Annotating Documents

Understand the difference between Annotation and Markup tools to keep shared trial materials clean while supporting private team notes.

DocReviewPad provides two categories of tools:

• Annotation Tools for trial-ready work
• Markup Tools for personal and internal notes.

Using each annotation type correctly ensures that trial materials remain clean while your team can take notes or brainstorm freely.

Annotation Tools (Trial-ready)

These tools are intended for documents that will be shared with colleagues, experts, or opposing counsel. 

Highlight Tool

Emphasize critical testimony, medical findings, or insurance language.
Example: In a personal injury case, you might highlight important treatment dates.

Pen Tool

Underline or circle key phrases directly on the document.
Example: Draw attention to a surgeon’s operative note indicating a deviation from standard care.

Redactions

Choose black or white to permanently remove sensitive content. Redactions are irreversible once exported.
Example: Redact patient identifiers and social security numbers.

Notes

Typed sticky notes that mark an important area of a document and can be exported and shared with co-counsel or clients.
Example: Summarize why a particular paragraph in a contract is unenforceable.

Markups (Personal Notes)

Markups are ideal for drafting internal arguments, hypotheses, or highlighting inconsistencies in witness statements.

Use an Apple Pencil, a stylus, or your finger to draw freely, but use the eraser before you switch pages!

Markups are saved but cannot be selectively removed by pen type; you can only clear all if needed.

More Information on using Markup Tool: Using the Markup Tool in DocReviewPad