> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bono.network/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started

> Learn the basics of Arbiter in 5 minutes

## Welcome to Arbiter

Arbiter is your AI-powered legal workspace for document analysis, contract drafting, and legal research. This guide will get you up and running in minutes.

<Info>
  **New to Arbiter?** Watch our [First 5 Minutes tutorial](/guides/video-tutorials) for a quick visual walkthrough.
</Info>

## Create Your Account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign Up">
    Visit [arbiter.bono.network](https://arbiter.bono.network) and click "Get Started"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete Onboarding">
    Answer a few questions about your role and preferences to personalize your experience
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Plan">
    Select a subscription plan: Individual Pro or Teams for organizations. Annual plans offer significant savings.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Understanding the Two Modes

Arbiter has two primary modes, accessible via the toggle in the sidebar:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Documents Mode" icon="file-lines">
    Upload, analyze, and draft contracts with AI assistance. Use the canvas for editing, run analysis for risk detection, or let AutoDrafter generate documents from scratch.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Research Mode" icon="brain">
    Research legal questions with multi-agent AI and web search. Also home to Matter Mode, where you group documents by case or deal and run cross-document workflows.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Explore the Dashboard

Your dashboard is your command center. Here's what you'll find:

### Stats Overview

Four cards showing your workspace activity at a glance:

<CardGroup cols={4}>
  <Card title="Total Documents" icon="file-lines">
    Documents in your library with week-over-week trends
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Analysis" icon="robot">
    Count of documents you've analyzed with Arbiter
  </Card>

  <Card title="Total Matters" icon="briefcase">
    Active matters for multi-document workflows
  </Card>

  <Card title="Research Sessions" icon="comments">
    AI chat sessions for legal research
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Legal Workspace

Six quick-action cards to launch common tasks:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Draft New Contract" icon="pen-to-square">
    Create a new document and start drafting with AI assistance
  </Card>

  <Card title="Analyze Document" icon="magnifying-glass-chart">
    Upload a contract for AI-powered risk and clause analysis
  </Card>

  <Card title="Legal Research" icon="scale-balanced">
    Start a new AI research session with GitLaw web search
  </Card>

  <Card title="Template Library" icon="book-open">
    Browse 50+ professional legal document templates
  </Card>

  <Card title="Document Comparison" icon="clock-rotate-left">
    Open version control to compare drafts and track changes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Matter Library" icon="folder-open">
    Organize documents into matters and run AI workflows
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Main Content Area

The dashboard also displays:

* **Recent Documents** - Your most recently edited documents with status badges and analysis indicators
* **Matters** - Quick access to your matters with the Matter Explorer widget
* **AI Research** - Your recent chat sessions for quick continuation

<Tip>
  Click any stat card, recent document, or matter to jump directly into that area.
</Tip>

## Quick Actions

### Upload a Contract for Analysis

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Upload Document">
    From the sidebar or dashboard, click the "Upload Document" button
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Your File">
    Upload PDF, DOCX, or TXT files
  </Step>

  <Step title="Processing">
    Arbiter extracts text, identifies structure, and prepares for analysis
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Analysis">
    Click "Analyze Document" to begin AI-powered review
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Card title="Learn more about Document Analysis" icon="arrow-right" href="/guides/document-analysis">
  Explore all analysis features including section scoring, clause-level insights, and AI revisions
</Card>

### Draft a New Contract

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create New Document">
    Click "Draft New Contract" from the dashboard or create a new document from the sidebar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Writing or Use AI">
    Type directly in the canvas, or open the AI panel to get drafting assistance
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Templates (Optional)">
    Browse the Template Library for pre-built contract structures
  </Step>

  <Step title="Refine with AI">
    Highlight text and ask Arbiter for suggestions, rewrites, or additions
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Card title="Learn more about Document Drafting" icon="arrow-right" href="/guides/document-drafter">
  Discover AI-assisted drafting, AutoDrafter, and the template library
</Card>

### Start AI Research

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch to Chat Mode">
    Click the chat icon or navigate to a new chat
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Chat Mode">
    Select Standard, Deliberation, or Grand Deliberation based on question complexity
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask Your Question">
    Type your legal question and enable web research if needed
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review Results">
    Get AI analysis with reasoning, sources, and optional visualizations
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  **Adding Document Context** - You can enhance AI responses by adding document context:

  * **Matter Context**: If you have a matter selected, all documents in that matter are automatically included in the AI's context
  * **Manual Selection**: Click the folder icon in the chat input to manually select specific documents to include in the conversation
</Info>

<Card title="Learn more about AI Research" icon="arrow-right" href="/guides/ai-research">
  Explore chat modes, deliberation, GitLaw web search, and visualizations
</Card>

## Understanding Your Workspace

### Sidebar Navigation

The sidebar is context-aware and changes based on your current mode.

**Always Visible:**

* **Dashboard** - Return to your command center
* **Mode Toggle** - Switch between Documents and Chat modes
* **Search** - Find documents and chats across your workspace

**In Documents Mode:**

* **Document Library** - Browse all your contracts and drafts
* **New Document** - Create a blank document
* **Upload Document** - Import PDF, DOCX, or TXT files
* **Recent Documents** - Quick access to recently edited files

**In Chat Mode:**

* **New Chat** - Start a fresh AI research session
* **Matter Library** - Access your matters and run workflows
* **Recent Chats** - Continue previous research conversations

### Token Balance

Arbiter uses tokens for AI operations:

* Displayed in the top navigation
* Monthly allocation with rollover (up to 3 months)
* Purchase additional tokens as needed

### Organization Mode

If you're part of a team:

* Switch between personal and organization workspaces
* Shared token pools
* Document sharing and collaboration
* Member management

### User Menu

Located at the bottom left of the workspace, the User Menu provides access to your account and preferences.

**At a Glance:**

* Your avatar with status indicator (green = active)
* Badge showing your plan (Pro, Teams, Organization Admin, etc.)
* First name for quick identification

**Click to Open:**

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Profile" icon="user">
    View and edit your profile information, including name, contact details, practice information (for lawyers), and subscription status
  </Card>

  <Card title="Settings" icon="gear">
    Configure preferences: profile picture, notifications, interface language, and AI Research Engine (GitLaw Premium vs Fast Search)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organization Settings" icon="building">
    Manage seats, billing, usage analytics, and team members (available for organization members)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organization Switcher" icon="arrows-rotate">
    Switch between personal workspace and organization contexts
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

**Quick Stats Panel:**

* **Tokens** - Your current balance (click to purchase more)
* **Plan Status** - Active subscription or organization context

**Additional Options:**

* **What's New** - Changelog with recent updates and features (for subscribed users)
* **Manage Subscription** - Link to Stripe customer portal for billing
* **Logout** - Sign out of your account

<Tip>
  **AI Research Engine** - In Settings, you can choose between:

  * **GitLaw Premium** (default) - Maximum accuracy with \~200 tokens per research
  * **Fast Search** - 5x cheaper at \~40 tokens per research, great for routine tasks
</Tip>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Document Analysis Guide" icon="file-magnifying-glass" href="/guides/document-analysis">
    Deep dive into contract analysis features
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Research Guide" icon="brain" href="/guides/ai-research">
    Master multi-model legal research
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organizations" icon="building" href="/guides/organizations">
    Set up team collaboration
  </Card>

  <Card title="Support" icon="headset" href="https://arbiter.bono.network/support">
    Get help from our team
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Tips for Success

<Tip>
  **Enable Web Research** for questions requiring current information or case law. It searches the internet and provides cited sources.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  **Advanced Analysis Mode** provides deeper reasoning but uses 1.5x tokens. Use for complex contracts or when you need comprehensive review.
</Warning>

<Info>
  **Version Control** automatically saves your document changes. Access version history anytime to restore previous versions or compare changes.
</Info>