> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.paxton.ai/help/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.paxton.ai/help/paxton-ai/using-paxton-ai.md). # Using Paxton AI The all-in-one workspace for legal drafting, research, analysis, and strategy. ## Drafting, Research, and Document Analysis Inside a Matter
Paxton is trained on millions of legal documents, so it understands legal language, context, and structure. Conversations with Paxton happen **inside your matter** — every chat starts with your matter's files, jurisdiction, and drafts already in context, plus Paxton's legal research library. Ask Paxton to draft a filing, analyze a deposition, pull a rule for your jurisdiction, or pressure-test an argument, without setting anything up first. > ✨ **What changed:** Chats no longer live in a separate tab. You now start a conversation from inside the matter it belongs to, and Paxton already knows that matter's files and jurisdiction. Older chats that weren't linked to a matter are preserved in the **Unassigned** matter — see [Using Matters in Paxton](https://help.paxton.ai/help/matters/using-matters-in-paxton). *** #### Getting Started 1. **Open your matter**\ From your matters list, select the case or client you're working on. You'll land on the **Matter Overview**, which shows the matter's files, recent drafts, chat history, and skills. Use **Back to all matters** in the left sidebar to switch matters. 2. **Confirm the jurisdiction**\ The jurisdiction appears directly under the matter name (for example, **Texas**). Paxton uses it to pull the right case law, statutes, and court rules — no sources to toggle and no jurisdiction to re-state in every prompt. If it's wrong, correct it on the matter before you start, or name a different jurisdiction in your prompt for a one-off question. 3. **Add your files**\ Select **Manage Matter Files** to upload documents or connect a cloud drive. Files added to the matter are available to every conversation in that matter. See [Matter Files](https://help.paxton.ai/help/matters/using-matters-in-paxton/matter-files) for supported sources and size limits. 4. **Start a chat**\ Select **Chat** in the top right, or **New Chat** under **Chat History** in the left sidebar. The conversation opens scoped to the current matter. 5. **Type a prompt**\ Ask Paxton to draft, analyze, summarize, research, or explain. Paxton supports follow-up questions and multi-turn conversations, and it keeps the matter's context across the whole thread. > 💡 Not sure where to begin? Select **Explore Skills** on the Matter Overview for guided starting points built around common legal workflows, or browse the [Prompt Library](https://help.paxton.ai/help/prompt-library/start-here). *** #### What Paxton Already Knows Because a conversation runs inside a matter, you don't have to re-attach files or re-explain the case each time. Every chat starts with: | Context | What it means for you | | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Matter files** | Documents in Matter Files are available to the conversation. Reference them by name — "the Vertex offer letter" — instead of re-uploading. | | **Jurisdiction** | Research answers, rules, and citations follow the jurisdiction set on the matter. | | **Legal research library** | Case law, statutes, and court rules are built in. See [what your subscription includes](https://help.paxton.ai/help/ai-assistant/research-in-the-ai-assistant). | | **Drafts and chat history** | Earlier conversations and drafts stay with the matter, so you can pick a thread back up or build on a draft you already generated. | You can still upload a file or paste text into a single chat when you want to work with something one time without adding it to the matter. *** #### What You Can Ask Paxton **📝 Draft Legal Documents** Ask Paxton to create contracts, letters, discovery, or filings from the matter's own record.\ **Example**:\ *"Draft Plaintiff's first set of interrogatories to Vertex Solutions on the restructuring."* **📄 Analyze Matter Files** Ask questions across the documents in the matter, extract summaries, or find specific content.\ **Example**:\ *"Summarize the key takeaways from this 100-page deposition."*\ *"What clauses in the NDA reference indemnification?"* **⚖️ Conduct Legal Research** Ask research questions in plain language. Answers are grounded in the matter's jurisdiction and returned with citations.\ **Example**:\ *"What's the Texas standard for pretext under McDonnell Douglas?"* **🔍 Locate and Highlight Key Information** Use targeted instructions to surface precise content across the file set.\ **Example**:\ *"Highlight every mention of the force majeure clause across the contracts in this matter."* **💡 Brainstorm or Strategize** Use Paxton as a thought partner to develop arguments or test case angles.\ **Example**:\ *"Outline three argument strategies for opposing summary judgment based on the facts in this matter."* *** #### Where Your Work Goes Everything a conversation produces stays attached to the matter: * **Recent Drafts** — Documents Paxton generates appear on the Matter Overview. Select **Open** to continue editing in [Canvas](https://help.paxton.ai/help/ai-assistant/editing-drafts-with-canvas). * **Chat History** — Every conversation is listed on the Matter Overview and in the left sidebar, with the drafts it produced shown beneath it. [Rename a chat](https://help.paxton.ai/help/other-topics/rename-chats) to make it easier to find later. * **Matter Record** — Structured outputs built from the matter's files live here, including the [Matter Timeline](https://help.paxton.ai/help/matter-record/matter-timeline), [Medical Chronologies](https://help.paxton.ai/help/matter-record/medical-chronologies), and [Billing Summaries](https://help.paxton.ai/help/matter-record/billing-summaries). *** #### Working with Your Team Select **Add Members** to share a matter. Added team members can manage files and view the chats, drafts, chronologies, and timelines for that matter, so a colleague can pick up where you left off instead of starting a new conversation from scratch. *Viewing medical billing summaries is coming soon.* See [Collaborating Across Matters in Paxton](https://help.paxton.ai/help/matters/collaborating-across-matters-in-paxton) for roles and sharing details. *** #### Supported File Types You can upload and analyze files in the following formats: `.pdf` (text-based), `.docx`, `.xlsx`, `.xls`, `.pptx`, `.txt`, `.csv`, `.json`, `.html`, `.xml`, `.md`, `.markdown` > ❗ **Note**: Paxton can process scanned PDFs using OCR, but results depend on scan quality; low-resolution or heavily marked scans may limit accuracy. *** #### Tips for Better Results * **Keep the matter clean.** Paxton draws on the files in the matter, so an organized, current file set produces sharper answers. Group documents into folders in Matter Files. * **Name the document you mean.** With several files in a matter, pointing to one directly — "in the March 12 termination letter" — gets you a more precise answer than "in the letter." * **Refine your prompt.** If results are incomplete or off-target, add specifics about document type, date range, or desired output format. * **Ask for suggestions.** *"Given the files in this matter, what should I draft next?"* * **Iterate.** Paxton holds context across the thread — follow up rather than starting over. * **Start a new chat for a new question.** One conversation per task keeps your Chat History readable and your drafts easy to find. *** #### Best Practices * **Critically review Paxton's output.** Paxton delivers structured, well-cited responses — but human review remains essential before anything is filed or sent. * **Check citations.** Use the [AI Citator](https://help.paxton.ai/help/legal-research/citations-and-ai-citator) to verify authority before you rely on it. * **Keep each case in its own matter.** Matter scoping is what keeps client materials separate and prevents cross-client references. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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