The End of Legal Gatekeeping: Why Lawyers Can't Hide Behind Complexity Anymore

I am obsessed with simplicity. In today’s world, I believe simplicity is one of the greatest luxuries people can have. It’s why people spend money on hiring help, advisors, and outsourcing work. It’s one of the reasons the Apple ecosystem is so successful. Simplicity is scarce in our ever-more-complicated world. Just the basic things you need to do to survive and be a functional human are overwhelming as fuck.

The Birth of an Obsession

In 2010, I stumbled across a TED Talk by Alan Siegel that would fundamentally change my perspective on business and communication. Siegel, founder of branding agency Siegelvision, defined simplicity as “a means to achieving clarity, transparency and empathy, building humanity into communications.” He demonstrated this by taking a 20,000-word consumer credit agreement and transforming it into a single page of clear, understandable text.

At the time, I was neck-deep in setting up my own company, drowning in a sea of paperwork. Contracts, terms and conditions, tax forms. It felt like I needed a law degree just to run a business. Siegel’s talk hit home, and it inspired me to start a consulting practice called “Simple” with the mission of simplifying complex documents and processes.

Simplicity as Luxury

As Leonardo DaVinci said: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” It’s not about using fewer words or dumbing things down. It requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to communicate its essence in a way that’s accessible to everyone.

Historically, simplicity has been a luxury only available to those who could afford to outsource complexity. CEOs have assistants and analysts to digest complex information. Wealthy individuals have financial advisors to navigate investment decisions. Big companies have entire legal departments to decipher regulations.

The rest of us? We’re left to wade through the complexity alone, accepting terms we don’t understand, signing agreements we can’t fully comprehend, and making decisions without complete clarity.

Over the course of my consultancy, I managed to streamline cell phone contracts with government oversight entities, simplify insurance terms and conditions, and untangle bureaucratic processes within government. However, despite my early success, I often ran into roadblocks. Lawyers frequently pushed back against our efforts, and the fear of legal repercussions often outweighed the desire for clarity and transparency.

Simplifying a complex legal document involves carefully analyzing each section, understanding its purpose and implications, and then rewriting it in plain language that maintains its legal validity. It’s a time-consuming and intellectually demanding process that requires a rare combination of legal expertise, communication skills, and a commitment to clarity.

In the past, this made simplification an expensive and often unscalable endeavor. But everything is about to change.

The AI Revolution in Simplicity

We’re witnessing something unprecedented. AI is democratizing access to simplicity in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. What once required teams of experts and months of work can now be accomplished in minutes with the right AI tools.

This isn’t just about convenience, it’s a fundamental shift in power dynamics. Companies and institutions can no longer hide behind complexity because anyone with access to AI can quickly decode and simplify their communications. When a customer can take your 50-page terms of service, feed it into ChatGPT, and get a clear explanation of what they’re actually agreeing to, the game changes completely.

The implications are massive. We’re moving toward a world where:

• Complex documents can be instantly transformed into plain language
• Hidden provisions and legal tricks become immediately apparent
• Technical jargon can be translated into everyday terms
• Everyone has access to the kind of clarity once reserved for the wealthy

My Gift to You

To help you harness this power, I’ve developed a prompt sequence that encapsulates years of experience in simplification. Here’s how you can use AI to break down any complex document:

Step 1: Comprehension and Evaluation

Please read the following document: 
[Attach, document, link or text]

After reading, please answer these questions:
1. What is the purpose of this document? Is it clear and precise?
2. Does the document contain all necessary information for the reader? Will the reader know what to do after reading?
3. Is all information in the document relevant to the subject matter?
4. Are all details absolutely necessary to achieve the document's purpose?
5. Does the document have a clear beginning, development, and conclusion?
6. How would you rate the complexity of the document's language (simple, moderate, complex)? 
7. Are sentences plain, short, and adhering to simple language standards, or are they technical and convoluted?

Step 2: Diagnosis and Simplification

Based on your evaluation of the document, please perform the following simplification steps:
1. Reduction: Remove all filler, unnecessary information, and content that doesn't adhere to the document's main point.
2. Grouping: Identify similar themes, provisions, or ideas scattered throughout the document. Group these together in a logical structure.
3. Synthesis: For each section or grouping, summarize the main argument or idea. Aim to articulate the core message clearly and concisely.
4. Articulation: Restructure the document to present information in the most effective way. Consider using a descending structure: 
   - Start with conclusions and recommendations
   - Proceed to main discussion points and details, from most to least important
   - End with annexes or supplementary information

Apply these simple language principles during articulation:
- Limit each complete idea to less than 25 words
- Eliminate unnecessary wording
- Communicate a single idea per phrase
- Minimize the use of combined sentences with conjunctions
- Use punctuation and markdown to visually separate long sentences

Step 3: Review and Refinement

Please review the simplified document and answer these final questions:
1. Is the organization of the document now more adequate and logical?
2. Is the structure visually apparent and easy to navigate?
3. Have punctuation and grammatical errors been corrected?
4. Does the simplified document maintain the core purpose and necessary information of the original?
5. Do you have any other suggestions for improving the clarity and accessibility of the document?

Please provide the final simplified version of the document.        

Try it with terms of service, an agreement, or a contract. See how it transforms complex documentation into something actually usable. This is just the beginning. As AI tools evolve, our ability to fight complexity will only grow stronger.

The Future is Simple… and Complex

We’re entering an era where simplicity is no longer a luxury, it’s becoming a fundamental right. Organizations that continue to hide behind complexity will find themselves at a disadvantage as AI-powered tools make their obfuscation transparent.

This democratization of simplicity isn’t just about making things easier. It’s about fairness, accessibility, and empowerment. When everyone can understand the documents they’re signing, the products they’re buying, and the decisions they’re making, we create a more equitable world.

The tools are here. The revolution is happening. The only question is: how will you use this power?

About the Author: Santiago helps individuals and organizations harness the power of AI without coding. Through AI opportunity assessments and personalized consulting, he guides clients in finding practical ways to implement AI solutions that transform how they work. Visit AISherpa.me to learn more about working together.

This article: AIL 3 — Created using AI with extensive human structure and guidance