GitLaw How-To guides

How to Add a New File to GitLaw

To add a new file to GitLaw, open or create a repository, click the Add File button at the top right of the file browser, then either upload a .docx under the Files tab or click + Create document to write directly in GitLaw's editor. Add a ReadMe and a commit message describing the file, and it becomes part of your repository.

Before you start: a GitLaw account with your profile completed.

How do I add a new file to a GitLaw repository?

GitLaw makes it simple to share your legal documents and contribute to the open-source legal community:

Log in or create an account: log in to your GitLaw account, or go to git.law and click Sign Up. By signing up you are agreeing to GitLaw's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Add your name and a bio or details about your law firm to your profile; these are displayed to users who want to learn more about who shared the document, and you can add contact details if you are open to paid support requests.
Navigate to the repository: create a new repository (e.g. "Startup Legal Documents") with + New Repository in the top menu bar, or go to an existing one. Give it a self-explanatory name and description; the repository is visible in the URL where your documents are shared. Choose Public to publish every document in the folder publicly, or start private and make it public later.
Add the file: in the repository, click the Add File button, typically at the top-right corner of the file browser. Under the Files tab, either upload your .docx file or click + Create document to start a new document in GitLaw's editor.
Provide a description: add a ReadMe file to act as the landing page for your repository, and describe your file in the Commit Message field, for example "Added a template for an Independent Contractor Agreement for startups". You can also include optional notes about the file's purpose or specific jurisdictions it is intended for.

Uploading a .docx file

Inside your repository, under the Files tab, click Upload Documents.
Directly above the file, click Edit and choose Convert to GitLaw Document.

Your file is now a GitLaw document which you can edit in the GitLaw editor and add template fields to.

Writing the document in the editor

Click Create Document and write directly into the online editor:

Add metadata on the metadata tab, including which jurisdiction the document is designed for.
Under the Outline section, the headers you select in text formatting create document navigation automatically.
Under template, add template fields which make the document faster for users to fill out.

Why add a new file?

Share knowledge: contribute legal document templates or guides that others can use and learn from.
Fill gaps: add documents that might be missing from GitLaw, like templates for new types of agreements, new jurisdictions or new approaches.
Collaborate: receive feedback and improvements from the GitLaw community to make your document even better.

Best practices for adding files

Use clear names: ensure file names are descriptive and follow a consistent naming convention.
Format consistently: use GitLaw's preferred formatting styles, such as Markdown for text documents or PDFs for finalised templates.
Review content: double-check your document for accuracy, typos and adherence to legal standards.

Any document you add to GitLaw publicly is entirely free for users to use. Unless you state otherwise in the repository, all work is licensed to users under CC BY-ND 4.0.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to publish my repository publicly straight away?

No. You can start in private mode and later make the repository public, or copy documents from a private repository into a public one.

What licence applies to files I share publicly?

Unless you state otherwise in the repository, all public work is licensed to users under CC BY-ND 4.0 and is entirely free to use.

Reviewed by the GitLaw team. Last updated 29 July 2026.