Templates and playbooks aren’t new. Most in-house teams have a bank of documents they lean on - from NDAs and MSAs to data sharing agreements and board resolutions. But how often do they actually save you time, reduce risk, or empower the business to self-serve confidently?

Used well, templates and playbooks are more than tools - they’re enablers of efficiency, consistency, and strategic alignment. The key? Treating them as living resources, not static files, and embedding them in the way your team and the wider business operates.

Here’s how to make them work harder.

Templates: standardisation meets flexibility

The goal of templating isn’t to produce one-size-fits-all documents. It’s to reduce drafting time, manage risk, and help the team respond faster without reinventing the wheel.

To get the most out of your templates:

• Start with the why. Don’t template for the sake of it. Focus on high-volume, high-impact documents where consistency really matters - think NDAs, SaaS agreements, consultancy contracts, and termination letters.
• Lock down your fallbacks. Clearly define which terms are negotiable and which aren’t. Pre-approved clauses give the team (and the business) confidence to move quickly without constant escalations.
• Make customisation foolproof. Use clear guidance notes and drafting tips within the template. If a junior team member or non-legal stakeholder can’t use it, it’s not working hard enough.
• Build in version control. Stale templates are worse than no templates. Keep a clear audit trail, assign ownership, and review regularly to reflect legal updates and commercial shifts.
  

Playbooks: empowering decisions, not just documenting process

If templates are the building blocks, playbooks are the blueprint. Done well, they bring consistency and clarity to complex processes - guiding legal and business teams through the grey areas.

A strong playbook should:

• Map the process end to end. From triage to sign-off, make it clear who does what, when, and how. Visual workflows, checklists, and decision trees help everyone follow the path with confidence.
• Give context, not just instructions. Include commentary on why certain positions are preferred and what the commercial red flags are. This helps build legal judgement and alignment across the business.
• Include real-world examples. Case studies and ‘in the wild’ scenarios bring the process to life and help teams apply the guidance practically.
• Co-create with the business. Playbooks work best when they reflect how things actually get done. Bring in HR, finance, compliance and procurement early - their input ensures relevance and buy-in.
• Treat feedback as fuel. Make it easy for users to flag gaps, confusion, or opportunities to improve. Regular reviews ensure the playbook evolves with your business.
  

Templates + playbooks = scalable legal

Used together, templates and playbooks free your legal team from repetitive tasks, reduce risk, and help the business move with confidence. More than that, they create scalable infrastructure that supports growth - without burning your team out.

Because legal shouldn’t have to hand-hold every matter. With the right resources in place, you empower others to act, while staying firmly in control of risk and consistency.