12 ChatGPT Prompts for Lawyers That Actually Work
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Prompt 1: Client Intake Summary
After an initial consultation, use this prompt to transform your handwritten or dictated notes into a structured intake memo.
You are a legal assistant helping a [practice area] attorney organize initial consultation notes. Convert the following raw notes into a structured client intake memo with these sections: Client Overview, Key Facts, Legal Issues Identified, Potential Claims/Defenses, Immediate Next Steps, and Documents Needed. Use professional tone. Flag any gaps where additional information is needed. Do not include any identifying information in your response — I have already anonymized the data below.
[Paste anonymized consultation notes here]
Why this works: The prompt specifies the exact output structure, sets the tone, and reminds both you and the AI about confidentiality. Most attorneys report this saves 20-30 minutes per intake compared to writing the memo from scratch.
Prompt 2: Demand Letter Draft
Generate a first-pass demand letter that you can refine with case-specific details.
Draft a demand letter for a [type of claim, e.g., breach of contract, personal injury, employment discrimination] matter. Include: identification of the parties (use placeholders like "Client" and "Opposing Party"), summary of facts giving rise to the claim, legal basis for the claim citing relevant legal theories (do NOT cite specific cases — I will add verified citations), specific damages being claimed with a placeholder amount, a deadline for response, and consequences of non-response. Tone should be firm but professional. Format as a formal letter.
Why this works: Notice the explicit instruction not to cite specific cases. This prevents hallucinated citations. You add the real citations after reviewing the draft. The placeholder approach gives you a complete structural framework to work from.
Prompt 3: Case Opinion Summary
Quickly distill a long court opinion into its essential holdings and reasoning.
Summarize the following court opinion in this structure: Case Name and Citation, Court and Date, Procedural History (2-3 sentences), Key Facts (bullet points), Issue(s) Presented, Holding, Reasoning (the court's key analytical steps), Dissent or Concurrence (if any), and Practical Significance (what this means for similar cases going forward). Keep the total summary under 500 words.
[Paste the full text of the opinion here]
Why this works: You are providing the actual opinion text, so ChatGPT is summarizing real content rather than generating information from its training data. This is one of the safest uses of AI for lawyers because the source material is right there.
Prompt 4: Client Update Email
Draft a clear, client-friendly status update that avoids legal jargon.
Draft a client update email for a [type of case] matter. The current status is: [brief status description]. The next steps are: [list next steps]. Write in plain, friendly language that a non-lawyer would understand. Avoid legal jargon. Keep it under 200 words. Include a closing that invites the client to call or email with questions. Sign off with [your name placeholder].
Why this works: Client communications are one of the highest-ROI uses of AI for lawyers. Many attorneys spend 15-20 minutes composing status updates because they overthink the tone. This prompt produces a usable draft in seconds that you can adjust in 2-3 minutes.
Prompt 5: Contract Clause Generator
Generate a [type of clause, e.g., indemnification, limitation of liability, force majeure, non-compete, confidentiality] clause for a [type of agreement, e.g., SaaS agreement, employment contract, commercial lease]. The clause should favor [client/party position, e.g., "the service provider" or "the landlord"]. Include: the operative provision, any exceptions or carve-outs, notice requirements if applicable, and survival language. Use standard commercial contract drafting conventions. Provide two versions: one aggressive (strongly favoring our client) and one balanced (commercially reasonable). I will review and modify for jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Why this works: Providing two versions — aggressive and balanced — gives you negotiation flexibility. The instruction to provide both saves you from having to re-prompt. Note the explicit acknowledgment that you will add jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Prompt 6: Deposition Question Prep
Generate deposition questions for a [type of case] where the deponent is [role/relationship to case]. Organize questions by topic area. For each topic, start with foundational/background questions and build toward the key admissions I'm seeking. The key facts I want to establish are: [list 3-5 key facts]. Include questions that lock in testimony, impeachment questions if the deponent contradicts known facts, and authentication questions for relevant documents. Generate approximately 40-50 questions total.
Prompt 7: Legal Research Strategy
I need to research the following legal issue: [describe the issue]. I practice in [jurisdiction]. Create a research plan that includes: the key legal questions to answer, suggested search terms for Westlaw/Lexis, relevant statutes or regulations to check, types of cases to look for (factually analogous, same jurisdiction, appellate level), secondary sources worth consulting, and potential counterarguments I should also research. Do NOT provide specific case citations — I will find the actual cases myself. Just give me the research roadmap.
Why this works: This uses ChatGPT as a research strategist, not a research source. You get a structured plan to execute in Westlaw or Lexis, where the results will be verified. This is one of the safest and most productive uses of AI for legal research.
Prompt 8: Brief Outline Generator
Create a detailed outline for a [type of motion/brief, e.g., Motion to Dismiss, Motion for Summary Judgment, Opposition to Motion to Compel] in a [type of case] in [jurisdiction]. Include: the standard of review, each argument section with sub-points, where to place key factual references, suggested transitions between arguments, and an anticipated counterarguments section. Structure it in the format this court expects (check local rules for [jurisdiction]).
Prompt 9: Plain Language Translator
Translate the following legal text into plain language that a client with no legal background could understand. Maintain accuracy — do not oversimplify to the point of changing the meaning. Where a legal term has no good plain-language equivalent, include the term with a brief parenthetical explanation. Keep the translation roughly the same length as the original.
[Paste legal text here]
Prompt 10: Engagement Letter Drafter
Draft an engagement letter for a [practice area] representation. Include: identification of the client and matter, scope of representation (be specific about what IS and IS NOT included), fee arrangement [hourly/flat fee/contingency — specify rate or percentage], retainer requirements, billing procedures and payment terms, client obligations (providing documents, responding to communications), termination provisions for both parties, and a disclaimer that this letter does not guarantee any outcome. Format as a professional letter. I will add jurisdiction-specific ethics language and my firm details.
Prompt 11: Discovery Response Helper
I received the following discovery requests in a [type of case]. For each request, draft: a response or objection (with the legal basis for any objection), suggested objection language using standard formulations, and a note on whether the request is likely to be sustained or overruled if challenged. Common objections to consider: overbreadth, undue burden, relevance, privilege, proportionality, vagueness. Here are the requests:
[Paste anonymized discovery requests]
Prompt 12: Compliance Checklist Builder
Create a compliance checklist for a [type of business, e.g., healthcare startup, fintech company, restaurant franchise] operating in [jurisdiction]. Cover: entity formation and registration, licensing and permits, employment law basics (hiring, classification, required notices), data privacy requirements, industry-specific regulations, tax registration and filing obligations, insurance requirements, and ongoing compliance deadlines. Note: I will verify all requirements against current statutes — use this as a starting framework, not a final compliance guide.
Tips for Better Legal AI Prompts
Always specify the role: "You are a legal assistant helping a litigation attorney" produces better output than a bare request.
Set explicit constraints: Tell the AI what NOT to do. "Do not cite specific cases" prevents hallucinated citations. "Do not include identifying information" reinforces confidentiality discipline.
Request structured output: Specify the exact sections, format, and approximate length you want. Unstructured prompts produce rambling, unfocused responses.
Iterate, don't start over: If the first output is close but not right, refine with follow-up prompts like "Make the tone more formal" or "Expand the damages section" rather than re-prompting from scratch.
Use Claude for long documents: If you are pasting in a 50-page contract or a lengthy opinion, Claude Pro's 200,000-token context window handles it better than ChatGPT's shorter window.