In this article:
What is Compose Document
Why use Compose Document
How to use Compose Document
What is Compose Document?
Compose Document is a drafting feature in ClauseBuddy that helps you create complete legal documents by combining your clause library with AI assistance. It’s designed to support a hybrid approach to drafting - bringing together your legal expertise and AI to produce consistent, well-structured documents more efficiently.
You can start by selecting an example document (available in multiple languages) or by creating a document from scratch using AI instructions. Based on your prompt, you define key parameters such as language, drafting style, and the number of clauses. The AI then generates a structured outline, which you can review and refine before drafting begins.
Once the outline is final, you can build out each clause in several ways:
Ask the AI to draft clauses
Insert clauses directly from your clause library
Manually edit or write content yourself
Compose Document also supports AI-powered rephrasing, version comparison, and the addition of sub-clauses, making it easy to adapt content as you go.
Why use Compose Document?
To speed up drafting - Combine AI assistance with your existing clause library to reduce drafting time.
To create structured documents - Generate clear outlines and clauses based on specific drafting instructions.
To edit and adapt content easily - Rephrase, add, or modify clauses quickly to match your preferred style.
To draft different document types - Use it for contracts, memos, letters, or individual clauses.
When not to use Compose Document
If you want full manual drafting - Compose Document is not ideal if you prefer to write everything without AI support.
If highly specialised legal advice is required - For documents requiring very specific or nuanced legal judgment, AI should not be used on its own.
Examples
When you open the Compose Document page, you’ll see a selection of example documents. These are available in multiple languages, depending on the languages enabled in your Preferences.
Selecting an example takes you directly to the Prompt tab, with a pre-filled document outline.
Alternatively, you can skip the examples and go straight to the Prompt tab to create a document from scratch.
Step 1: Create an outline
To get started, instruct the AI to draft a document outline using the prompt box. You’ll need to specify:
The language
The number of clauses
The drafting style
Drafting style options
You can choose whether the AI should use defined terms (capitalised legal concepts). This is typically recommended for contracts, but may be optional for memos or letters.
You can also control the relative length of sections using the slider in the popup menu.
When you’re ready, click Draft.
After a few seconds, the button turns green and the outline is generated. Additional actions then become available.
Writing effective prompts
The more specific your instructions, the better the outline. For example:
“Software development agreement, German law & courts, very short, fixed duration of 2 years, balanced.”
“Rental agreement for a garage in Brussels, indefinite duration, automatic renewal, rent of EUR 2,000 per month with indexation.”
Compose Document is not limited to contracts - you can also draft memos, letters, or even individual clauses. Despite the name “Document,” you can create structured standalone clauses with automatic numbering and layout.
Updating your prompt or style
You can edit the prompt or drafting style even after the outline is created. The AI always uses the latest version of your prompt when drafting or rephrasing content. This is especially useful if generated clauses don’t fully meet your expectations.
Step 2: Fill in the clauses
Once the outline is ready, you can start drafting the content of each clause.
Drafting with AI
Click Auto Draft on a clause to have the AI generate its content.
You can add extra instructions (for example, specific legal requirements) in the dialog that appears.
Press Enter to submit your instructions - no need to click the button manually.
The AI drafts the clause based on:
The document outline
The clause’s position in the document
Any additional instructions you provide
Inserting clauses from your clause library
Each clause shows a Library button indicating how many potential matches were found in your clause library.
Matching is keyword-based, so results may not always be perfect. Even if no matches appear, it can still be worth checking your library.
You can:
Edit the search keywords to refine results
Apply attribute filters (if available) to narrow matches
Remove filters by clicking them again
Manual drafting or editing
You can manually write or edit clause content by clicking the pencil icon.
The editor works the same way as elsewhere in ClauseBuddy, including support for numbered paragraphs (e.g. 1., 1.1) or asterisks. Click the pencil icon again to save your changes.
Step 3: Rephrase and refine clauses
Once a clause exists (whether drafted manually or by AI), you can refine it using the wrench icon.
Rephrasing options
You have several ways to modify a clause:
Give direct instructions
For example:
“Add a paragraph on automatic termination” or “Make the clause more neutral.”Suggest changes
The AI proposes four possible improvements. Clicking one applies it immediately.
Adapt to document content
Redrafts the clause to align with the rest of the document, including defined terms. This is especially useful for clauses inserted from your library.Other options
Longer / Shorter: Adjust clause length
Rephrase: Change wording without changing meaning
Comparing versions
After editing a clause, click the comparison icon to view differences between the current and previous versions. This is helpful for reviewing subtle changes.
Step 4: Add additional clauses
To add sub-clauses, click the green + icon on a top-level clause.
The AI suggests five possible sub-clauses. Click one to add it, or click again to remove it if added by mistake.
Step 5a: Export your document
When your document is complete, click Export.
The available export options depend on whether you have custom layouts set up in Clause9:
If not, a default layout is used, which you can adjust via export options.
If yes, your custom layouts appear in the list.
Using custom layouts
Custom layouts are created in Clause9 by:
Creating a document
Adjusting layout settings (fonts, spacing, placeholders, etc.)
Assigning it the category
layout-templates
Content generated in ClauseBuddy is appended to the layout document, allowing you to include standard introductions or headers.
If you don’t have access to Clause9, you can contact us about creating a template as a consultancy service.
Step 5b: Insert content into an open Word document
Instead of exporting a standalone document, you can insert content directly into an open Microsoft Word document:
Click Copy to insert the full document
Use the … menu on individual clauses to insert selected clauses only
If you’re using ClauseBuddy in a browser, insertion options change to Copy, since direct Word insertion isn’t possible.
If ClauseBuddy recognises the styling of your open Word document, content is inserted automatically. Otherwise, you’ll be prompted to choose a styling option (plain text, minimal styling, guessed styling, etc.).
Managing placeholders
Placeholders are highlighted in yellow and automatically collected in a list.
You can manage them via the Document drawer → Placeholders:
Assign values to placeholders
Clear values to revert them to placeholders
All clauses using a placeholder update automatically.
Managing defined terms
All defined terms generated by the AI are listed in the Defined terms section of the Document drawer. You can also add terms manually using the + button.
When drafting or adapting clauses, the AI takes these defined terms into account and attempts to align terminology across the document.
For example, if your defined term is Client and a clause refers to Customer, the AI may replace it automatically. Always review these changes, as legal interpretation still requires human judgment.