If you're a lawyer who hasn't seriously tried using ChatGPT in your practice yet, you're leaving significant time on the table. The attorneys seeing the biggest gains aren't using AI to replace their judgment — they're using it to eliminate the tedious first-draft work that eats hours every week.
These 15 prompts are organized by task type. Copy them directly into ChatGPT, customize the bracketed fields, and see the difference in your first session.
Contract Drafting & Review
1. Contract clause analysis
"Review the following contract clause and identify any ambiguous language, potential risks for my client [CLIENT ROLE], and suggest clearer alternative language: [PASTE CLAUSE]"
2. NDA first draft
"Draft a mutual non-disclosure agreement between [PARTY A] and [PARTY B] for the purpose of [PURPOSE]. Include standard confidentiality obligations, a [X]-year term, and carve-outs for publicly available information."
3. Redline summary
"Here are two versions of a contract clause. Summarize the key differences, flag any changes that materially shift risk, and identify which version is more favorable for [MY CLIENT]: [PASTE BOTH VERSIONS]"
Client Communication
4. Demand letter opener
"Write a professional demand letter opening paragraph on behalf of [CLIENT NAME] to [RECIPIENT] regarding [ISSUE]. Tone should be firm but not inflammatory. Avoid legal jargon the recipient may not understand."
5. Settlement offer explanation
"Explain the following settlement offer to my client in plain English. Summarize what they would receive, what they'd give up, and the key risks of accepting vs. rejecting: [PASTE OFFER TERMS]"
6. Client status update email
"Write a brief status update email to my client explaining that their case is in the [STAGE] phase, the next step is [NEXT STEP], and the expected timeline is [TIMELINE]. Keep it under 150 words and avoid alarming language."
Legal Research & Memos
7. Case law summary
"Summarize the key holdings of [CASE NAME] in plain language. Explain how it has been applied in subsequent cases and its relevance to situations involving [LEGAL ISSUE]."
8. Argument outline
"Outline the strongest arguments for and against [LEGAL POSITION] in a [JURISDICTION] court. Include key cases, statutes, and counterarguments I should be prepared to address."
9. Memo first draft
"Draft a legal memorandum analyzing whether [CLIENT SITUATION] constitutes [LEGAL ISSUE] under [STATE] law. Include an issue statement, brief answer, facts section, analysis, and conclusion."
Deposition & Discovery
10. Deposition question bank
"Generate 20 deposition questions for a witness who is [WITNESS ROLE] in a [CASE TYPE] matter. Focus on establishing [KEY FACTS] and probing [POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES]."
11. Interrogatory responses (draft)
"Draft responses to the following interrogatories on behalf of my client [CLIENT]. Responses should be factually accurate based on the information provided, and include standard objections where appropriate: [PASTE INTERROGATORIES + CLIENT FACTS]"
Business & Transactional Work
12. Term sheet summary
"Summarize this term sheet in bullet points. Highlight the key deal terms, any unusual or potentially problematic provisions, and questions I should clarify before advising my client to proceed: [PASTE TERM SHEET]"
13. Due diligence checklist
"Generate a due diligence checklist for a [DEAL TYPE] transaction in [INDUSTRY]. Organize by category (corporate, IP, employment, financial, regulatory) and flag items that are commonly overlooked."
Productivity & Practice Management
14. Meeting notes to action items
"Convert these client meeting notes into a structured summary with: (1) key decisions made, (2) open issues to resolve, (3) action items with owner and deadline. Notes: [PASTE NOTES]"
15. Billing narrative
"Write a professional billing narrative for the following work performed: [DESCRIBE WORK]. It should be specific enough to justify the hours billed but concise enough to avoid client pushback. Time spent: [X hours]."
The Takeaway
These prompts work best as starting points. The more context you give ChatGPT — your client's situation, the jurisdiction, the specific facts — the better the output. Think of it as briefing a very fast, very available junior associate.
If you want a complete set of 50+ attorney-tested prompts organized by practice area, along with prompt chains for complex multi-step workflows, check out The Lawyer's ChatGPT Prompt Pack — built specifically for legal professionals.