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Using Snippets and Short Codes for Time Entry in LeanLaw

How to create and use text snippets and short codes in LeanLaw to speed up time entry descriptions — including setup in Team Settings and using snippets from the Calendar and Time Entries pages.

Snippets and short codes let your firm create pre-written descriptions that anyone can insert into a time entry with a click or a few keystrokes. They reduce repetitive typing, improve description consistency across the firm, and help timekeepers capture time faster.

📋 Shared across the firm: Snippets are firm-wide — all users share the same snippet library. Short codes work the same way. Only users with access to Team Settings can create or edit snippets.

 

Snippets vs. Short Codes

Feature

How It Works

Snippet

A saved block of text. Selected from a dropdown menu in the time entry description field. No keyboard shortcut required.

Short Code

An optional keyboard shortcut linked to a snippet. Type the short code + space in any description field and LeanLaw automatically expands it to the full snippet text.

Snippets work without short codes. Short codes make snippets even faster but are optional.

 

Creating Snippets and Short Codes

  1. Click the gear icon ⚙️ in the top right to open Settings.
  2. Click Snippets and Short Codes in the left-hand menu.
  3. Click Add Snippet (or the equivalent green button).
  4. Type the full text of your snippet in the Snippet field.
  5. Optionally, click the Short Code (Optional) field and type a short code for this snippet.
  6. Click Save Settings to save the snippet.

💡 Short code tip: Add a forward slash before short codes to prevent accidental triggers. For example, use '/ca' instead of 'ca' for 'California closing arguments' — otherwise typing 'calendar' would trigger the expansion.

 

Editing and Deleting Snippets

To edit an existing snippet:

  1. Go to Settings → Snippets and Short Codes.
  2. Click the edit icon (pencil) next to the snippet you want to change.
  3. The snippet text and short code appear in the edit panel on the right.
  4. Make your changes and click Save Settings.

To delete a snippet, find the delete icon next to the snippet on the Snippets and Short Codes page. Deletion is immediate and cannot be undone.

 

Using Snippets in Time Entries

From the Dropdown Menu

  1. Open or create a time entry on the Time Entries page or Calendar page.
  2. In the Description field, click the Snippets dropdown.
  3. Select a snippet from the list. The full text is inserted into the description field.
  4. Edit the inserted text if needed before saving.

 

Using a Short Code

  1. In the Description field of any time entry, expense, or fixed fee, type your short code.
  2. After typing the short code, press the space bar (without typing or clicking anything else).
  3. LeanLaw instantly replaces the short code with the full snippet text.

💡 Tip: Short codes also work in expense descriptions and fixed fee descriptions — not just time entries. Any field in LeanLaw that supports snippets will expand short codes on the space bar press.

 

Where Snippets Are Available

Snippets and short codes work in the description field on:

  • Time entry creation and editing — Time Entries page
  • Time entry creation and editing — Calendar page
  • Expense creation and editing
  • Fixed fee charge creation and editing