Most “ChatGPT prompts for lawyers” articles give you generic templates that produce generic output. I built these differently — each prompt is designed for a specific task practicing lawyers actually do, with enough structure to get output that’s genuinely useful (not just technically correct but practically useless). They won’t replace legal judgment, but they’ll save hours on drafting, research summaries, and client communication.

1. Client Email — Case Update

“Write a professional email to a client updating them on their [type of case]. The key update is [update]. Next steps are [steps]. Tone: reassuring but factual. Under 150 words.”

2. Legal Memo Summary

“Summarize the following legal memo in plain language for a non-lawyer client. Keep it under 200 words. Highlight the key conclusion and what it means for their case: [paste memo or key points]“

3. Demand Letter Draft

“Draft a demand letter for [situation — e.g., breach of contract, unpaid invoice, property damage]. Amount demanded: $[X]. Include a deadline of [X] days. Professional and firm tone. Reference that further legal action may follow if unresolved.”

4. Deposition Question Prep

“Generate 15 deposition questions for a [type of case] case. The deponent is [role — opposing party, witness, expert]. Focus areas: [list 2-3 topics]. Mix open-ended and specific questions. Organize by topic.”

5. Contract Clause Explanation

“Explain this contract clause in plain English. What does it mean for my client? What are the risks? What should I negotiate? Clause: [paste clause]“

6. Case Law Research Starting Point

“I’m researching [legal issue] in [jurisdiction]. Give me 5 key legal concepts I should research, relevant statutes to look up, and suggested search terms for Westlaw/LexisNexis. This is a starting point — I’ll verify everything.”

Important: Always verify AI-generated case citations. AI frequently fabricates case names and citations.

7. Client Intake Summary

“Based on these intake notes, write a structured case summary: [paste notes]. Include: parties involved, key facts, legal issues identified, potential claims, and recommended next steps. Format as bullet points.”

8. Motion Outline

“Create an outline for a motion to [type — dismiss, compel, summary judgment] in a [type of case] case. Include: introduction, statement of facts, legal standard, argument sections, and conclusion. Don’t write the full motion — just the outline with key points for each section.”

9. Billing Description

“Write professional time entry descriptions for these tasks: [list tasks — e.g., reviewed discovery documents, drafted motion, client phone call]. Each should be one sentence, specific enough to justify the time, and follow standard billing conventions.”

10. Opposing Argument Anticipation

“I’m arguing [your position] in a [type of case]. What are the 5 strongest arguments the opposing side will make? For each, suggest a counter-argument. Be specific to [jurisdiction] law where possible.”

Important Disclaimers

• Never submit AI output without review. AI makes errors, fabricates citations, and misses nuances.
• Don’t paste confidential client information into public AI tools. Use enterprise versions with data privacy agreements.
• AI is a drafting assistant, not a legal advisor. Your judgment is irreplaceable.

Related reading: 10 ChatGPT Prompts for Lawyers · AI for Legal Document Drafting — Contracts, Letters, and Motions · 10 AI Prompts for Contract Review

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