---
title: "The Free Starter Kit: A Structure You Can Build Today"
url: https://notionforlawyers.com/starter-kit
updated: 2026-10-17
author: Raghav Handa
---

# 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.

## Key takeaways

- Build it free in about an hour from this page.
- Two databases and four views are enough to be useful.
- LawyerOS Starter is the paid, ready-made version; we sell it.
- Neither calculates court deadlines nor handles client money.

## The structure

| Piece | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Matters database | Name, client, matter type, stage, status, key date |
| Deadlines database | Name, date, type, court or authority, matter (relation) |
| View: Active matters | Status is open, sorted by key date |
| View: Due in 7 days | Date within the next seven days, sorted by date |
| View: Overdue | Date before today and not done |
| View: Pipeline | Board of matters grouped by stage |
| Home page | Embed 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.

- Relations and rollups: https://notionforlawyers.com/notion/relations-and-rollups
- Free starter structure download: https://notionforlawyers.com/freebies/starter-template


## Property types to choose

| Property | Type | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Status | Select or Status | Lets views filter on open matters |
| Stage | Select | Drives the Pipeline board |
| Key date | Date | Sorts the Active matters view |
| Deadline date | Date | Drives Due in 7 days and Overdue |
| Done | Checkbox | Excludes completed deadlines from Overdue |
| Matter | Relation | Shows 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.

- LawyerOS: https://notionforlawyers.com/library/lawyer-os
- Buy LawyerOS Starter: https://raghavrhanda.gumroad.com/l/lawyeros-starter


## 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.


## FAQ

### 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.