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# Creating a custom check

A custom check lets you define your own question or clause definition, configure which documents Emma should analyze, and set up automatic risk-level detection. The result appears as a new column in the **Risks** tab of the Matrix. Once created, the check runs on all documents currently in scope and automatically on any new ones added later.

# Step 1 — Open the new check form

You can open the form in three ways:

* **Matrix → Risks tab → Select checks → New check** (button inside the check picker dialog)
* **Matrix → Risks tab → click the + icon** in the rightmost column header of the Risks table
* **Checks page** (in the main sidebar) → **New check** button in the top right

Any of these opens the same check creation form.

# Step 2 — Choose a topic

Select the **Topic** that best fits the check. Topics are used to organize checks in the picker and on the Checks overview page — they do not affect how Emma analyzes documents.

Available topics include subject-matter areas (Commercial, Corporation, Data Privacy, EH&S, Financial, General, HR, IP, IT, Investment, Litigation, Permits, Real Estate, Tax) and jurisdiction-specific buckets for region-specific compliance (e.g. **Belgium** for Belgium-specific regulations).

# Step 3 — Enter a title

The **Title** is the short name for the check. It becomes the **column header** in the Matrix Risks tab and also appears on the Checks page and in the check picker. Keep it concise and descriptive — something your team will immediately recognize.

The title is **not** used by Emma's AI — it is only for your team's reference.

# Step 4 — Write the question or clause description

The **Description and/or Question** field is the most important part of the check. This is exactly what Emma uses to understand what to look for in every document.

You can write:

* A **question** — _Does this agreement contain a non-solicitation of employees clause?_
* A **clause description** — _Provision that restricts a party from hiring or soliciting employees of the other party after termination_
* A **mixed approach** — start with the clause name, then add a question form for clarity

The more specific and clear you are, the more accurate Emma's analysis will be. Avoid vague phrases like "check for issues" — instead describe exactly what a relevant clause looks like.

**More examples:**

* _What is the notice period for termination?_
* _Is there a change of control provision that gives counterparties the right to terminate?_
* _Does the agreement include a limitation of liability clause, and if so, what is the cap?_

# Step 5 — Restrict by jurisdiction (optional)

Under **Jurisdictions**, you can limit the check to documents from specific countries or jurisdictions. This is useful if, for example, a clause is only relevant under Belgian law.

Leave this field **empty** to run the check against documents from all jurisdictions.

# Step 6 — Set up risk detection (optional but recommended)

This section lets Emma compare each document against the standard you define and automatically assign a risk level (**High**, **Medium**, or **Low**) based on the result. Without it, Emma still extracts the relevant clause from each document but leaves the risk level empty.

To enable risk detection:

1. Toggle on **Detect risks**.
2. Enter a **Golden Standard Clause** — the clause text or standard you consider ideal or fully compliant. Emma compares each document's relevant clause against this standard to judge risk. Example: _"Employee agrees not to solicit or hire any employee of Company for a period of 24 months after termination."_
3. Fill in at least one of the **High / Medium / Low risk descriptions** — describe what makes a finding high, medium, or low risk for this specific check.

**Tip — use AI to generate a first draft:** Click the **Generate** button (the AI sparkle icon next to the Golden Standard field) to have Emma suggest a golden standard clause and risk descriptions based on your question. Review and edit the suggestions before saving — they are a starting point, not a finished result.

# Step 7 — Configure the scope (M&A data rooms only)

Scope controls which documents Emma runs the check against. Targeting the right scope reduces analysis time and improves accuracy.

1. Under **Areas**, select the IRL areas relevant for this check. Areas are the top-level sections of your data room (for example, Commercial Contracts, HR, Financial). An employment-related check should target HR or Employment, not the entire data room. You can also choose **All areas in the data room** by leaving the Areas field empty or clearing all selections. When no specific area is selected, Emma treats this as a scope that includes all files in the data room. This approach ensures Emma automatically includes any new areas created after the check is set up.

* When the check is configured with "all areas" (i.e., empty Areas selection), the UI will display **All areas in the data room** as a clear summary, rather than listing out every individual area.
2. Under **Document types** (optional), narrow further to specific document types within the chosen areas. Leave this empty to include all document types in those areas.

Areas and document types you select appear as a summary in the scope configuration UI:

* If only a few areas are selected, they are shown as a short, quoted list (e.g., `"Commercial Contracts", "Financial"`).
* When many areas or types are selected, the UI shows the first few, followed by a link such as **Show 3 more areas**. Click to expand and see the full list, or collapse it again. This helps you maintain clarity for complex scopes without overwhelming the display.

A **summary box** at the bottom of the form shows a plain-language description of your scope and risk detection settings — review it before clicking Create to make sure it matches your intent.

In **Projects**, scope is fixed to the single document type and cannot be changed here.

# Step 8 — Create the check

Click **Create Check**. Emma immediately starts analyzing every document that matches the scope. This typically takes a few minutes, depending on the number of documents in scope.

The check appears as a new column in the **Matrix → Risks tab** once analysis is underway. New documents uploaded later that match the scope are analyzed automatically.

You can track progress on the **Checks page** — each check shows a status of **In progress**, **Completed**, or **Failed**.

# Example — Change of control clause in commercial contracts

Here is how you would fill in the form to check whether commercial contracts contain a change of control clause that could expose you to risk:

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Topic | Commercial |
| Title | Change of Control |
| Description / Question | Does this agreement contain a change of control clause? If so, does it give the counterparty the right to terminate or require consent upon a change of control of either party? |
| Jurisdictions | (leave empty — applies to all) |
| Scope — Areas | Commercial Contracts |
| Scope — Document types | (leave empty — all types in the area) |

**Golden Standard Clause:**

The agreement does not contain a change of control clause, or any change of control clause is limited to a notification obligation only, with no right to terminate or withhold consent.

**Risk descriptions:**

| Level | Description |
| --- | --- |
| High | The counterparty has an unconditional right to terminate or withhold consent upon any change of control |
| Medium | A change of control triggers a consent requirement or a right to terminate, but only under specific conditions |
| Low | The agreement contains a change of control notification obligation with no material consequences |

After clicking **Create Check**, Emma scans every contract in the Commercial Contracts area and assigns one of these risk levels to each document — or marks it **Unspecified** if the clause is ambiguous and needs your manual review.

# Related articles

* [Using predefined checks](https://docs.emma.legal/en/articles/10516582-using-predefined-checks)
* [Editing a check](https://docs.emma.legal/en/articles/11554329-editing-a-check)

If you need additional help creating checks or encounter any other problem, don't hesitate to reach out through the chat bubble in the bottom right or contact [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdbeb8bdbda2bfb98da8a0a0ace3a1a8aaaca1).