Managing Playbooks
Learn the components of a playbook, how Harvey applies them during review, and best practices for creating effective playbooks.
Last updated: May 2, 2026
Overview
Using Playbooks in Word streamlines contract review by analyzing documents against customized playbooks that reflect your company’s established positions. Harvey Playbooks allow you to apply consistent legal and business standards when reviewing contracts. Each playbook is built on a set of rules that define what is acceptable, needs review, or is unacceptable.
As a Playbook manager you will be able to upload, edit, publish and manage visibility of the playbooks for your workspace.
How Playbooks Work
When you create a playbook in Harvey, you’ll define rules based on your contract or an existing playbook. Each rule instructs Harvey on how to evaluate a clause—or the contract as a whole—for adherence. Every rule consists of three customizable components:
- Positions — Define standard, fall back, and unacceptable positions
- Guidance — Provide instructions or contextual notes for Harvey to incorporate into the contract review
- Required clauses — Decide if the rule requires a clause is found in the contract
Positions
Each rule in a playbook can contain up to three types of positions.
Position Types | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Standard position |
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Fallback positions |
| Less helpful: “less than standard position” More helpful:
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Unacceptable deviations |
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A standard position may be specific clause language, a general rule, or a concept. It's important to determine which applies—whether the standard position requires the exact clause in the contract or just adherence to general concepts.
If you don’t have or need to establish a standard, preferred position, but want to flag dealbreakers or areas for team member review, you can skip defining a standard position. This setup is useful when the company doesn’t have a single “ideal” stance but still wants to ensure high-risk or discretionary issues don’t slip through unnoticed.
Guidance
Add guidance for both team members and Harvey to reference when reviewing a contract in Word. This can include contextual notes, commentary, or strategic advice on how to interpret specific clauses, understand their intent, or navigate negotiations. Applicable guidance appears under each rule.
For example, “Push for 30 days, but if counterparty insists on 45 days, accept only with VP approval.”
Required Clause
Required Clause Checkbox | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
Checked | If checked, the clause must appear in the contract. | Confidentiality clauses are typically required and the absence of it will be flagged as unacceptable. |
Unchecked | If unchecked, the clause is optional—absence is not flagged as unacceptable, but if present, it will be evaluated. | Publicity clauses are often optional. If the clause is not present, it does not need to be addressed, but if it appears, it should be reviewed based on the rule. |
Tip: Want to ensure a clause is excluded? You can:
- Define your standard position as “Agreement does not include [X],”
- Create a rule with only an unacceptable deviation (e.g., “Agreement contains a non-compete clause”) and leave the required clause checkbox unchecked.
How Harvey Reviews Contracts
Harvey applies playbook rules in a structured, lawyer-like order:
- Check for Unacceptable Deviations first. If a red flag appears, the clause is unacceptable.
- If no red flags:
- Most closely matches the standard position → Acceptable
- Most closely matches a fallback → Needs Review
- Most closely matches neither → Unacceptable
Helpful to note: Harvey can interpret redlines and comments.
How to Create a Playbook
For instructions on creating playbooks, follow the steps in Create a Playbook.
Making Edits to a Playbook
You can edit a playbook two ways:
- From Settings, select the Playbook and click the rule in which you wish to edit (as described above in Step 3).
- When in Harvey for Word viewing a clause, click View playbook rule and Edit rule.
View and Restore Playbook Versions
- Go to Settings > Playbooks.
- Open a playbook.
- Click the version history from the top menu. From here, you can choose to restore or compare versions.
Tips for Effective Playbooks
- Chunk wisely: Combine related conditions into comprehensive rules, or split into smaller rules if you want finer control.
- Be clear and direct: Use positive/negative language that leaves no ambiguity.
- Spell out synonyms: Don’t assume “agents” = “representatives.” List both.
- Decide on lists: Clarify whether a list is exhaustive or illustrative.
- Use verbatim language when needed: Write the exact text into the rule if Harvey must require specific phrasing, and make it clear that Harvey should use this language. For example, “The Agreement must include: [insert text]”). We recommend using quotation marks to denote exact language, this anchors Harvey to verbatim phrasing.
- Distinguish global vs. local rules: Be clear about whether your rules apply contract-wide or more specifically. For example:
- “Tenant may assign lease to affiliate without consent,” applies to one clause.
- “No provision may give Landlord sole discretion,” applies across the contract.
- Split conflicting rules: If Harvey struggles to distinguish between rules, try splitting them into separate rules and re-running the playbook.
View Playbook Samples
Sample MSA, NDA, and Commercial contract playbooks are available in your Harvey workspace.
- In Harvey, go to Settings > Playbooks
- Above the table of playbooks, locate the tabs that organize them and select Harvey.