A litigation partner told me he uses ChatGPT for about 90 minutes every day now. Not for legal research — he doesn’t trust it for that (smart). For everything else: drafting client emails, outlining arguments, summarizing depositions, preparing for meetings. “It’s like having a first-year associate who works instantly but needs supervision,” he said.

These prompts are the ones that consistently produce usable output for legal work. Every one includes guardrails to reduce hallucination risk.

1. Legal Research Starting Point

“I need to research [legal issue] in [jurisdiction]. Provide: a summary of the general legal framework, key statutes or regulations that likely apply, the main legal tests or standards courts use, and 3-5 search terms I should use in Westlaw/LexisNexis to find relevant case law. Do NOT cite specific cases — I will verify all case law myself. This is a research starting point, not a final memo.”

Why “do not cite specific cases”: after the Steven Schwartz sanctions for submitting AI-fabricated citations, this guardrail is non-negotiable. Use AI to frame the research, then verify everything in actual legal databases.

2. Contract Clause Analysis

“Analyze this contract clause and identify: what it means in plain English, which party it favors and why, potential risks or ambiguities, what’s missing that should be included, and how I might negotiate it to be more balanced. Clause: [paste clause]. Context: this is a [type of agreement] between [parties]. I represent [which party].“

3. Client Email — Case Update

“Draft a client update email. Client: [name/description]. Case: [brief description]. Update: [what happened — filing, hearing result, settlement offer, etc.]. Next steps: [what happens next]. The email should: explain the legal development in plain language (no jargon), be honest about both positive and negative aspects, clearly state what the client needs to do (if anything), and maintain a confident but realistic tone. Under 200 words.”

4. Demand Letter Framework

“Outline a demand letter for [type of claim]. Facts: [brief factual summary]. Damages: [what the client is seeking]. Structure it as: statement of representation, factual background (chronological), legal basis for the claim (general framework — I’ll add specific citations), damages calculation, demand and deadline, consequences of non-response. Tone: firm and professional, not threatening. Flag any areas where I need to add jurisdiction-specific law.”

5. Deposition Preparation

“I’m preparing to depose [role of witness — e.g., opposing party, expert witness, corporate representative] in a [type of case]. Key issues: [list 3-5 issues]. Generate: 15 deposition questions organized by topic, starting with background/foundation questions and building to the key admissions I need. For each question, note what I’m trying to establish. Include 3 follow-up questions for likely evasive answers. Flag questions that might draw objections.”

6. Motion Outline

“Outline a [type of motion — e.g., motion to dismiss, summary judgment, motion to compel] for [brief case description]. Include: the legal standard for this motion in general terms, the argument structure (3-4 main points), what facts support each argument, anticipated counterarguments and responses, and what evidence I should cite. Do NOT include case citations — I will research and add those. This is a structural outline, not a brief.”

7. Case Strategy Brainstorm

“I’m representing [plaintiff/defendant] in a [type of case]. Facts: [summary]. Strengths: [list]. Weaknesses: [list]. Help me think through: 3 possible litigation strategies with pros and cons of each, the strongest arguments for the opposing side (so I can prepare), potential settlement range considerations, key discovery I should pursue, and any creative legal theories I might be overlooking. Think like opposing counsel for the counterarguments.”

8. Legal Concept Explanation for Client

“Explain [legal concept — e.g., summary judgment, statute of limitations, fiduciary duty, discovery process] to a client who has no legal background. Use: plain English, a real-world analogy, and explain why it matters for their specific situation: [brief case context]. Under 150 words. The client should understand this after one read.”

9. Billing Entry Descriptions

“Rewrite these time entries to be more descriptive and client-friendly. Current entries: [paste entries]. For each entry: expand vague descriptions (‘research’ → ‘researched applicable statute of limitations for breach of contract claims in [state]’), ensure the client understands what work was done and why, and keep each entry under 2 lines. The entries should justify the time spent without over-explaining.”

10. Opposing Argument Analysis

“The opposing party is likely to argue [describe their expected argument]. Analyze: the strongest version of this argument (steelman it), the legal and factual weaknesses in their position, 3 specific counterarguments I can make, what evidence would undermine their argument, and any procedural or evidentiary issues I can raise. Be rigorous — I need to prepare for their best case, not their worst.”

The Lawyer’s AI Rule

Every output from these prompts is a starting point, not a finished product. AI doesn’t know your jurisdiction’s specific rules, your judge’s preferences, your client’s full situation, or the latest case law. Use it to think faster and draft faster — then apply your professional judgment to everything it produces.

The lawyers getting the most value from AI aren’t the ones who trust it the most. They’re the ones who use it the most while trusting it the least.

Related reading: 10 ChatGPT Prompts for Lawyers · AI for Deposition Preparation — Questions, Outlines, and Strategy · AI for Legal Billing — Write Time Entries Faster

🛠️ Need to draft a client email? Try our Client Email Drafter — free, no signup.