The Ultimate Guide to ChatGPT for Lawyers: Tips, Prompts, & Use Cases
AI tools such as ChatGPT are creating a stir in the legal community. According to the Legal Industry Report 2024, almost a quarter (24%) of law firms have implemented legal-specific generative artificial intelligence (GAI) capabilities. Survey respondents acknowledged that they use GAI to streamline company activities ranging from marketing content creation to finding relevant regulations.
Lawyers who have chosen not to employ GAI have mentioned three main reasons: they want to learn more about the technology, they have ethical issues, or they don’t trust AI results.
These fears are well-founded. Every software investment necessitates time-consuming investigation, comparison, and evaluation. GAI tools are sophisticated and poorly understood due to their early stage of development.
They also have known hazards, and failing to manage them can have negative consequences for their reputation.
Still, the productivity advantages of AI software for lawyers are clear. GAI may free lawyers from regular tasks, allowing them to concentrate on higher-level legal strategy. That’s an appealing value proposition, especially because the tools are free or inexpensive.
This guide discusses the fundamentals of ChatGPT for lawyers and the potential influence AI will have on attorneys. Read on to learn how to utilize ChatGPT, the risks and limitations of GAI, the principles of excellent GAI prompt writing, and sample prompts you can attempt right away.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can engage in human-like conversations using voice and text prompts. OpenAI, a San Francisco, California-based technology startup, developed and manages the bot.
LLMs power ChatGPT and other similar tools. LLMs are algorithms based on linguistic patterns. Patterns are discovered by examining large amounts of text and continually attempting to anticipate the next word in a sentence. According to TechRadar, one of ChatGPT’s models received 570 GB of material from online books and articles, websites, and social media.
Why Law Firms Need AI Now?
The legal industry is evolving rapidly, with clients increasingly expecting instant answers rather than navigating contact forms. Generative AI, like ChatGPT and GPT-4, offers law firms innovative tools to meet these demands, from answering queries to generating content. This guide explores how AI can transform law firm websites.
Also read: Boost Law Firm Website Traffic Without a Big Budget
How Can Lawyers Use ChatGPT: Common Use Cases
Despite its flaws, ChatGPT for lawyers can be an effective resource. The key is understanding when to use GAI’s capabilities and how to control its results. The following are six popular ways to use ChatGPT for lawyers.
- Legal document creation, modification, and summarization (C).There is a lot of discussion in the business about adopting ChatGPT for legal papers. With a specific prompt or sequence of prompts, the program can swiftly generate, edit, or summarize papers. Any output should be carefully scrutinized before usage.
- Conducting legal research and discovery. ChatGPT legal research can summarize cases, legislation, deposition transcripts, and court pleadings.
- Transcribing audio and video recordings. Add-on tools and access to GPT-4 allow you to upload and transcribe audio and video files.
- Assisting in client communications. ChatGPT can quickly generate drafts of client emails.
- Analyzing case details and forecasting results. AI-powered projections of case outcomes can help guide case strategy.
- Drafting marketing content. Small businesses who do not have a marketing copywriter on staff might use ChatGPT to create material for marketing assets.
What Are Some Risks and Limitations with ChatGPT?
It Can Be Wrong
ChatGPT sounds confident, but it doesn’t always give accurate info. It might make up facts, laws, or cases. Always double-check.
No Legal Training
It’s not a lawyer. It doesn’t understand legal ethics, strategy, or local rules. Don’t treat it like a legal expert.
Outdated Knowledge
ChatGPT doesn’t always know the latest laws or court decisions. Its info may be months or even years old.
No Client Confidentiality
Don’t give it private client info. It’s not covered by attorney-client privilege, and that could risk data exposure.
Lacks Judgment
It doesn’t think like a human. It can’t weigh risks, understand nuance, or give professional legal advice.
Overuse Can Be Risky
If you rely on it too much, you might miss important legal details or make mistakes that hurt your client.
Sometimes Biased or Inappropriate
It might reflect bias or produce weird or offensive content. Always review before using.
Also read: 5 Reasons Your Law Firm Website Isn’t Generating Leads
8 Steps to Creating Strong ChatGPT Prompts
1. Tell ChatGPT What Format You Want
Be clear about how you want the answer to look.
Want bullet points? A list? A paragraph? A table? A formal letter?
Example:
“List 5 legal marketing tips in bullet points.”
Why it matters: ChatGPT can give better answers when it knows the format and level of detail you’re looking for.
2. Give It a Role to Play
Tell ChatGPT to act like a certain type of expert—like a lawyer, a legal assistant, a judge, or a client.
Example:
“Act like a senior lawyer and explain this contract clause in simple terms.”
Why it matters: Giving it a role helps shape the tone and depth of the response. You’ll get something that fits your needs more closely.
3. Give All the Important Info
The more background you give, the better the answer.
Include what kind of case it is, what you want to do, your location (if laws vary), and who the audience is.
Example:
“I’m writing a letter to a client explaining the risks of a settlement offer in a personal injury case in California.”
Why it matters: Context helps the AI stay relevant and accurate. It’s like giving directions—you get better results if you explain where you’re going.
4. Don’t Include Private or Sensitive Info
Never share real names, case numbers, or confidential client details.
Keep it general if needed.
Example:
Instead of: “What should I tell John Smith about his DUI case?”
Say: “What should I tell a client about a first-time DUI case in Florida?”
Why it matters: Protects your client’s privacy and your professional ethics.
5. Split Complex Tasks Into Smaller Steps
Break big tasks into pieces.
Instead of asking for everything at once, ask one thing at a time.
Example:
First ask: “Can you check this text for grammar?”
Then: “Now rewrite it in a more professional tone.”
Why it matters: ChatGPT works better when it focuses on one task at a time. You’ll get more polished results this way.
6. Ask Follow-Up Questions
Don’t stop at the first answer.
Ask follow-up questions to make the result better—ask to add, remove, simplify, or explain more.
Example:
“Can you simplify this for a non-lawyer?”
“Can you add bullet points?”
“Can you give an example for each point?”
Why it matters: ChatGPT gets smarter the more you interact with it. Refining the answer makes it more useful.
7. Ask for Sources (and Double-Check Them)
You can ask for legal references or case law. But remember: ChatGPT sometimes makes up sources, so you still need to verify.
Example:
“Give me five case law examples about negligence in New York. Include sources.”
Why it matters: ChatGPT might make up sources (called “hallucinations”). Use its ideas as a starting point, not the final word.
8. Edit and Make It Your Own
ChatGPT can save time, but it’s not perfect.
Always read, correct, and adjust the answer before using it in real work.
Example:
Use the AI’s draft to save time, but add your insights, tailor it to the case, and check for accuracy.
Why it matters: You’re still the expert. AI helps you work faster—but you’re responsible for the final product.
Also read: Why Local Citations Are Critical for Law Firm SEO
Sample ChatGPT Prompts for Lawyers with Examples
1. Draft a Legal Memo
Prompt:
“You are a legal assistant. Please draft a concise legal memo summarizing the key points of a breach of contract case involving delayed delivery of goods under California law.”
Example Output:
A memo that explains breach of contract elements, relevant California statutes, facts of the delay, and potential remedies.
2. Review and Edit Contract Language
Prompt:
“Act as a contract specialist. Review the following clause for clarity and legal strength, and suggest improvements: ‘The supplier will deliver goods on time. Failure to deliver may result in penalties.’”
Example Output:
An improved clause like:
“The supplier shall deliver the goods by the agreed delivery date. Failure to deliver within this timeframe shall incur liquidated damages of 5% of the contract value per week of delay.”
3. Summarize Case Law
Prompt:
“Summarize the key holding and facts of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison.”
Example Output:
A brief summary highlighting judicial review establishment and case background.
4. Generate Client Communication
Prompt:
“Write a professional but empathetic email to a client explaining a delay in their case due to court scheduling issues.”
Example Output:
A clear, courteous email that manages client expectations and reassures them.
5. Legal Research Assistance
Prompt:
“Provide an overview of recent changes in employment law regarding remote work policies in New York State.”
Example Output:
A summary of relevant statutes, recent amendments, and practical implications for employers.
6. Create Compliance Checklists
Prompt:
“Create a checklist for law firms to ensure compliance with GDPR when handling client data.”
Example Output:
A step-by-step checklist covering data collection, storage, consent, breach notification, and training.
7. Prepare Deposition Questions
Prompt:
“Generate a list of 10 deposition questions for a witness in a personal injury case involving a car accident.”
Example Output:
Questions about the accident details, witness observations, injuries, and medical treatment.
8. Simplify Legal Jargon
Prompt:
“Explain the term ‘res judicata’ in plain English suitable for a client without legal background.”
Example Output:
“Res judicata means that once a court has decided a case, the same issue can’t be tried again between the same parties.”
Also read: How to Rank #1 on Google for ‘Lawyer Near Me’ in Your City
10 Smart Ways Law Firms Can Use ChatGPT
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Legal Blog Writing | Create SEO-rich posts in minutes |
| Drafting Legal FAQs | Auto-generate answers based on practice areas |
| Client Pre-Screening | Ask key questions before consultations |
| Appointment Scheduling | Guide users to the right forms/pages |
| Internal Document Summaries | Summarize case docs, emails, and reports |
| Practice Area Pages | Help create service page content |
| Legal Terminology Explainers | Simplify jargon for website users |
| AI-driven Email Campaigns | Draft personalized legal newsletters |
| SEO Meta Data Optimization | Improve title/meta for blogs |
| Live Chatbot Assistant | Offer human-like responses on-site |
These applications save time, enhance client experience, and boost SEO performance. For location-specific strategies, see our local SEO tips for Alabama law firms.
Internal Link: Local SEO Tips for Alabama Law Firms
ChatGPT vs Other Legal Chat Tools: A Comparison Table
| Feature | ChatGPT | Smith.ai | LawDroid | Custom Chatbot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-powered | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Legal Knowledge | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Customizable Tone | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cost-effective | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ❌ |
ChatGPT excels in AI-driven capabilities and cost-effectiveness, offering robust legal knowledge and customizable responses. Smith.ai blends AI with human oversight but is pricier.
LawDroid is legal-specific but less flexible in tone. Custom chatbots vary widely in quality and cost. For more on competitors, visit Smith.ai or explore LawDroid.
Also read: The Best AI Tools for Lawyers
Pros & Cons: Is ChatGPT Right for Every Law Firm?
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Saves time and reduces operational costs. | May require fine-tuning for legal accuracy. |
| Always available for client queries. | Cannot replace professional legal counsel. |
| Scales effortlessly with demand. |
ChatGPT suits firms seeking efficiency and engagement but requires oversight to ensure compliance. Learn more about attorney SEO services to complement AI efforts.
Conclusion
ChatGPT is a powerful tool for law firms to enhance client engagement, streamline operations, and boost SEO. Implementation Checklist:
- Assess website needs and choose integration method.
- Set up disclaimers and compliance measures.
- Partner with Perfoptim for custom integration support.
Contact Perfoptim for expert setup assistance today!
