Getting the Most Out of AI for Legal Work
In an era where AI is becoming essential to legal practice, knowing how to effectively communicate with Large Language Models (LLMs) can dramatically improve your results. Here's your guide to crafting better prompts for legal work.
1. Understanding the Basics
What is Prompt Engineering?
Legal professionals spend years learning how to frame questions effectively. Similarly, getting the best results from AI requires understanding how to structure your queries. Prompt engineering is the art of crafting clear, specific instructions that help AI understand exactly what you need.
Instead of: "Review this contract"
Try: "Review this software license agreement for data privacy compliance issues, particularly focusing on GDPR requirements and data transfer provisions"
Start with clear objectives and divide analysis into specific components. Request step-by-step explanations and ask for specific formats or structures. Always include relevant context that helps the AI understand the legal framework you're operating within.
2. Common Legal Use Cases
Contract Analysis
Effective prompt example: "Analyze this employment agreement and identify all non-compete clauses, compare them to [State] law requirements, flag any potentially unenforceable provisions, and suggest compliant alternative language."
Legal Research
Good practice involves specifying jurisdiction and including relevant dates. Mention any excluded sources, request specific citation formats, and ask for counter-arguments to ensure a balanced analysis.
3. Conclusion
Understanding these basic principles can dramatically improve your results with LLMs. Think of these AI models like your GP (General Practitioner): they have broad knowledge across many areas and can provide valuable assistance, but their effectiveness depends greatly on how well you communicate your needs.
Just as your doctor provides better care when you clearly describe your symptoms and medical history, LLMs deliver more precise and useful responses when given proper context and clear instructions. The key is to provide relevant background information, be specific about your requirements, explain the context of your legal question, and clarify your expected output format.
Remember: LLMs are powerful tools for legal work, but they're most effective when you guide them with well-crafted prompts. Start with these basics, and you'll see immediate improvements in your AI interactions.
Want to learn more about using WilsonAI effectively? Book a demo to see these principles in action by pressing our "Get a Demo" button at the top of the screen!
