With the Pandektes add-in for Word, you can use Pandektes’ legal AI directly in Microsoft Word. This means you can read, analyse, reword and draft legal documents without switching between Word and Pandektes.
The add-in is particularly useful when working on contracts, pleadings, memos, letters or other legal documents where you’d like help understanding, improving or drafting text.
What can you use Pandektes for in Word?
The add-in can help you with many parts of your legal work directly in the document.
Among other things, you can use it to:
ask questions about the content of your document
get selected sections explained or summarised
reword text to make it more precise, more legally robust or easier to read
draft new sections, clauses, letters or memos
get suggestions for improving your arguments, structure and language
draw on Pandektes’ extensive database to support your work
You still work in your own document, but with Pandektes’ legal assistant built into your drafting and review process.
Before you start
To use Pandektes in Word, the add-in must be installed in Microsoft Word and you must be signed in with your Pandektes account.
If you haven’t installed the add-in yet, you can follow our installation guide here.
Tip: you can drag the edge of the Pandektes panel to widen it, giving you a better overview while you work in Word.
How the Pandektes panel works in Word
When you open Pandektes in Word, a panel appears on the right-hand side of the document. Here you can write instructions to Pandektes, select text in the document and get help analysing, rewording or drafting content.
There are generally two ways to work:
With selected text: select a paragraph, clause or passage in the document if you want Pandektes to work on that specific text.
By describing what you need help with: for example, “I’d like help drafting a notice period clause. The notice period should be as short as possible while complying with the law.”
Ask questions about your document
You can use Pandektes to understand or analyse the content of your document. This is useful when you want a quick overview of a contract, pleading, memo or other longer document.
Example questions:
“Summarise the key obligations in this document.”
“What are the risks in this clause?”
“Is any of the wording in this section unclear?”
“Which points should I pay particular attention to?”
“Explain this provision in plain English.”
“Give me a short summary of the document’s main points.”
Get help rewording text
You can also use Pandektes to improve existing text, for example if a section needs to be more precise, more formal, shorter, more client-friendly or better structured.
Example instructions:
“Make this wording more legally precise.”
“Reword this section so it’s easier to understand.”
“Make the tone more professional.”
“Shorten this section without losing the legal points.”
“Sharpen the argument.”
“Reword this text so it’s better suited to a pleading.”
“Make this clause more balanced for both parties.”
Always review any changes Pandektes suggests before accepting them. The add-in is designed to help you draft and review faster, but you remain in control of the final document.
Insert changes as tracked changes
One of the great advantages of the add-in is that Pandektes can suggest specific changes as tracked changes.
This is particularly useful when working on documents where changes need to be traceable, for example:
contracts
pleadings
client memos
letters
internal drafts
documents to be sent to colleagues or the other side
Tip: avoid making major edits to the document while Pandektes is working on a response. Wait until the response is complete, then review the suggestions.
Draft new text directly in Word
You can also use Pandektes to draft new text from scratch. This is useful when you’re starting with a blank document or want to add a new section to an existing one.
Examples:
“Draft a short memo on a tenant’s breach of lease.”
“Write a draft letter to the other side.”
“Write an introduction to a pleading based on the following facts.”
“Draft a standard confidentiality clause.”
“Write a section on the legal basis in clear, legal language.”
“Draft a conclusion based on the above.”
The more specific your instructions, the better the result.
Instead of writing:
“Write a letter.”
you could write, for example:
“Write a short, professional letter to the other side’s solicitors maintaining our claim for payment of £15,000. Use a firm but courteous tone, and end by setting a deadline of 10 days.”
Prompt inspiration for Word
To get the best answers, give Pandektes a clear task, relevant context and the format you want.
A good prompt might include:
what you want Pandektes to do
which text or document it concerns
the tone or audience the text should suit
how long the answer should be
whether the answer should be practical, legal, short, detailed or client-friendly
Examples of good prompts:
Analysis: “Review the selected clause and identify the main legal and commercial risks. Answer in bullet points.”
Rewording: “Reword this section to make it more precise and suitable for a legal memo. Keep the content, but sharpen the language.”
Drafting: “Write a draft of a short letter to the other side rejecting the claim. The tone should be professional and firm.”
Review: “Review the document and point out any sections where the wording is unclear, superfluous or needs clarifying.”
Structure: “Suggest a better structure for this memo. Keep the main legal points, but make the layout more logical.”
Frequently asked questions
Can Pandektes write directly in my Word document?
Yes. Pandektes can help draft and amend text directly in Word. Suggested changes can be inserted as tracked changes, so you can review and approve them yourself.
Do I need to select text first?
Not always. If your task relates to a specific section, you should select that text. If you want to ask a question about the whole document or insert new text, you can write your instructions directly in the Pandektes panel.
Can I use Pandektes for ordinary legal research in Word, as I would at app.pandektes.com?
Yes. You can use Pandektes to get legal help and perspectives directly in Word, so you don’t need to leave your document while you work.
Can I rely on the changes?
Pandektes is a tool that helps you work faster and in a more structured way. You should always review legal assessments, wording and source references before relying on them.
What should I do if Pandektes doesn’t respond as expected?
Try making your instructions more specific. State which text Pandektes should work on, what you want changed and what format the answer should take.
For example, “Make this section shorter” could be improved to:
“Shorten the selected section by about 30%, but keep the main legal points and write in a professional tone.”