Standard documents.
WHERE TEMPLATES COME FROM
Lawyers Trade associations Online sources of varying quality
WHAT TO CHECK
Whether it was written for your jurisdiction Whether it suits your actual situation Whether it is current Whether you understand every clause
THE JURISDICTION POINT
A template written elsewhere may reference law that does not apply.
WHAT TO ADAPT
The parties The scope The commercial terms Anything that does not reflect your arrangement
WHAT NOT TO DO
Use a template unread Leave placeholder text in Keep clauses that make no sense for your business
THAT LAST ONE
A clause you cannot explain is a clause you should not include.
THE SAFEST APPROACH
Have a template reviewed once by a lawyer, then reuse it.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Your templates annually, and when the law or your business changes.
WHERE TO BE MOST CAREFUL
Anything involving liability, ownership or employment.
