> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.loisforword.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Review and redline a third-party contract

> Use LOIS for Word to complete a first-pass review of third-party paper, identify material issues, and generate proposed redlines without leaving Microsoft Word.

## This workflow is best for incoming third-party paper

Use this workflow when another party sends you their contract and you need to:

* Identify legal, commercial, and drafting risks
* Find missing or one-sided provisions
* Generate a first set of proposed redlines
* Add comments explaining requested changes
* Prioritize the issues that need closer review

You do not need a playbook to get started. If a contract must follow specific organizational positions, fallback language, or approval requirements, use the [playbook-driven review workflow](/guides/use-cases/in-house/review-with-playbook) instead.

## Configure your review before running it

Open the contract in Microsoft Word, open LOIS for Word, and select **Review**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm that the correct organization profile is selected.">
    The profile tells LOIS which organization it is acting for. If you work across multiple entities, confirm that the profile matches the party to the contract.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select No Playbook.">
    This allows LOIS to review the contract based on your instructions rather than a set of predefined checks.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the legal and business context for the review.">
    Use the context box to tell LOIS what perspective to take and what to prioritize, including:

    * Your organization's role (e.g., customer, vendor, licensor, or licensee)
    * The value or importance of the relationship (e.g., a routine purchase or a high-value strategic relationship)
    * Your negotiating leverage (e.g., limited leverage or a competitive vendor selection)
    * The level of intervention you want (e.g., light touch or a more comprehensive review)
    * Any relevant jurisdictional or regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, or industry-specific requirements)
    * Any terms that have already been agreed (e.g., do not change the pricing terms)

    ```text Example review instruction wrap theme={null}
    Review this vendor MSA from the customer's perspective. Conduct a light-touch review focused on material legal and commercial risks. Pay particular attention to data security, indemnification, limitation of liability, termination rights, and the vendor's use of customer data. Preserve the existing structure and drafting where possible. Do not change pricing terms.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose what LOIS should review.">
    Select the scope that matches your task:

    * **Full document** reviews the entire contract.
    * **Redlines only** reviews the tracked changes made to the contract.
    * **Selected text** reviews only the language selected in Word.

    Use **Full document** for a first-pass review of third-party paper.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure comments.">
    Turn on **Suggest a comment for every redline** if you want LOIS to prepare a comment for each proposed change. If you leave this setting off, LOIS generates comments for AI-identified issues when it determines that a comment would be helpful.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Run review.">
    LOIS reviews the contract clause by clause and surfaces results as the review progresses.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Instructions such as "review this agreement" leave important decisions to LOIS. Specify your role, priorities, and desired review style to produce a more useful first pass.
</Tip>

## Decide which recommendations to apply

Each result may include:

* A risk rating of high, medium, or low, or a pass result
* An explanation of the issue
* A proposed redline
* A proposed comment

Sort the results by severity or document order. Review each recommendation and decide whether it reflects the position you want to take based on the legal and business context.

You can accept, edit, or skip individual suggestions.

## Use follow-up instructions to refine individual clauses

For a provision that needs more analysis, select the speech bubble to chat with Composer and ask a focused follow-up question.

### Example follow-up prompts

* "Explain how this limitation of liability provision affects the customer."
* "Revise this indemnification clause so that it is mutual."
* "Propose a narrower change that preserves the existing structure."
* "Draft a fallback position if the vendor rejects this redline."
* "Draft a question for the business stakeholders about whether this renewal structure is acceptable."

## Apply the changes you want to make

LOIS does not modify the contract until you approve and apply a result.

When you are ready to apply a recommendation, choose from the following options:

* **Apply** to insert the proposed redline and related comment
* **Redlines only** to insert the proposed change without a comment
* **Comments only** to insert the comment without changing the contract

The applied changes appear in Word as tracked changes under your name.

## Complete your review before sending the contract

After applying your selected recommendations, review the contract as you ordinarily would before sending it to the counterparty. Confirm that:

* The redlines reflect the legal and commercial positions you want to take
* Any business decisions, required approvals, or input from relevant internal stakeholders have been resolved
* The comments are appropriate to share with the counterparty
* The document contains only the tracked changes and comments you intend to send

You retain control over the final positions and the version shared with the counterparty.

## Use a playbook when positions must be applied consistently

An instruction-driven review works well for identifying issues and preparing an initial redline. Use a playbook when your organization needs LOIS to apply specific:

* Preferred positions
* Approved fallback language
* Escalation requirements
* Approval thresholds
* Prohibited terms

See [Review and redline a contract using a playbook](/guides/use-cases/in-house/review-with-playbook) for that workflow.

## Related resources

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Start with LOIS for Word" icon="file-word" href="/guides/get-started/get-started-word" />

  <Card title="Composer" icon="comments" href="/guides/get-started/composer" />

  <Card title="Review and redline a contract using a playbook" icon="book-open" href="/guides/use-cases/in-house/review-with-playbook" />

  <Card title="Draft a legal document from scratch" icon="pen-to-square" href="/guides/use-cases/in-house/draft-from-scratch" />
</CardGroup>