Using Variables in Templates

Reference guide for all available template variables in fee sharing agreements.

Variables are placeholders in your agreement templates that get replaced with actual data when the agreement is generated. This guide covers all available variables.

How Variables Work

Syntax

Variables use double curly braces:

{{variable_name}}

Example

Template text:

This Agreement is between {{referring_firm_name}} and {{receiving_firm_name}}.

Generated output:

This Agreement is between Smith & Associates and Johnson Law Group.

Available Variables

Lead/Client Information

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{lead_first_name}}`	Client's first name	John
`{{lead_last_name}}`	Client's last name	Smith
`{{lead_full_name}}`	Full name	John Smith
`{{lead_email}}`	Email address	john@email.com
`{{lead_phone}}`	Phone number	(555) 123-4567
`{{lead_address}}`	Full address	123 Main St, City, ST 12345
`{{lead_city}}`	City	Los Angeles
`{{lead_state}}`	State	California

Case Information

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{case_type}}`	Type of case	Personal Injury
`{{case_description}}`	Case description	Auto accident on Highway 101...
`{{incident_date}}`	Date of incident	January 15, 2026
`{{referral_date}}`	Date referral was sent	January 20, 2026

Referring Firm

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{referring_firm_name}}`	Firm name	Smith & Associates
`{{referring_firm_address}}`	Full address	100 Legal Way, Suite 200, LA, CA 90001
`{{referring_firm_city}}`	City	Los Angeles
`{{referring_firm_state}}`	State	California
`{{referring_firm_phone}}`	Phone number	(555) 100-2000
`{{referring_firm_email}}`	Email	info@smithlaw.com
`{{referring_firm_contact_name}}`	Primary contact	Jane Smith
`{{referring_firm_website}}`	Website	www.smithlaw.com

Receiving Firm

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{receiving_firm_name}}`	Firm name	Johnson Law Group
`{{receiving_firm_address}}`	Full address	500 Justice Blvd, SF, CA 94102
`{{receiving_firm_city}}`	City	San Francisco
`{{receiving_firm_state}}`	State	California
`{{receiving_firm_phone}}`	Phone number	(555) 300-4000
`{{receiving_firm_email}}`	Email	contact@johnsonlaw.com
`{{receiving_firm_contact_name}}`	Primary contact	Mike Johnson
`{{receiving_firm_website}}`	Website	www.johnsonlaw.com

Fee Information

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{fee_percentage}}`	Agreed fee percentage	33
`{{fee_percentage_formatted}}`	With percent sign	33%

Agreement Metadata

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{agreement_number}}`	Unique agreement ID	AGR-2026-00042
`{{agreement_date}}`	Date generated	January 21, 2026
`{{agreement_date_short}}`	Short date format	01/21/2026

Signature Information

Variable	Description	Example Output
`{{referring_firm_signatory_name}}`	Who signs for referring firm	Jane Smith
`{{referring_firm_signatory_title}}`	Their title	Managing Partner
`{{referring_firm_signature}}`	Signature placeholder	[Signature]
`{{referring_firm_signature_date}}`	When they signed	January 22, 2026
`{{receiving_firm_signatory_name}}`	Who signs for receiving firm	Mike Johnson
`{{receiving_firm_signatory_title}}`	Their title	Senior Partner
`{{receiving_firm_signature}}`	Signature placeholder	[Signature]
`{{receiving_firm_signature_date}}`	When they signed	January 23, 2026

Date Formatting

Dates can be formatted in different ways:

Variable	Output
`{{agreement_date}}`	January 21, 2026
`{{agreement_date_short}}`	01/21/2026
`{{agreement_date_long}}`	Tuesday, January 21, 2026

Using Variables in Your Template

Basic Usage

RE: {{lead_first_name}} {{lead_last_name}}

This Fee Sharing Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of 
{{agreement_date}} by and between {{referring_firm_name}} 
("Referring Firm") and {{receiving_firm_name}} ("Receiving Firm").

In Fee Terms

Referring Firm shall receive {{fee_percentage}}% of the Net Attorney 
Fees collected by Receiving Firm in the {{case_type}} matter of 
{{lead_full_name}}.

In Signature Blocks

REFERRING FIRM:

_____________________________
Signature

{{referring_firm_signatory_name}}
{{referring_firm_signatory_title}}
{{referring_firm_name}}
Date: {{referring_firm_signature_date}}

Missing Values

What Happens

If a variable has no value (e.g., phone number wasn't entered):

The variable placeholder remains empty
No error is generated
You may want to add fallback text

Handling Missing Data

Option 1: Include fallback text

Phone: {{lead_phone}} (if available)

Option 2: Make fields conditional in your template design

Contact Information:
{{lead_email}}
{{lead_phone}}

Best Practices

Variable Selection

Use specific variables - {{lead_full_name}} vs separate first/last
Check data completeness - Ensure required fields are filled on leads
Test your template - Preview with sample data

Formatting Tips

Consistent spacing - Put spaces around variables in sentences
Proper punctuation - Include punctuation after variables
Line breaks - Variables respect line breaks in templates

Legal Considerations

Verify accuracy - Variables pull data exactly as entered
Review generated docs - Always review before signing
Required fields - Ensure critical data is required on leads

Troubleshooting

Variable Not Replacing

Check spelling (case-sensitive)
Verify double curly braces {{...}}
Ensure the variable name is valid
Check that source data exists

Incorrect Data Showing

Verify the lead/referral data is correct
Check for data entry errors
Update source data and regenerate

Formatting Issues

Remove extra spaces around variables
Check for special characters
Ensure consistent quote usage

Custom Fields

If you've created VF Fields (custom fields), they're available as variables:

{{vf_policy_limits}}
{{vf_injury_type}}
{{vf_statute_date}}

Custom field variable names are based on the field name you created, in lowercase with underscores replacing spaces.

Next Steps

Creating Templates - Build your template
Sending for Signature - Generate and send agreements