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30 ChatGPT Prompts for Legal Writing (Memorandums Made Memorable)

Gary Marcus
Gary Marcus
·

📖16 min read

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ChatGPT is transforming the way legal professionals work.

From brainstorming legal arguments to drafting court documents, analyzing case law, and even enhancing team communication—its potential is incredible.

However, with such a wide scope of possibilities, it can be tricky to figure out how best to utilize it.

That's the reason I put together this guide.

In this guide, using actual legal situations and numerous hours of experimenting with ChatGPT, I'll present reliable ChatGPT prompts for legal writing.

Let's begin.

Legal writing is a specific, formalized style of writing, used in legal documents and proceedings.

Understanding its basics is crucial for clear and effective communication.

ChatGPT can help you gain an understanding of legal writing's unique nuances, including the use of legal jargon, citation formats, and structuring arguments.

Just feed the model with the necessary information, and it can help simplify complex legal terminologies and understand the structure of legal documents.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal expert to help me understand the basics of legal writing.

Here are some legal documents and terminologies that I find confusing:

Legal documents can vary greatly in complexity and purpose.

With ChatGPT, you can understand different types of legal documents like contracts, wills, patents, or affidavits.

By feeding the AI with examples or descriptions of such documents, ChatGPT can help you learn their characteristics, purposes, and the legal jargon associated with them.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a legal expert, explain the different types of legal documents such as contracts, wills, patents, and affidavits.

Describe their purpose, key characteristics, and any specific legal terminology used in these documents.

ChatGPT can assist legal professionals in drafting legal memorandums.

This legal document summarizes the facts of a particular legal issue, presents the applicable laws, and suggests a course of action.

Provide ChatGPT with the key elements: factual background, legal issue(s) to be addressed, and the applicable law(s), and it will compose a preliminary legal memorandum.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a law clerk tasked with drafting a legal memorandum.

The client, a local restaurant, has been sued by a customer claiming food poisoning.

The legal issues to be addressed are: the restaurant's standard of care, and whether they breached it, potentially causing the illness.

Refer to the relevant health and safety regulations as the applicable law.

A legal brief can be a time-consuming task, but with ChatGPT's assistance, it can be streamlined.

Feed ChatGPT with the necessary case details, legal arguments, precedents, and desired outcomes.

It can help in drafting the brief and ensure important points are covered in a structured manner.

Always remember to edit and proofread the AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and relevance.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced attorney tasked with writing a legal brief.

Here are the details of our case:

Outline a case analysis

When dealing with legal writing, a case analysis can help understand the nuances of a court decision or legal precedent.

By feeding a case to ChatGPT, it can help you outline the key facts, identify the legal issues involved, understand the court's decision, and review the legal reasoning.

This can be used for learning, research, or preparing a legal argument.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assume the role of a law student and outline a case analysis for the following court decision: [Insert Case Details Here]

Identify the key facts, legal issues involved, the court's decision, and the legal reasoning behind it.

Draft a contract or agreement

Whether you're a lawyer drafting a contract, or a professional in need of a basic agreement, ChatGPT can assist you.

You can provide the essential details of the agreement, such as parties involved, scope of work, payment terms, and duration.

It will help you create a draft based on your inputs.

However, remember that any contract or agreement drafted by ChatGPT must be reviewed by a legal professional for accuracy and compliance with local laws.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal advisor and draft a basic contract for a graphic design service.

The parties involved are Company A and Freelancer B.

The scope of work includes designing a logo, payment is $500 upon completion, and the duration is one month.

Write a demand letter

In the field of legal writing, ChatGPT can assist in drafting demand letters.

These are typically sent to resolve a dispute before it reaches court, outlining the facts of the case and the demands or resolutions sought.

Simply provide the details of the dispute and the desired outcome, and let ChatGPT draft a professional and persuasive demand letter.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced legal writer, I need to draft a demand letter.

The dispute involves a client who has not received payment for a freelance web design project completed two months ago.

The client wants to demand $5000, which is the agreed payment for the project.

Legal writing requires a structured approach and careful wording, and ChatGPT can assist you in developing a persuasive legal argument.

Simply feed the AI with the relevant facts of the case, the legal question at hand, and any legal principles or precedents applicable.

ChatGPT can then use its vast language modeling to structure and draft a persuasive legal argument on the provided topic.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced legal professional and develop a persuasive argument based on the following facts and legal principles.

The facts of the case are...

The legal question to be answered is...

The legal principles or precedents to be considered are...

Research and incorporate relevant case law

When it comes to legal writing, it's crucial to reference relevant case law to support arguments and provide context.

ChatGPT can assist by researching and incorporating pertinent case law references into your work.

You provide the topic, and ChatGPT will generate case law examples related to that topic.

This will help ensure your legal documents are comprehensive and authoritative.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced legal researcher, I'm writing a paper on intellectual property rights infringement.

Find and provide a brief summary of three relevant case law examples that can support my argument.

Legal citation rules are critical for legal writing, and the failure to apply them correctly can lead to confusion and undermine credibility.

ChatGPT can assist in understanding and applying these citation rules based on the Bluebook or ALWD guidelines.

Whether it's a court document, a research paper, or a legal analysis, simply provide the information that needs to be cited, and ChatGPT will format it according to the legal citation rules.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an expert in legal writing, I need you to assist me in applying the correct citation rules.

I am writing a legal research paper and need to cite the following cases and statutes according to the Bluebook guidelines:

Write a summary judgment motion

ChatGPT is capable of drafting a basic summary judgment motion for you, given the necessary legal context and facts of the case.

This AI can generate the motion based on the details you provide, incorporating essential legal terms and standard motion structure.

However, remember to review and revise the draft as necessary, since AI can't replace a professional legal counsel.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assume the role of an attorney and draft a motion for summary judgment.

The case involves a breach of contract where the defendant failed to deliver goods as agreed in the contract.

Here are the pertinent facts of the case:

ChatGPT can assist you in understanding complex legal statutes.

Simply feed it the specific statutes you wish to analyze, and it can break it down into digestible parts.

It can also interpret the legal language used, making it easier for non-lawyers to comprehend the implications of the statute.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT to interpret a particular clause or term used in a law.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced legal expert and help interpret the following legal statute.

Translate the jargon into simple language while retaining the essence of the law.

Here is the statute to be analyzed and interpreted:

Create a deed or will

Creating a deed or will can be a complex process that requires attention to detail and a good understanding of legal terminology.

With ChatGPT, you can generate a basic draft of a deed or will by feeding it with necessary details like the individual's assets, beneficiaries, and specific wishes.

However, it's important to note that this should only be used as a starting point and the actual document should be reviewed by a lawyer.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal advisor tasked with drafting a basic will.

The client is a single mother with two children and she wants to split her assets equally between them.

Additionally, she wishes to leave some of her estate to her favorite charity.

Draft a will based on these instructions.

Legal writing can be complex and time-consuming, but with ChatGPT, you can create a draft of a legal complaint or petition.

Input the key facts of your case, the parties involved, the alleged violation, and your legal claims, and ChatGPT will use this data to draft a preliminary document.

Remember that this AI-generated document should only be used as a starting point and should be reviewed by a professional lawyer.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assume the role of a lawyer and draft a legal complaint on behalf of a client.

The client's name is John Doe, who is alleging that his employer, XYZ Corporation, has violated his rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay overtime wages.

Here are the facts of the case:

ChatGPT can assist you in drafting a legal opinion letter.

Legal opinion letters are used to provide a professional opinion on a specific legal issue.

You need to provide ChatGPT with the facts of the case, the specific legal question, and any relevant legal principles or precedents.

Remember to make it clear that this is a simulated response and not actual legal advice.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal professional to draft a legal opinion letter regarding the following situation:

Our client, a tech startup, has been threatened with a patent infringement lawsuit by a rival company.

The patent relates to a specific method of data encryption.

Our client believes their method is sufficiently different and wants to continue using it.

Please provide your opinion, based on these facts, the legal issue at hand, and any relevant legal principles or precedents.

Draft a settlement agreement

ChatGPT can assist you in creating a preliminary draft of a settlement agreement.

By inputting the key details of the dispute, the parties involved, and the proposed terms of the settlement, ChatGPT can provide a starting point for your settlement agreement.

Remember, this should be used as a starting point and does not replace the need for legal advice.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal writer and draft a basic settlement agreement.

The dispute involves Party A and Party B over an intellectual property infringement issue.

The proposed settlement includes Party B ceasing all infringing activities and paying Party A an agreed sum as compensation.

Understanding and correctly using legal jargon can be a daunting task.

However, with ChatGPT, you can simplify this process by asking it to incorporate legal terms into your writing appropriately.

Whether you're drafting a contract, a legal brief, or a letter, you can ensure your language is legally sound.

Just provide the context or the document type, and ChatGPT will assist you with the suitable legal terminology.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assist in drafting a legal letter with the appropriate use of legal jargon.

The letter is to be sent to a landlord regarding a breach of tenancy agreement.

Here are the key points to be included:

Using AI like ChatGPT to edit and revise legal documents can provide an additional layer of accuracy and clarity.

It can help you identify vague terms, redundancy, and grammatical errors, enhancing the readability of the document.

Moreover, it can suggest more precise legal terms to improve the document's overall quality.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a proficient legal advisor, revise and edit this legal document for better clarity and accuracy.

Ensure it's free from any errors and ambiguities, and provide suggestions for more precise legal terms where necessary.

Here's the document to be reviewed:

Maintaining the integrity of legal writing is critical.

One must avoid plagiarism and respect confidentiality at all times.

ChatGPT can help in this process by providing guidance on how to appropriately paraphrase legal terminology or concepts, ensuring that content is original.

Additionally, it can assist in removing confidential information from legal documents that need to be made public.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced legal professional, provide tips on how to paraphrase these legal terms to avoid plagiarism.

Also, identify and replace the confidential information in the following legal document.

Legal writing, while technical, needs to be underpinned by ethical considerations.

ChatGPT can help identify and apply these considerations.

Feed it with various legal documents and ask it to ensure that the content adheres to the principles of integrity, honesty, and fairness.

ChatGPT can also help in avoiding any misleading statements and ensuring full disclosure where necessary.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a legal professional, ensure that the provided legal document upholds the principles of integrity, honesty, and fairness.

Point out any potentially misleading statements and suggest changes for full disclosure.

Here is the document to be reviewed:

Write an affidavit

Legal writing can be complex and requires a strict adherence to formality.

ChatGPT can help by drafting an affidavit, which is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, often used as evidence in court.

Just provide it with the relevant legal facts and instruct it to formulate an affidavit.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a knowledgeable legal writer, tasked with drafting an affidavit for a client who is declaring their residence for an upcoming court case.

The client, John Doe, lives at 123 Main Street, Anytown, Anystate, 12345.

He has lived there continuously since January 1, 2000.

Write the affidavit.

Develop a compelling opening and closing statement for court

ChatGPT can aid in forming persuasive opening and closing statements for court proceedings.

It can take the details of the case, the main arguments, and the desired outcome to produce a compelling narrative.

Whether you’re a seasoned attorney in need of a fresh perspective or a law student preparing for a mock trial, ChatGPT can provide assistance.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced attorney and craft a compelling opening and closing statement for court.

The case involves a breach of contract dispute between two businesses over a failed delivery of goods.

Our client is the business who did not receive the promised goods.

Here are the facts of the case:

When dealing with legal matters, crafting a persuasive appeal is crucial.

ChatGPT can assist you in writing an appeal.

Whether it's for a civil case or a criminal appeal, you can feed ChatGPT the case's basic facts, the points of law you want to challenge, and the desired outcome.

ChatGPT can then generate an appeal draft that upholds your case.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a legal professional, draft an appeal for the following case.

The appellant was convicted on the grounds of fraudulent business practices.

He contends that the evidence was insufficient and that the court's interpretation of the law was incorrect.

The desired outcome is to overturn the conviction.

Understand the structure and format of court documents

When it comes to legal writing, understanding the structure and format of court documents is crucial.

ChatGPT can assist by providing an overview of how typical court documents are structured.

Feed it with the type of document you're working on (e.g., a Motion, a Brief, or a Complaint), and it can guide you on the various sections to include and how to format them.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced legal writer to describe the structure and format of a typical court document, for instance, a Complaint.

Legal writing can often be complex and difficult to understand for those without a legal background.

ChatGPT can assist by translating legal terminologies and concepts into simpler language.

You can ask ChatGPT to explain a legal document, terms, or principles in plain English, ensuring that non-legal audiences understand the content.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal expert and translate the following legal statement into simple, understandable language for non-legal audiences: The defendant is liable for breaching the covenant of good faith and fair dealing inherent in the contract.

Legal writing can often be complex and difficult to understand for non-lawyers.

But with ChatGPT, you can draft clear, concise, and professional legal letters or emails.

Just provide the necessary details like the purpose of the letter/email, recipient information, and any specific legal jargon or terms to be included.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced attorney, draft a professional, clear and concise legal letter to a client informing them about the recent changes in the laws that affect their business.

Ensure to explain the implications of these changes in simple language.

Here are the details of the law changes:

Draft a power of attorney document

ChatGPT can assist you in drafting a power of attorney document, which is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs.

Please remember that legal writing, especially concerning power of attorney, can vary based on your location and specific needs.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assist me in drafting a power of attorney document.

I, the principal, want to grant my daughter, the agent, the authority to manage my financial affairs, including banking transactions, real estate management, and tax filing, should I become incapacitated.

Develop privacy policies and terms of service documents

ChatGPT can aid in the development of privacy policies and terms of service documents by providing drafts based on industry standards and best practices.

Input legal requirements and conditions, and the AI can generate a comprehensive, clear, and legally compliant document.

However, remember that ChatGPT is not a licensed attorney, and its outputs should be used as a starting point only.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Create a draft for a privacy policy and terms of service for a new online e-commerce store, considering best practices and common legal requirements for such a platform.

Write a bill of sale

ChatGPT can assist in drafting a basic bill of sale for various transactions, from buying a car to selling a piece of art.

It can help you outline the necessary details like the purchase price, description of the item, and the parties involved.

Remember, any legal document prepared with ChatGPT should be reviewed by a legal professional to ensure accuracy and legal validity.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a legal expert and help me draft a bill of sale.

The item being sold is a 2010 Honda Civic, the seller is John Doe and the buyer is Jane Smith.

The agreed purchase price is $5,000.

Draft a non-disclosure agreement.

ChatGPT can help you draft a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

With its understanding of complex legal terminology, it can provide you with a rough draft of an NDA, which you can further customize to your specific needs.

It's important to note that the draft provided by ChatGPT should be reviewed and approved by a legal professional before it is used.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a skilled legal professional and draft a non-disclosure agreement between two parties: Party A (the disclosing party) and Party B (the receiving party).

The agreement should cover the confidentiality of proprietary information, the scope of the confidentiality obligation, and the potential consequences of breach.

 

Conclusion

Wow! We've traversed a vast terrain.

From creating legal briefs to formulating legal arguments, synthesizing court rulings, and interpreting complex laws, ChatGPT is revolutionizing every part of legal writing.

It’s your trusty aide when you’re in a bind, your calculator for intricate legal interpretations, and your thinking partner for innovative problem-solving.

But let's not forget:

ChatGPT is an instrument, not a substitute for your legal expertise. Combine its capabilities with your own knowledge to unleash truly influential outcomes.

Now the ball is in your court.

Choose a couple of prompts from this guide and implement them in your next case, legal research, or team meeting. You might just be astonished at how much more efficient—and inventive—you become.

And if you’re eager to discover even more potent tools that surpass ChatGPT, examine Galaxy.ai.

With every AI tool under one roof, it’s the ultimate efficiency partner for today's legal professionals.

Happy legal writing! 🚀