Getting contracts signed shouldn’t feel like running a marathon in flip-flops. If you’re reading this, you probably want to spend less time wrestling with Word docs or copy-pasting old contracts, and more time actually closing deals. This guide is for anyone who’s tired of slow, messy contract processes and wants to use Juro to create templates that work for your team—not just for the lawyers or the sales ops folks.
Below, I’ll walk you through exactly how to set up custom contract templates in Juro, what’s worth your time, and the stuff you can probably skip. No buzzwords, no fluff—just the steps and honest advice to get contracts flying out the door faster.
Why bother with templates in Juro?
Let’s be blunt: most contract “workflows” are a mess. Sales reps dig up old versions, legal tweaks the same language over and over, and nobody’s quite sure if they’re sending the right thing.
Custom templates in Juro are supposed to fix this. Done right, they:
- Cut down on mistakes (no more sending an NDA with the wrong company name).
- Save legal’s time (they set it up once, then let others self-serve).
- Make deals move faster (no more “can you send me that doc?”).
- Keep everything searchable and trackable.
But—and this is important—templates only help if they’re designed to fit your process, not just because someone in legal wanted a shiny new tool.
Step 1: Figure out what you actually need
Before you log in and start clicking around, spend 10 minutes clarifying what you want to template. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a graveyard of half-finished documents nobody uses.
Questions to ask:
- Which contracts do we send over and over? (e.g., NDAs, MSAs, SOWs)
- Who needs to use these templates? (Sales? HR? Legal only?)
- What parts of each contract actually change? (Names, dates, pricing, territories, etc.)
Pro tip: Don’t try to template every single agreement your company’s ever used. Start with one or two that cause the most pain. Expand later, once you know what works.
Step 2: Gather your “source of truth” versions
Templates are only as good as the language they start with. Resist the urge to grab last week’s contract and call it a day.
Do this instead:
- Ask legal (or whoever “owns” contracts) for the latest, approved versions.
- Double-check for any recent updates or quirks (like new clauses for specific clients or geographies).
- Save these as your starting point—keep them clean, no tracked changes or random comments.
What to skip: Don’t bother with the 47 redlines from three years ago. Stick to what’s current and already agreed on internally.
Step 3: Build your template in Juro
Now, the actual template-building starts. Juro’s editor is web-based and feels a bit like Google Docs, but with some contract-specific tricks.
3.1: Create a new template
- Log into Juro and go to the “Templates” section.
- Hit “New Template.”
- Name it something obvious (e.g., “Mutual NDA – US” or “SaaS MSA 2024”).
3.2: Paste in your contract language
- Copy/paste your “source of truth” contract into the Juro editor.
- Clean up any weird formatting (bullets, bold, tables sometimes need tweaking).
3.3: Add smart fields (variables)
This is where templates actually get useful. You can turn things like “[Company Name]” or “$[Fee Amount]” into variable fields that users fill in.
- Highlight the text you want to make dynamic (like “Client Name”).
- Click the “Insert field” or “Variable” option.
- Name your fields clearly (e.g., “Counterparty Name,” “Effective Date,” “Annual Fee”).
- Set field types where it matters (text, date, dropdown, number).
Honest take: Don’t over-engineer it. Only make fields for things people actually change. If a clause is almost always the same, leave it static. Too many fields and your template will feel like tax software.
3.4: Use conditional logic (if you must)
Juro lets you hide/show clauses based on answers (e.g., “Is this a renewal?”). This is powerful but easy to mess up.
- Add conditions to sections that truly need to change (like data protection language for EU clients).
- Test your logic with a few real scenarios before rolling it out.
Reality check: Conditional logic is great for big teams or lots of contract variations. For most use cases, simple variables are enough.
Step 4: Set permissions and workflow rules
Templates aren’t just about the text—they control who can use them and how contracts get approved.
- Decide who can access each template (sales, HR, legal, etc.).
- Set approval workflows: who needs to sign off before contracts go out? (Juro can automate routing to managers or legal.)
- Lock down sensitive clauses so users can't edit them (protects your fallback positions).
Don’t bother: Avoid making the workflow too complex. Every extra approval slows things down and people will find workarounds anyway.
Step 5: Test your template (with real users)
Before you unleash your template on the whole team, run it through a few real deals.
- Fill out the template like a user would. Look for weird formatting, missing fields, or unclear instructions.
- Check that variables actually populate in the right spots.
- Run through the approval flow. Does it get stuck anywhere?
- Get feedback from people who’ll actually use it—not just legal.
Pro tip: Watch for “shadow docs”—if people keep using old contracts outside Juro, your template isn’t working. Ask why.
Step 6: Train your team (without the eye-rolls)
Even the best template is useless if nobody knows how (or why) to use it.
- Do a short walk-through (live or recorded video is fine).
- Share quick instructions on how to start a contract from the template—screenshots help.
- Explain why this saves them time (and what to do if they hit a snag).
Skip the hour-long webinars: Most people just need to know where to click and who to ask if they’re stuck.
Step 7: Iterate—don’t set and forget
Contracts change, and so should your templates. Set a reminder to review them every quarter or after major legal updates.
- Gather feedback: Are users skipping fields? Still emailing legal for “minor tweaks”?
- Update templates as needed based on feedback (not just because legal wants to “tighten up language”).
- Archive or delete old templates no one uses.
Honest take: The first version won’t be perfect. That’s fine. The goal is fewer errors and faster deals—not legal poetry.
What works (and what doesn’t)
Works: - Keeping templates focused and simple. - Only adding variables for real business needs. - Locking down legal language that shouldn’t change. - Reviewing and tweaking templates based on actual usage.
Doesn’t work: - Overloading templates with every possible scenario. - Building templates nobody asked for. - Forcing complicated approval chains “just in case.” - Ignoring user feedback because “legal said so.”
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, fix what breaks
You don’t need a 20-page playbook or a big launch party. Start with a template for your most-used contract, make it easy for people to use, and improve it when you spot problems. The goal is faster, safer deals—without turning contract creation into a second job.
Get the basics right, ignore the bells and whistles you don’t need, and you’ll spend a lot less time chasing signatures. That’s pretty much it.