Meet Builder: Smarter Legal Document Creation, Built into Actionstep

Legal documents are the currency of every law firm. Whether you’re onboarding a client, filing with the court, or finalizing a deal, documents make it real. But for too long, document creation has been an operational pain point—repetitive, manual, and too often inconsistent. Many firms patch together Word templates from various matters. The result? Too much time lost and too much room for error. In fact, according to the 2025 US Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report, 34% of law firm professionals surveyed say document updates and version control is a top non-billable task that they spend the most time on. 

Actionstep believes document creation should be a strength, not a stressor. That’s why we created Builder, our new intuitive document creation module, made specifically for midsize law firms. 

What is Builder?  

Builder is Actionstep’s add-on module that enables midsize law firms to create custom legal documents directly within your practice management workflow. Builder isn’t another disconnected tool. It’s document creation built into your matters, data, and processes you already use in Actionstep so you can generate precise, professional documents in less time and with less effort. 

Why Builder 

We built Builder because we heard you. Firm administrators have been struggling to maintain dozens of templates. Practice managers chasing staff to update client details across multiple documents. Lawyers tired of editing the same engagement letter for the hundredth time.  

Builder brings all of that together in one, smart place.  

As a team that works closely with firms modernizing their operations, we can tell you: document consistency and accuracy are two of the biggest barriers to efficiency. Builder removes those barriers without adding complexity.  

Builder’s standout capabilities 

Builder combines powerful document generation functionality with Actionstep’s intuitive interface. Here are a few highlights we’re most excited about:  

Custom, reusable templates 

Different than our core document management feature, Builder offers dynamic variables that allow a firm to use one master template to generate any possible variation of a document type. These firm-branded templates can include everything from contracts to client letters, wills, and trusts, so you stay consistent across teams, offices, and practice areas.  

Automatic data merge from matters 

Builder pulls in relevant data from a matter including client name, contact info, dates, key details, so your documents are populated instantly and accurately.  

Conditional logic for dynamic documents 

Use clause-based logic to create flexible documents that adapt based on the matter type, jurisdiction, or user input. One template, many variations. 

In-Word template editing 

With Builder you can edit directly within Word. Preview, select, and set up conditional logic for template variables within Word that can easily be exported as PDFs for streamlined creation and delivery.  

Where Builder makes a difference 

Builder is designed for the real-world needs of law firm teams. Here are just a few ways firms are already using it:  

• Matter opening & setup: Produce case opening documents, internal checklists, and matter summary memos by mapping key data such as client names, matter numbers, and practice-areas into templates with a few clicks. 

• Litigation: Create demand letters, notices of intent, and settlement proposals with clause banks that adjust language based on claim type and jurisdiction.  

• Property law: Create real estate contracts, deeds, and closing statement packages with auto-populated property details, parties’ data, and financing terms. 

In each case, what used to take 30 minutes or more for one document, now takes just a few.  

Who is Builder for? 

Builder is ideal for any law firm that values time, accuracy, and brand consistency. It helps firms who have high transaction volumes or when complex documents are required to serve their clients. who would benefit from having a single source of truth for document templates.  

What’s next and how to learn more about Builder 

Builder is available as a module to your Actionstep practice management platform. Builder represents the next step in our mission to modernize legal practice management with intuitive tools designed for how law firms actually work, because your team’s time is too valuable to waste on formatting documents and your clients deserve nothing less than precision and professionalism.  

Let Builder do the heavy lifting, so you can get back to what you do best.  

If you’re ready to turn document creation into a competitive advantage, book a demo to see Builder in action with our practice management platform.  

To learn more about Builder and it’s capabilities go here.