# Pareto Legal user guide

> Updated August 2026. This guide describes the platform as it is used: where to go, what to do and what to check before approving or sharing.

Interactive guide: [legalpareto.com/documentation](https://legalpareto.com/documentation)

## Orientation

01. **Create access** — Join a firm with a code or create your own.
02. **Choose context** — Attach AI and work to the correct matter.
03. **Work and verify** — Research, analyze, draft, then verify sources.
04. **Share with control** — Invite your team or open a limited client portal.

## Getting started

Create an account, secure access and understand the home page.

### Access page — `/`

Introduces the platform and leads to sign-in. From the public website, choose Sign in or Create an account.

**How to use it**

1. Choose Sign in if your firm already exists, or Create an account to get started.
2. Use the website to understand the main workspaces before opening the application.

**Result:** The right entry point, without exposing firm data.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** No firm data is visible before authentication.

[Open page](https://legalpareto.com)

### Sign up — `/signup`

Choose Join with your firm invitation code, or Create a firm. Enter name, email and a password of at least 8 characters, then confirm the email.

**How to use it**

1. Choose Join a firm with the code you received, or Create a firm.
2. Enter your details, create the password, then confirm your email address.
3. Return through the invitation link when access concerned a specific matter.

**Result:** A confirmed account attached to the correct firm.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** A deep invitation returns you to the relevant matter automatically.

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/signup)

### Sign in — `/login`

Use email and password, magic link, firm SSO or Microsoft. Your initially requested page is preserved after sign-in.

**How to use it**

1. Use the method authorized by your firm: password, magic link, SSO or Microsoft.
2. After sign-in, check that Pareto returns you to the requested page or invitation.

**Result:** A session opened with your identity and permissions.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/login)

### Multi-factor authentication — `/mfa`

Sensitive roles complete MFA before protected features become available. Follow the displayed check, then return to the product.

**How to use it**

1. Complete the multi-factor check shown for your role.
2. Once verified, return to the protected feature.

**Result:** Access to sensitive features without sharing your account.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** Never share a temporary code.

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/mfa)

### Home — `/home`

Starting point for AI Workspace, Matters, Library and Operations. The sidebar keeps these five destinations stable.

**How to use it**

1. Choose one of the four work areas: AI, Matters, Library or Operations.
2. Use the sidebar to change section, language or appearance.
3. Review notifications before resuming pending work.

**Result:** A clear starting point for the day.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** FR/EN and display-mode controls are available in navigation.

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/home)


## AI Workspace

Research, analyze, draft and automate with the correct context.

### AI Workspace entry — `/ai`

This entry opens Research directly, the first AI workspace tool.

**How to use it**

1. Open AI Workspace from the sidebar.
2. Pareto takes you to Research; then choose Research, Analyze, Draft or Automate.

**Result:** The right AI tool for the task.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/ai)

### Research — `/knowledge`

Ask a legal question, run research and inspect the passages and citations used. Open a source to verify the full text.

**How to use it**

1. Select a matter only when the question should use its private context.
2. Ask a precise question, adding jurisdiction, period and desired outcome when relevant.
3. Open every citation and read the source passage before relying on the answer.

**Result:** A working answer connected to verifiable sources.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** Select a matter only when research should use its private context.

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/knowledge)

### Contract analysis — `/contracts`

Add a contract, choose the matter and playbook, then review risks, clauses, deviations and citations before use.

**How to use it**

1. Choose the matter, add the PDF or DOCX, and select the right playbook.
2. Read risks, clauses, deviations and missing items together with their citations.
3. Accept or reject suggestions, then save the revised version after review.

**Result:** A traceable contract review and a versioned document.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** Analysis supports lawyer review; it does not replace it.

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/contracts)

### Assistant and drafting — `/assistant`

Chat, attach files or matter documents, then create or revise a document. Responses retain available context and sources.

**How to use it**

1. Start a conversation and choose the relevant legal domain and matter.
2. Attach only authorized files, then state the request and expected format.
3. Review the answer and its sources before creating, revising or exporting a document.

**Result:** A draft tied to the context you selected.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/assistant)

### Workflows — `/workflows`

Create, run and track reusable sequences for structured legal work. Review each output before approval.

**How to use it**

1. Choose an existing template or describe the workflow to create.
2. Provide inputs, matter, files and the steps that require approval.
3. Run the workflow, review each output and check its history before reuse.

**Result:** A repeatable process whose results remain reviewable.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/workflows)

### Agent — `/agent`

Assign a multi-step mission, follow execution and handle required approvals before sensitive actions.

**How to use it**

1. Describe a concrete objective, its scope and the relevant matter.
2. Start the run, then follow its steps, citations and any blockers.
3. Approve or reject each proposed action separately before execution.

**Result:** A tracked assignment with explicit human decisions.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/agent)


## Matters

The central context for firm members, documents and work.

### Matter list — `/matters`

Create or find a matter, filter the list and open its secure workspace. Visibility depends on matter membership.

**How to use it**

1. Search for an existing matter before creating a new one.
2. When creating it, enter the client, purpose and appropriate visibility.
3. Open the matter and add only the people who need to work on it.

**Result:** A distinct client workspace with the right team.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/matters)

### Matter detail — `/matters/[id]`

Centralizes members, documents, reference files, memory, canvas and activity. Use this workspace before starting client-related analysis.

**How to use it**

1. Verify the matter name and members before adding information.
2. Add the useful documents, references, instructions and memory items.
3. Manage tasks, deadlines, canvas, comments and activity from the same context.

**Result:** The reference workspace for all client-related work.

**Access:** All users

**Check:** Verify the active matter before any AI request.


## Library

Private documents, templates and reference legal registers.

### Library home — `/library`

Leads to Research, Vault, Assembly and conditional sources.

**How to use it**

1. Choose Research for a legal question, Vault for your files, or Assembly for a template.
2. Open specialist registries only when you need to inspect a specific source.

**Result:** Quick access to the right document or source type.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/library)

### Document vault — `/vault`

Upload, search and open authorized private firm documents. Indexing status shows whether they are ready for research.

**How to use it**

1. Upload an authorized PDF or DOCX and wait for indexing to finish.
2. Search by name, type or date, then open the required document.
3. Review its versions before downloading it or using it with AI.

**Result:** A private document found and ready for use.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/vault)

### Document workspace — `/vault/[id]`

Preview the file, move between versions, review metadata and download the authorized version.

**How to use it**

1. Check the preview, owner, date and file type.
2. Move between versions to compare content and origin.
3. Rename, restore or download only when your permission allows it.

**Result:** The correct document version with its provenance.

**Access:** All users

### Assembly — `/documents`

Choose an approved template, fill variables, preview and generate the document. Authorized managers can manage templates.

**How to use it**

1. Choose an approved template matching the document to produce.
2. Fill in the requested variables and review the preview, especially names, dates and amounts.
3. Generate the file and open it before sending it.

**Result:** A document consistent with the firm template.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/documents)

### Case law — `/cases`

Browse indexed decisions, their court, references and source status.

**How to use it**

1. Filter decisions by court or reference.
2. Open the decision and verify the court, date and available text.
3. Return to the source before citing reasoning or outcome.

**Result:** An identified decision with its references.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/cases)

### Legal texts — `/instruments`

Review OHADA/UEMOA instruments, versions, articles and provenance metadata.

**How to use it**

1. Search by title, subject or institution.
2. Choose the applicable version, then open the relevant articles.
3. Check date, provenance and amendments before citing.

**Result:** The legal text and version that actually apply.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/instruments)

### Courts — `/courts`

Explore the court registry used to classify and filter case law.

**How to use it**

1. Search for the court by country, level or name.
2. Open its record to confirm its identity and find linked decisions.

**Result:** The correct court for filtering case law.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/courts)

### Sources — `/sources`

Review the source registry, health, provenance and corpus availability.

**How to use it**

1. Find the source or institution to inspect.
2. Check provenance, acquisition status and last review date.
3. Address a degraded source before relying on it in research.

**Result:** A clear view of corpus availability.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/sources)

### Comparative law — `/non-ohada`

Public research outside the OHADA corpus, visible only when the firm enables this feature.

**How to use it**

1. State the question and specify the country or legal system concerned.
2. Read the web links used and verify their authority and date.
3. Treat the result as public research, separate from the OHADA corpus.

**Result:** A documented starting point in comparative law.

**Access:** Feature enabled by the firm

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/non-ohada)


## Operations

Run daily work, clients and billing.

### Operations command center — `/operations`

Summarizes tasks, intakes, invoices and connectors, then opens each operations tool.

**How to use it**

1. Review volumes and items requiring action.
2. Open Tasks, Litigation, Compliance, Contacts, Billing or Portal as needed.

**Result:** An overview of operational work.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/operations)

### Tasks and deadlines — `/tasks`

Create, assign and track matter tasks; use dates to manage deadlines.

**How to use it**

1. Filter by matter, owner or status to find the relevant work.
2. Create the task, assign it and add a date when a deadline exists.
3. Update status and monitor the calendar until completion.

**Result:** An assigned, dated and tracked action.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/tasks)

### Litigation — `/litigation`

Structure chronology, evidence, claim chart and dispute stages around the matter.

**How to use it**

1. Choose the litigation matter before entering information.
2. Add evidence and identify its role in the chronology.
3. Build the chronology and claim chart, then review gaps.

**Result:** A dispute file structured around evidence.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/litigation)

### Compliance — `/compliance`

Track obligations, controls, legal bases and next reviews; mark completed checks.

**How to use it**

1. Add the obligation with its entity, basis and next review date.
2. Run or record the check together with the evidence used.
3. Update status only after verifying the result.

**Result:** An obligation tracked with evidence and next review.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/compliance)

### Entities — `/entities`

Manage companies and other entities, their information and filing obligations.

**How to use it**

1. Create the entity with its identifying information.
2. Add its obligations, filings and owners.
3. Keep statuses current, then export tracking when needed.

**Result:** An entity record ready for legal tracking.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/entities)

### Contacts and intake — `/contacts`

Centralize clients and prospects, start intake, consultations and conflict checks.

**How to use it**

1. Record the client or prospect and the request received.
2. Run conflict checking before accepting the engagement.
3. Update intake and create the matter only after clearance.

**Result:** A documented intake before matter opening.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/contacts)

### Billing — `/invoices`

Record time and expenses, create a matter invoice and track status, due date and payment.

**How to use it**

1. Record time and expenses against the correct matter.
2. Create the invoice from unbilled items and review amount, currency and due date.
3. Record sending and payment, or void it with the appropriate reason.

**Result:** An invoice tied to work actually recorded.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/invoices)

### Client portal and growth — `/client-growth`

Create controlled client access, track shares and organize referrals and campaigns.

**How to use it**

1. Create a client share and choose exactly what can be seen or changed.
2. Activate the link, send it to the correct recipient and monitor access.
3. Revoke the share when no longer needed; track referrals and campaigns separately.

**Result:** Limited, revocable and traceable client access.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/client-growth)


## Administration

Configure the firm, access and quality.

### Settings — `/settings`

Review your profile, firm and role; configure preferences, AI budgets, branding and playbook according to permissions.

**How to use it**

1. Check your profile, language, appearance and active firm.
2. According to your permissions, configure firm identity, AI budgets and services that are actually enabled.
3. Save a change, then confirm it appears in the application.

**Result:** Consistent personal and firm settings.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/settings)

### Firm playbook — `/settings/playbook`

Define firm positions and contract-review rules used by analysis.

**How to use it**

1. Define firm positions and the clauses to flag.
2. Add instructions precise enough to guide review without replacing judgment.
3. Save, then test the playbook on a representative contract.

**Result:** Contract review aligned with firm positions.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/settings/playbook)

### Firm — `/firm`

Manage seats, members, roles and invitations. Remove access as soon as it is no longer needed.

**How to use it**

1. Check available seats and the member list.
2. Invite the correct address with only the required role and capabilities.
3. Confirm acceptance, then remove or adjust access when the need changes.

**Result:** A current team with controlled permissions.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/firm)

### Activity — `/activity`

Review the firm activity log or filter to your own actions.

**How to use it**

1. Filter the log by period, person or action type.
2. Open the relevant entry to understand who did what and in which context.

**Result:** A readable record of firm activity.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/activity)

### History — `/history`

Find recent research and work to resume an authorized journey.

**How to use it**

1. Find work by title, date or type.
2. Open the item to resume the authorized research, analysis or run.

**Result:** Previous work recovered without recreating it.

**Access:** All users

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/history)

### Quality — `/quality`

Review evaluations, unsupported claims and corpus retrieval performance.

**How to use it**

1. Review flagged answers, unsupported claims and retrieval measures.
2. Open weak items to inspect sources and understand the failure.
3. Use trends to improve the corpus or review practices.

**Result:** Quality issues that are identified and actionable.

**Access:** Administrator or matching capability

[Open page](https://app.legalpareto.com/quality)


## External pages

Limited journeys accessed through a secure link.

### Matter invitation — `/matters/invitations/[token]`

The recipient signs in or signs up, then accepts access to the matter defined by the invitation.

**How to use it**

1. Open the link using the invited email address.
2. Sign in or create the matching account, then review the proposed matter.
3. Accept only if you should participate in that matter.

**Result:** Explicit access to the designated matter.

**Access:** Access through a secure link

### Client portal — `/portal/[token]`

The client sees only explicitly shared files, messages, activity and billing.

**How to use it**

1. Open the active link sent by the firm.
2. View only the files, messages or invoices made available.
3. Use commenting or upload only when those actions are offered.

**Result:** An exchange limited to what the firm shared.

**Access:** Access through a secure link

### Intake form — `/intake/[token]`

The prospect submits requested information before a matter may be opened.

**How to use it**

1. Enter your identity and describe the request with the relevant facts.
2. Provide the information requested for conflict checking and give the required consent.
3. Review before submitting; submission does not mean the engagement is accepted.

**Result:** A request sent to the firm for review.

**Access:** Access through a secure link

### Public consultation — `/consult/[token]`

The visitor reviews an offered slot and submits a consultation request.

**How to use it**

1. Check the slot, time zone and consultation purpose.
2. Enter your details and clearly summarize the topic to discuss.
3. Submit the request and wait for confirmation from the firm.

**Result:** A consultation request, not yet a confirmed appointment.

**Access:** Access through a secure link

## Working journeys

### Create, join and secure access

The access journey also covers matter invitations.

1. Choose Create a firm or Join with the code you received, then enter your details.
2. Confirm your email and sign in with password, magic link, firm SSO or Microsoft.
3. Complete MFA when requested; once signed in, explicitly accept the matter invitation.
4. For an expired, revoked or different-email link, request a new invitation.

**Result:** Confirmed access limited to your permissions and the relevant matter.

**Access:** Confirmed account; MFA for protected areas.

**Check:** 401 means sign-in is required; 403 means MFA or a permission is missing.

### Open and structure a matter

A matter is the platform’s privacy, collaboration and work context.

1. Create or open the correct matter and verify its processing mode and visibility.
2. Add required members, their roles, client documents and reference files.
3. Set persistent instructions, memory and canvas; start research from this context.
4. Create tasks, deadlines and review tables, then follow activity, comments and decisions.

**Result:** A traceable workspace connected to the correct client.

**Access:** Matter membership; matter.manage or matter.assign according to the action.

**Check:** A restricted matter is visible only to its members and authorized people.

### Research and verify a rule

Research produces an evidenced starting point, never a conclusion to accept without review.

1. Select a matter only when its private context is needed, then ask the question and run research.
2. Open citations and the source reader to verify the full passage, version and provenance.
3. Save a search, create a project or add an authority when you need to return to it.
4. Mark feedback as helpful, incorrect or missing, and check source health before sharing.

**Result:** An answer linked to verifiable authorities.

**Access:** Authorized research; private sources follow the active matter.

**Check:** If retrieval is unavailable, do not present model output as a source.

### Review a contract end to end

The playbook frames review, but every decision remains the professional’s.

1. Upload the PDF or DOCX, identify the matter and select the appropriate playbook.
2. Review risks, key clauses, governing law, deviations, missing or favorable elements and citations.
3. Open the source passage, ask a follow-up question or generate additional suggestions.
4. Accept or reject DOCX suggestions, save a new version and return to an earlier version when needed.

**Result:** A documented, verified and versioned review.

**Access:** Contract review; playbook.manage to change a playbook.

**Check:** Do not accept a suggestion without reading its clause and citation.

### Draft with Assistant

Assistant works with the documents and context you select.

1. Start or resume a conversation, select the legal domain and matter when needed.
2. Attach an authorized file, image or matter document, then make a precise request.
3. Open citations and evidence; stop a response or correct the context when it is unsuitable.
4. Create, revise or improve the draft, then export only after legal review.

**Result:** A draft attributable to its context and sources.

**Access:** Assistant permission and access to selected documents.

**Check:** Do not attach a document from a matter the recipient is not authorized to access.

### Run a workflow or agent

Automation follows an execution and approvals; it does not bypass human control.

1. Create or generate the workflow, or plan the agent; provide matter, country, inputs, instructions and reference files.
2. Run it and inspect status, citations, history and event log.
3. Edit or archive the template when needed; cancel a run that must not continue.
4. Approve or reject proposed actions before sensitive action, then add useful output to canvas.

**Result:** A traceable execution with explicit decision points.

**Access:** agent.run; approval.decide for approval; matter permissions.

**Check:** Waiting for approval is not an error: decide or reject before continuing.

### Manage, compare and assemble documents

Vault retains originals; Assembly creates documents from approved templates.

1. Upload the document and wait for indexing before using it in research.
2. Open preview, rename or download only with the matching permission, and review metadata.
3. Compare versions, inspect rendering, comments and suggestions, then restore as a new version when needed.
4. For a new document, choose a template, fill variables, preview and generate Word or PDF after review.

**Result:** A recoverable document with a version chain and controlled output.

**Access:** Document permissions; manage for templates, assemble for production.

**Check:** If indexing has failed or is pending, wait or retry before research.

### Run work and obligations

Operations links daily action to the matter, deadline and evidence.

1. Create a matter task, assign it and set date and status; monitor the calendar and deadlines.
2. In litigation, upload evidence, build chronology and claim chart, then download reviewed items.
3. In compliance, link the obligation, run the check and record the result and next review.
4. For an entity, maintain its information and obligations, then export tracking when ready.

**Result:** Actionable tracking with deadline, owner and evidence.

**Access:** Module permissions and membership of the relevant matter.

**Check:** Do not mark a check completed until its evidence has been verified.

### Intake, bill and share with a client

The client journey clearly separates internal access from limited token-link access.

1. Record the contact or intake, run or re-run conflict checking, then accept/decline and create the matter when appropriate.
2. Record time, select the matter and bill unbilled time; verify amount, status and payment before any void.
3. Create a draft portal, choose view/download/comment/upload/billing precisely, then activate and send or copy the link.
4. Follow messages, files, activity and link status; revoke immediately when a share should no longer exist.

**Result:** A controlled client journey with limited sharing and history.

**Access:** billing, portal.manage and client permissions according to the action.

**Check:** An expired, revoked or inactive link is deliberately blocked: create a new one, never bypass it.

### Administer the firm without overprovisioning

Permissions are assigned capabilities, not a promise that every admin can see everything.

1. Invite a member, assign the required role and capabilities, then remove them as soon as the need ends.
2. Configure branding, playbook, AI budgets and only the services actually shown for your firm.
3. Review activity, history and quality to understand actions, unsupported answers and performance.
4. Handle access errors through sign-in, MFA or a capability request: never share an account to bypass denial.

**Result:** A firm configured with minimum access, audit log and continuous control.

**Access:** firm, playbook or platform admin depending on the screen.

**Check:** A service absent from the screen is unavailable to your firm and must not be treated as active.

## Quick journeys

- **Open a matter** — Matters → New matter → members → documents → activity.
- **Research a rule** — AI Workspace → Research → question → sources → full text.
- **Analyze a contract** — Contracts → matter → file → playbook → analysis → verification.
- **Produce a document** — Assistant or Assembly → context → draft → revision → export.
- **Invite a colleague** — Settings → Firm → invitation → role → access check.
- **Share with a client** — Operations → Client portal → limited access → files/messages.