Use LawY to work from source documents, update Word files, revert the latest change and save only when you are ready.
Why use this feature?
Modifying and Versioning Documents reduces the manual file-handling involved in document updates.
You can request a change in chat, review the updated Word document in the preview pane, and revert if needed. Where your document lives matters: a document referenced from cloud storage (for example OneDrive) is updated in place as soon as an edit is applied, and the previous version remains available in the storage provider’s own version history.
A document dragged into the chat, added via the + button or drafted new is not written to cloud storage until you have carefully reviewed it and clicked Save. You remain responsible for reviewing the change and confirming the correct document before it is saved.
At a glance
Bring documents in: drag and drop, use the + button, reference a stored document with @, or simply name it in chat, up to five documents, 200 pages and 20 MB each. You can also drag and drop or reference an image or photo (for example a scanned plan or a photo of a document) and LawY will read its contents.
Ask and draft: ask questions of Word, PDF, Excel or PowerPoint sources, or draft something new from them or from an approved precedent.
Edit and revert: make a specific change to a Word document, review the result and version indicator, and revert in one click. Several documents edited together are each versioned independently.
Know where your document lives: a document referenced from cloud storage is updated in place when edited (the previous version stays in the provider’s version history); a document dragged in, added via + or drafted new is only written to storage when you click Save.
How to Use Modifying and Reverting: Step by Step
Use the Parker & Parker sample matter (Parker Demo Matter) during a demo and rehearse with the exact documents first. The sequence below takes about three minutes: reference two cloud documents, drag and drop a third, ask a question, edit a Word document, revert, then save.
Step 1: Bring your documents into the chat
Reference two OneDrive documents with @ (the Proposed Final Orders and the Balance Sheet), then drag and drop the Valuation Report PDF. Wait for each upload to finish, confirm all three file names appear, and identify the Orders as the only document to be edited. You can also edit a stored document by naming it in chat without opening it first; if more than one document matches, LawY asks which one you mean and lists the candidates for you to choose from rather than guessing.
Step 2: Ask a question
“Summarise the current property settlement position across these three documents.”
Ask LawY to identify the source of each material fact, then check the summary against all three documents.
Step 3: Request the edit
“Change the overseas travel notice period from 28 days to 21 days.”
The preview pane updates immediately. Review the changed notice period. The PDF and spreadsheet remain source documents and are not edited in place.
Step 4: Revert if needed
Click the revert button on the Orders and confirm the notice period has returned to 28 days. Revert restores the previous version and is itself recorded as a new version, so no history is deleted. It does not let you pick an arbitrary earlier or original version. If several documents were edited together, you can revert the whole set or a single document, and LawY shows which documents are included.
Step 5: For documents not in cloud storage, save when you are ready
Click Save after reviewing the change. A document added by drag and drop or the + button is not written to connected storage until you save it, so confirm the correct document and storage location, then check that the saved file contains the approved wording. Any provider-side version history is managed by the relevant storage provider.
Five Practical Examples
Use these prompts with sample documents, then review the result against the source material before saving.
Use case | Prompt and review point |
1. Draft from a single source | “Draft a short letter to Peter’s solicitors confirming the school holiday travel arrangements.” Check every fact against the source, flag gaps and do not accept assumed values. |
2. Edit, then change your mind | “Change the refinancing deadline to 15 December 2026.” Then click revert. Review the changed wording and version indicator, then confirm the previous wording is restored. |
3. Edit from email instructions | “Update the Proposed Final Orders to reflect Mary’s instructions in these two emails.” Identify which email supports each change and resolve any conflicting instructions before saving. |
4. Keep two documents consistent | “Change the refinancing deadline to 15 December 2026 and add a clause about the alternative sale mechanism to both documents.” Review each document and its version indicator separately. Revert the set, or one document, if needed. |
5. Use an approved precedent | “Using the structure of this approved precedent, draft new proposed final orders using only the current matter’s information.” Use only a precedent you are authorised to access and check that no names, dates, figures or confidential information carry over. |
Known Limitations
Word documents only: PDFs, spreadsheets and presentations can be used as sources but cannot be edited in place. This includes InfoTrack searches and court orders, which are ordinarily PDFs. Ask LawY to draft a separate Word letter or note instead.
Revert goes back one version: it restores the previous version and does not let you select an earlier or original version. Older versions of saved files live in your storage provider’s version history, not in LawY.
Document limits: up to five documents, 200 pages and 20 MB per document. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF and text files are accepted; .eml, .msg, ZIP, password-protected and corrupted files are not.
Modifying and Reverting Best Practices
Reference the document in storage with @ and the requested change: @Parenting Plan – please change the school changeover day to Friday.
Keep each instruction reviewable: for higher-risk or complex edits, make and approve one change at a time.
Separate research from editing: make it clear which text is a question and which is an instruction to alter the document.
Check every output against the source documents: ask LawY to identify the clause or passage supporting its answer.
Review before saving: check the wording, facts, names, dates, figures, formatting and source documents, then confirm the correct file and destination.
If a save fails: LawY tells you which document failed and why (permissions, connectivity or a naming clash). The edit stays in the conversation, so retry the save rather than redoing the edit.
Bugs/Feedback on Modifying and Reverting Documents
If you encounter a bug or have feedback on Modifying and Versioning Documents, please log a ticket on our Internal Portal: https://provider.docorto.ai/