Prompt Engineering For Lawyers

Why am I writing this? Well just saw an article by Legal Industry Reporter Anna Szymon the other that Project Counsel Media a division of Luminate Media was on the hunt for AI prompt engineers for their legal team.

Lo and behold, fellow nerd lawyers who love experimenting and have dedicated their time to prompting, our time has arrived.

What follows is what I have learned as use in my daily life when I help law firms and legal teams through Contract Alchemists .

In the age of artificial intelligence, prompt engineering has emerged as a critical skill, especially for professionals like lawyers who handle complex and varied tasks. By crafting precise prompts, lawyers can leverage AI tools to streamline their workflows, from drafting documents to conducting legal research. This article explores various prompting frameworks tailored for legal professionals, providing practical examples and tips.

R-T-F: Role, Task, Format

The R-T-F framework focuses on defining the role, the task, and the format. This approach is particularly useful for lawyers when they need specific outputs in a defined structure.

• Role: Define the role of the AI as a legal assistant or paralegal.
• Task: Clearly describe the legal task, such as drafting a contract or summarizing a case.
• Format: Specify the format, like a formal legal memo or a bullet-point summary.

Example:

Prompt: Act as a [Legal Assistant]. Create a [summary] of the attached case law. Show as [bullet points].

Output: A concise summary of the case law in bullet points, highlighting key arguments and decisions.

T-A-G: Task, Action, Goal

T-A-G is designed to ensure that the task, desired action, and goal are clear, making it ideal for tasks where outcomes and objectives are critical.

• Task: Describe the specific legal task.
• Action: Define the action needed from the AI.
• Goal: State the ultimate goal or outcome.

Example:

• Prompt: Describe [the facts of the case]. Ask for [an analysis of the potential legal outcomes]. State [the goal of determining the likelihood of success in court].
• Output: An analysis of the case facts and potential outcomes, with an assessment of success probability.

R-I-S-E: Role, Input, Steps, Expectations

R-I-S-E helps in detailing the process and expectations, ensuring thoroughness and clarity in the output.

• Role: Define the role of the AI.
• Input: Provide the necessary input data or documents.
• Steps: Specify the steps the AI should follow.
• Expectations: Describe the expected outcome.

Example:

• Prompt: Act as a [paralegal]. Describe [the elements of a valid contract]. Ask for [a checklist format]. Describe [the expectations of covering all essential elements].
• Output: A detailed checklist covering all essential elements of a valid contract

B-A-B: Before, After, Bridge

B-A-B focuses on the problem, the desired outcome, and the bridge to connect the two. This framework is excellent for problem-solving and advisory roles.

• Before: Explain the current problem.
• After: State the desired outcome.
• Bridge: Ask for the steps or advice to bridge the gap.

Example:

• Prompt: Explain [the issue with the current lease agreement]. State [the desired outcome of resolving ambiguities]. Ask for [the steps to revise the agreement].
• Output: Steps to revise the lease agreement, ensuring all ambiguities are addressed

C-A-R-E: Content, Action, Result, Example

C-A-R-E is about providing comprehensive guidance by detailing the content, the action to be taken, the expected result, and an example to illustrate.

• Content: Define the legal content or subject matter.
• Action: Describe the action needed.
• Result: Specify the expected result.
• Example: Provide an example for clarity.

Example:

• Prompt: Act as [a legal advisor]. Create [a template for a non-disclosure agreement]. Show as [a standard legal format]. Give the [example of a recently drafted NDA].
• Output: A standard NDA template with an example, ensuring all necessary clauses are included.

Tips for Effective Legal Prompt Engineering

1. Be Specific: Always define the role, task, and format clearly to ensure precise outputs.
2. Use Legal Terminology: Incorporate appropriate legal jargon to align AI responses with professional standards.
3. Iterate and Refine: Continuously refine your prompts based on the outputs received to improve accuracy and relevance.
4. Leverage Examples: Provide examples to guide the AI in producing more accurate and contextually appropriate results.
5. Set Expectations: Clearly state your expectations to guide the AI in delivering high-quality outputs.

By mastering these prompting frameworks, lawyers can effectively harness AI to enhance their practice, save time, and improve accuracy in their work.

See you next time.