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Introduction to the Avvoka API

Updated this week

Avvoka’s API empowers users to automate and integrate every stage of the document lifecycle—from templating and questionnaire generation to execution and storage—directly from your internal tools. Whether you're a developer, automation lead, or in legal ops, Avvoka's RESTful API provides the flexibility and scalability to streamline your contracting processes.

What Is an API, and Why Does It Matter?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. Think of it as a digital waiter that carries your order (request) to the kitchen (server) and brings the result (response) back. It enables different software systems to "talk" to each other using HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE).

For legal teams, this means:

  • Automating document creation at scale

  • Pulling real-time data from external systems into contracts

  • Sending executed documents to storage platforms or triggering workflows

Setting Up Your Avvoka API Environment

To start making requests to Avvoka, you’ll need:

  • Insomnia or another API platform (Postman, cURL, etc.)

You can configure your environment in Insomnia to store common variables like authentication headers and base URLs for reusability.

Anatomy of an API Call

Each API call includes:

  • Method: e.g. GET for retrieving, POST for creating

  • URI/Endpoint: the resource you’re interacting with (e.g. /documents)

  • Headers: metadata like Authorization: Bearer {API_KEY}

  • Request Body (for POST/PUT/PATCH): structured data (usually JSON)

  • Response: returned data or confirmation message.

Common API Request Types in Avvoka

Method

Purpose

GET

Retrieve data (e.g. list all documents)

POST

Create new resources (e.g. generate a document)

PUT

Overwrite an entire existing resource

PATCH

Update part of a resource (e.g. change document status)

DELETE

Remove a document or user from the system

Example: Use GET /documents to list all documents accessible to your account.

Creating Your First API Request

  1. Open Insomnia and select your environment.

  1. Create a new GET request to /documents.

  1. Add your API key as an Authorization header.

  1. Click Send—you should receive a list of documents with metadata like ID, title, and status.

You can also POST to /documents to generate a new contract based on a template and completed questionnaire inputs.

Advanced Usage: Chaining and Integrating Requests

You can chain requests dynamically using Insomnia’s environment variables and response chaining features.

For example:

  • GET /template-id → extract metadata

  • POST /generate-document using extracted values

  • PATCH /document-status once signature is completed

Use cases include bulk-generation workflows or CRM integrations.

Handling Errors and Status Codes

Common API response codes include:

  • 200 OK: Success!

  • 201 Created: Resource was successfully created

  • 400 Bad Request: Missing or invalid inputs

  • 401 Unauthorized: Missing or invalid API key

  • 403 Forbidden: Insufficient permissions

  • 404 Not Found: Invalid endpoint or resource

  • 429 Too Many Requests: Rate-limited

  • 500+: Internal server errors

Using Avvoka’s API for Smart Automation

Avvoka’s API plays well with its AI-powered tools, allowing you to:

  • Trigger DraftAssist: Upload deal documents to pre-fill questionnaires with up to 99% accuracy

  • Populate templates via external data (Excel, CRM, HR tools)

  • Generate conditional clauses and operations via the AI Operation Builder

These features enable seamless automation for high-volume contract workflows.

Security and Access Control

API keys are unique to each organisation and should be:

  • Stored securely

  • Rotated periodically

  • Used over HTTPS only

Admins can control key issuance via the Avvoka Admin interface.

Where to Learn More

To explore endpoints, try Avvoka's API documentation:
developers.avvoka.com

Need a step-by-step guide? Avvoka's API training materials walk you through Insomnia setup, request building, chaining, and handling responses with practical examples.

Final Thoughts

Avvoka’s API unlocks powerful automation and integration capabilities. Whether you want to mass-generate contracts, pipe data from your CRM, or sync with a DMS, the API makes it all possible—securely and scalably.

If you're a client exploring this for a PoC or rollout, ask your CSM to enable access and walk through our API best practice pack.

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