Document Tools
Create, draft with AI, manage, and sign every legal document in your practice.
Overview
Document Tools is the document management and creation hub of FRITH. It provides everything a law firm needs to handle documents throughout their lifecycle: upload and organise incoming documents, create new documents from templates, use AI to draft complex legal documents in seconds, review and annotate documents within the browser, collect e-signatures, and share documents securely with clients through the portal.
Every document in FRITH is linked to a matter. This means that when you open any matter, every document associated with it — correspondence, pleadings, contracts, evidence, court orders — is immediately accessible in that matter's Documents tab. There is no separate folder hierarchy to navigate and no risk of filing a document in the wrong place.
Core Capabilities
Upload & Organise
Upload any file type (PDF, Word, Excel, images, court orders, scans). Documents are organised within the matter's library with tags, categories, and full-text search.
AI Document Drafting
Use Gemini AI to generate first drafts of legal documents from a description or template — letters, contracts, pleadings, briefs, submissions, and more.
Document Templates
Maintain a firm-wide library of precedent documents. Apply a template to a matter and FRITH auto-fills matter details (client name, file number, dates) into the document.
E-Signatures
Request and collect legally binding electronic signatures from clients and third parties via Stripe Docs or integrated e-sign providers. Track signature status in real time.
Version Control
Every time a document is edited, a new version is created automatically. View the full version history, compare versions, and restore any previous version.
Full-Text Search
Search the content of documents — not just filenames. Find the specific clause, case citation, or term across all documents in a matter or across the entire firm.
Secure Client Sharing
Share documents with clients through the secure Client Portal. Track when they open a document and confirm receipt. No email attachments with sensitive files.
Access Control
Set document-level permissions. Mark documents as internal-only (visible to firm staff only) or shareable (visible in the client portal). Confidential documents are accessible only to named attorneys.
Uploading Documents
Open a matter and go to the Documents tab. Click Upload Document or drag and drop files directly onto the page. Multiple files can be uploaded simultaneously.
Assign each document a type (Correspondence, Pleading, Contract, Evidence, Court Order, Internal Note, etc.) and optionally add tags for filtering. The document type affects how it appears in reports and exports.
Set the access level: Internal Only (firm staff only) or Shareable (can be shared with the client via portal). Shareable documents are not automatically sent — you still control when and if the client sees them.
Click Upload. FRITH processes the file, extracts text for full-text search (including PDFs and scanned documents via OCR), and makes it available immediately.
AI Document Drafting
FRITH's AI drafting capability uses Gemini AI to generate complete first-draft legal documents from a plain-English description. It is not a word processor — it is a professional starting point that handles structure, appropriate legal language, and standard clauses, leaving you to review and refine.
From a matter's Documents tab, click + New Document → AI Draft. Alternatively, use the AI Tools → AI Templates module for more structured template-driven drafting.
Describe the document you need in plain English. Be specific: include the parties, jurisdiction, relevant facts, and the purpose of the document. Example: "A letter of demand to Kofi Mensah for unpaid invoices totalling $12,450 under a consulting agreement dated March 2024, governed by New South Wales law."
Click Generate. FRITH pulls context from the linked matter (client name, opposing parties, matter description) and generates a full draft document. Generation typically takes 10–30 seconds.
Review the draft in the browser editor. Edit directly, add or remove clauses, and refine the language. The AI draft is a first pass — always apply your professional judgment before sending or filing any document.
When satisfied, save as a Word document (.docx) or PDF. The document is saved to the matter's Documents library with a "AI Draft" label and version 1.0.
E-Signatures
FRITH supports electronic signature collection for contracts, retainer agreements, settlement documents, and any other document that requires a client or third-party signature. Signatures collected through FRITH comply with the applicable electronic transactions legislation in most jurisdictions (confirm with your jurisdiction's specific requirements for court documents, wills, and deeds, which may have additional formalities).
To request a signature: open the document, click Request Signature, add the signatories (name and email), and set a signing order if multiple parties must sign sequentially. FRITH sends each signatory an email with a secure signing link. You can track who has signed and who hasn't in real time from the document's detail view. Once all parties have signed, FRITH emails a copy of the completed, signed document to all parties and saves a certified copy to the matter's Documents library.
Document Templates
The Document Templates library allows your firm to maintain a set of precedent documents with merge fields. When you apply a template to a matter, FRITH automatically fills in the matter's data: client name, opposing party, matter description, attorney name, firm letterhead details, and any custom fields you have defined.
To create a template: navigate to the Document Tools module → Templates → + New Template. Upload or create your precedent document and mark fields to be auto-filled using double-brace syntax: {{client_name}}, {{matter_number}}, {{today_date}}. Administrators can manage the template library and control which templates are available to which practice areas.
Document management best practices
- • Name documents descriptively: "2026-01-15 Letter to Opposing Counsel — Discovery Request" is far more useful than "Letter.docx".
- • Always set the document type at upload — it drives document-type filtering in reports and exports.
- • Never email sensitive documents as attachments. Use the client portal sharing function — it tracks delivery and prevents forwarding.
- • Treat AI drafts as a starting point, not a finished product. Review every clause before sending or filing. AI can hallucinate legal provisions.
- • Use version control: never overwrite the previous version of an important document. Always save as a new version so you can revert if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file types can I upload?
FRITH accepts PDF, Word (.docx, .doc), Excel (.xlsx), PowerPoint, image files (JPG, PNG, TIFF — OCR applied for scanned documents), emails (.eml, .msg), and plain text files. Maximum file size is 50MB per file. For larger files, contact support.
Are AI-drafted documents admissible in court?
Documents are admissible or not based on their content and compliance with procedural rules — not how they were drafted. An AI-generated document that you review, edit, and finalise is no different from one a junior attorney drafted for your review. The attorney signing the document takes full professional responsibility for its accuracy and compliance.
Can I OCR scanned documents so they are text-searchable?
Yes. FRITH automatically runs OCR (via ocrmypdf) on uploaded images and scanned PDFs, making them full-text searchable. This process happens in the background — see the My Jobs module for the status of OCR jobs. Processing typically takes 15–60 seconds per page.
How do I revoke a client's access to a shared document?
Open the document, go to Sharing Settings, and remove the client from the shared list. The document is immediately removed from the client portal. Previously downloaded copies cannot be recalled, which is why you should review sharing settings before sharing any document.