Annotating Documents in DocReviewPad

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 (Yellow, Lime, Cyan, Magenta)

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

Pen Tool (Red, Blue, Green, Black)

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 (Black, White)

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.

For more information on using Markup Tool, please review Using the Markup Tool in DocReviewPad in our Help Center.

How to Keep Annotation Tools Active

By default, annotation tools deactivate after one use. If you want to use the same tool repeatedly, you have three options:

• Double-tap the annotation tool button to keep it selected.

• Tap the Lock button on the tool palette.

• Go to Settings from the Case Selection screen and turn on Lock Annotation Tools in User Preferences.

How to Remove Annotations

You can undo or clear annotations at any time.

• Tap Undo to remove the last annotation.

• Tap Clear to remove all annotations from the page.

If you’re using a keyboard, press Command–Z to undo annotations one at a time.