Legal AI Prompt Library
Curated AI prompts for paralegals and legal professionals. Copy, customize, and enhance your workflow.
Contract Clause Analysis
Contract review
Analyze the following contract clause for potential risks, ambiguities, and one-sided provisions. Identify any terms that may be unfavorable to [Client Type] and suggest alternative language: [Paste clause here]
Legal Research Summary
Case preparation
Provide a comprehensive legal research summary on [Topic] under [Jurisdiction] law. Include: (1) relevant statutes and regulations, (2) key case law with citations, (3) current legal standards, and (4) any recent developments or pending legislation. Format as a memo suitable for attorney review.
Deposition Question Generator
Discovery prep
Generate a comprehensive list of deposition questions for a [Witness Role] witness in a [Case Type] case. Focus on: (1) establishing foundation and credibility, (2) timeline of events, (3) key factual disputes, and (4) potential impeachment areas. Organize by topic.
Motion Draft Outline
Motion drafting
Create a detailed outline for a [Motion Type] in a [Case Type] matter. Include: (1) statement of issues, (2) relevant facts, (3) applicable legal standards with citations, (4) argument structure, and (5) requested relief. Use [Jurisdiction] procedural rules.
Client Intake Checklist
New client onboarding
Generate a comprehensive client intake checklist for a new [Practice Area] matter. Include: (1) required documents, (2) key questions to ask, (3) conflict check items, (4) fee agreement considerations, and (5) deadline tracking requirements.
Discovery Response Review
Discovery analysis
Review the following discovery responses for completeness and potential issues. Flag: (1) incomplete or evasive answers, (2) improper objections, (3) missing documents, and (4) inconsistencies with prior statements. Suggest follow-up discovery if needed. [Paste responses]
Legal Brief Argument Strengthening
Brief enhancement
Strengthen the following legal argument by: (1) identifying weaknesses, (2) anticipating counterarguments, (3) adding supporting authority, (4) improving logical flow, and (5) enhancing persuasive language while maintaining professional tone. [Paste argument]
Case Timeline Builder
Case organization
Create a detailed chronological timeline based on the following facts/documents. For each event include: date, description, source document, significance to the case, and potential evidentiary issues. Identify any gaps in the timeline. [Paste facts]
Contract Comparison
Contract negotiation
Compare the following two contract versions and create a redline summary. Identify: (1) all material changes, (2) newly added provisions, (3) deleted terms, (4) changes in liability allocation, and (5) modifications to key commercial terms. [Version 1] [Version 2]
Legal Letter Drafting
Correspondence
Draft a [Letter Type] letter to [Recipient] regarding [Matter]. The letter should: (1) clearly state the purpose, (2) reference relevant facts and law, (3) specify required action, (4) set appropriate deadlines, and (5) preserve client rights. Tone: [Firm/Cooperative].
Statute of Limitations Check
Case evaluation
Analyze the applicable statute of limitations for a [Claim Type] claim in [Jurisdiction]. Include: (1) standard limitation period, (2) accrual rules, (3) tolling exceptions, (4) discovery rules, and (5) any recent case law affecting limitations analysis.
Jury Instruction Research
Trial prep
Research and compile relevant jury instructions for a [Case Type] trial in [Jurisdiction]. Include: (1) standard instructions, (2) elements instructions, (3) burden of proof, (4) damages instructions, and (5) any special instructions warranted by case facts.
Due Diligence Checklist
M&A/Transactions
Create a comprehensive due diligence checklist for a [Transaction Type] involving [Industry]. Cover: (1) corporate documents, (2) material contracts, (3) intellectual property, (4) litigation/regulatory, (5) employment matters, (6) real estate, and (7) financial information.
Witness Interview Preparation
Witness prep
Prepare a witness interview outline for [Witness Role] in [Case Type]. Include: (1) rapport-building questions, (2) background/foundation, (3) substantive questions by topic, (4) document review list, and (5) credibility assessment points.
Legal Citation Formatter
Brief editing
Convert the following legal citations to proper [Bluebook/ALWD/Local Rule] format. Flag any incomplete citations requiring additional information and identify the type of authority (primary/secondary, binding/persuasive). [Paste citations]
AI Prompt Engineering for Legal Professionals
Expert Industry Guide
Large language models are transforming legal practice, offering paralegals and attorneys powerful tools for research, drafting, and analysis. Effective prompt engineering is the key to unlocking AI's potential while maintaining the precision legal work demands.
Prompt Engineering for Legal Work
Legal prompts require specificity: jurisdiction, practice area, and desired format. Vague prompts yield generic outputs unsuitable for professional use. Include context about the matter, specify the audience (court, opposing counsel, client), and define the deliverable format.
Maintaining Professional Standards
AI outputs require careful review. Always verify citations—AI can generate plausible but fictional case citations. Check statutory references against current versions. Ensure advice aligns with local rules and ethical obligations. AI assists but never replaces professional judgment.
Iterative Refinement
Complex legal analysis benefits from multi-step prompting. Start with issue identification, then research each issue separately, and finally synthesize findings. This approach produces more thorough, accurate results than single comprehensive prompts.
Confidentiality Considerations
Before using AI with client matter details, understand your firm's policies and ethics obligations. Consider sanitizing identifying information. Many jurisdictions are developing guidance on AI use in legal practice—stay current with developments.
Building Your Prompt Library
Develop and refine prompts for recurring tasks. Document what works. Share effective prompts with colleagues. A well-curated prompt library becomes a valuable practice asset, enabling consistent quality and efficiency gains.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult with qualified professionals for specific guidance related to your situation.