25 AI Starter Prompts for Lawyers
AI may be new territory, but you know the work you need to get done foryour clients. The key to great AI assistance is giving the tool enough context to support the task in front of you.
That doesn’t require memorising special commands or technical expertise; just a clear description of the outcome you’re looking for and the details that matter.
Use the prompts below as a starting point. Customise them to fit your practice, your clients, and your firm's workflows - don't be afraid to experiment.
Email & Communication
1. Summarise an Email Chain
Summarise this email chain and identify any decisions, deadlines, and action items.
2. Draft a Client Update
Draft a professional client update explaining the status of this matter in plain English.
3. Rewrite for Clarity
Rewrite the following email to make it more concise and professional.
4. Draft a Follow-Up Email
Create a follow-up email based on the information below.
5. Explain a Complex Concept
Rewrite this explanation in language a client with no legal background can easily understand.
Meeting Notes & Summaries
6. Create a Meeting Summary
Turn these notes into a meeting summary with key discussion points, decisions, and next steps.
7. Identify Action Items
Review these notes and create a list of action items, organised by priority.
8. Create a Team Update
Convert these meeting notes into a brief update for the rest of the team.
9. Summarise a Client Call
Summarise the key takeaways from this client call and identify any follow-up tasks.
10. OrganisSe Notes
Organise these notes into categories and remove duplicate information.
Organisation & Productivity
11. Create a Checklist
Create a checklist for opening a new [practice area] matter.
12. Create a Timeline
Create a chronological timeline from the information below.
13. Prioritise Tasks
Review this list of tasks and organise them by urgency and importance.
14. Create a Project Plan
Create a step-by-step project plan based on the following objective.
15. Organise Information
Review this information and group it into logical categories.
Research & Learning
16. Explain a Concept
Explain [topic] in simple terms as if you were teaching it to someone unfamiliar with the subject.
17. Create a Research Starting Point
Based on these facts, identify issues that may require further research.
18. Compare Two Concepts
Explain the difference between [Concept A] and [Concept B].
19. Create an Outline
Create an outline for researching thistopic.
20. Summarise an Article
Summarise the key points from this article in five bullet points.
Drafting & Content Creation
21. Create a First Draft
Draft a first version of the following communication using the information provided.
22. Create an Agenda
Create an agenda for a meeting about thefollowing topic.
23. Draft an Internal Process
Create a step-by-step process documentbased on the following workflow.
24. Brainstorm Ideas
Generate 10 ideas for improving thefollowing process.
25. Create Frequently Asked Questions
Create a list of FAQs and answers based onthe information below.
Pro Tips for Better Results
Be Specific
Instead of:
❌ "Write an email."
Try:
✅ "Write a professional follow-up email to a client after a mediation, summarising next steps."
Provide Context
The more information you provide, thebetter the response is likely to be.
Instead of:
❌ "Create achecklist."
Try:
✅ "Create achecklist for onboarding a new willsand estates planning client."
Ask for a Format
Tell AI how you want the informationorganized.
Examples:
- "Put this into a table."
- "Summarise in bullet points."
- "Create a timeline."
- "Provide a numbered list."
- "Organise by priority"
Always review and verify:
- Legal citations
- Case law
- Legislation
- Court rules and procedural requirements
- Client-facing communications
- Matter-specific facts
AI is a powerful assistant, butprofessional legal judgment remains essential.
Start small, experiment often, and look for opportunities to save time on the work you're already doing every day.
