 October 2026 · 3 min read

The structure

PieceDetails
Matters databaseName, client, matter type, stage, status, key date
Deadlines databaseName, date, type, court or authority, matter (relation)
View: Active mattersStatus is open, sorted by key date
View: Due in 7 daysDate within the next seven days, sorted by date
View: OverdueDate before today and not done
View: PipelineBoard of matters grouped by stage
Home pageEmbed the Due in 7 days and Active matters views

Build steps

  1. Create the two databases and add the properties above.
  2. Link Deadlines to Matters with a two-way relation.
  3. Create the four views and save them.
  4. Create a home page and embed linked views of the two key lists.
  5. Add three real matters and one deadline each, then use it for a week.

Property types to choose

PropertyTypeWhy
StatusSelect or StatusLets views filter on open matters
StageSelectDrives the Pipeline board
Key dateDateSorts the Active matters view
Deadline dateDateDrives Due in 7 days and Overdue
DoneCheckboxExcludes completed deadlines from Overdue
MatterRelationShows deadlines on the matter page

Use dates as real date properties, not text, or the views will not sort or filter.

Check it works

After the first week, run three checks. Open the Overdue view: it should be empty or contain only items you know about. Open a matter page: its deadlines should appear in the related list. Ask a colleague to find the next deadline on a matter they have never seen, without asking you. If any check fails, fix the structure before adding anything.

What the starter kit leaves out

  • Calculating limitation periods or court deadlines. You enter dates you have verified yourself.
  • Client money, billing and payment collection.
  • Email, e-signature or document storage; link to the tools you already use.
  • Backups. Learn how to export your workspace and do it on a schedule.

If you prefer it ready made

LawyerOS Starter is $49, one-time, with a 7-day refund. It is a Notion template with a Matters database, a Deadlines database and a home page showing deadlines this week and active matters. Pro with AI at $99 adds more databases. It does not provide trust accounting, court-rules calendaring, integrated billing or hosting.

Adapting it to your practice

Change the Matter type values to your work, for example Claim, Hearing, Advice or Transaction. Replace Stage values with the steps your files pass through. Add a Responsible lawyer property if you have colleagues. Resist adding more until you have used the basic version for a month and can name a specific question it cannot answer.

Frequently asked questions

Is the starter kit really free?
The build instructions are free; LawyerOS Starter is a paid product.
Do I need technical skills?
No.
Can I add more databases later?
Yes.
Is the free structure the same as LawyerOS?
It is the same idea, not a copy of the template.
How long does the build take?
About an hour for the structure, then a week of real use to find what is missing.

About the author

Raghav Handa

Raghav Handa trained as a lawyer, then spent years building legal technology, from enterprise legal products to custom systems for law firms.

Want it built for you?

LawyerOS is a ready-made Notion workspace for matters, deadlines, time and invoices. Starter $49, Pro with AI $99, one-time.

See LawyerOS