Mastering Prompts: The underrated key to effective AI
AI and the use of ChatGPT is increasingly becoming standard for lawyers as well: law firms and legal departments are relying more and more on artificial intelligence to conduct extensive research, analyze documents faster or identify legal risks. But the effectiveness of this technology stands and falls with the way you interact with it. The best results come from precise, contextual instructions – and that's exactly what makes prompting a key skill.
What does prompting mean and why is it so crucial?
Prompting is the art of giving artificial intelligence (AI) clear and structured instructions to get precise and useful answers. A prompt is the question or task you ask the AI – the more detailed and well thought out it is, the better the results. Just as with a real team member, you also must explain to an AI what you expect from it – and in a way that it understands your request precisely.
Especially in the legal field, where accuracy and contextual understanding are essential, an unclear request can cause the AI to provide you with generic or even misleading results. To avoid this, good prompts should include the following elements:
Objective: What exactly do you want to know? A summary of a contract? An analysis of liability clauses?
Context: Are we talking about a specific jurisdiction or a specific type of contract?
Structure: How do you need the answer? In bullet points, continuous text or an outline by topic?
Effective prompting therefore means not just giving the AI a task but also setting it in the right context.
AI-powered chatbots in legal practice
There are many ways in which AI can be used by lawyers and law firms. Here are some practical examples of how good prompting can make work easier:
1. Automated client communication
Many law firms receive recurring queries on general legal topics daily. An AI chatbot can serve as a first point of contact and provide standardized answers.
Example prompt for a chatbot:
“Create a polite but neutral response to a client's question: ‘What are the deadlines for disputing a job reference?’ Formulate the answer in a way that is informative but does not constitute individual legal advice.”
2. Initial assessments of legal issues
Of course, an AI does not replace individual legal advice. However, it can be used as a supportive tool to provide initial assessments or summaries.
Example prompt for a legal briefing:
“Explain in layman's terms the requirements for summary dismissal in labor law. Structure the answer in three sections: legal basis, typical use cases and possible risks for employers.”
3. Drafting legal texts and explanations
Another useful application of AI for lawyers is creating boilerplate text or improving formulations.
Example prompt for AI-supported text revision:
“Revise this paragraph from a client letter so that it sounds more understandable and less legal: ‘The contractual obligation to return the rented property in proper condition also includes the removal of all damage caused by the tenant that goes beyond ordinary wear and tear.’”
Expected result:
“You must return the rented property in the same condition as it was at the beginning of the tenancy, except for normal wear and tear. If there is any damage beyond normal wear and tear, it must be repaired.”
Such small adjustments help to make complex legal content more understandable for clients.
Iterative work with ChatGPT & Co.: How to improve your prompts
Whether you're working with ChatGPT or a specialized legal AI, a successful workflow often comes from gradually refining your prompts. Here are some strategies:
Start with a general request
“Create a privacy FAQ text for clients.”
Refine your focus
If the answer is too superficial: “Go into more detail about how attorneys store personal data.”
Structure the answer better
If the answer is confusing: “Structure the answer in three paragraphs and use subheadings.”
Through this iterative process, you can get the chatbot to deliver exactly what you need.
CASUS: The secure ChatGPT for lawyers
Conventional AI models like ChatGPT are powerful, but often unsuitable for law firms and legal departments – data protection risks and the danger of data leakage conflict with professional confidentiality.
With CASUS, we have developed an AI specifically for legal professionals that offers all the advantages of modern technology while meeting the highest security standards. With CASUS Review, you can not only analyze legal documents and identify risks, avoid mistakes and make informed decisions faster. You can also chat with our AI (just like with ChatGPT) while always remaining in a protected environment.
Conclusion: Why smart prompting is indispensable for lawyers
Effective prompting is much more than just entering a question into an AI system. It is a skill that determines whether you get general or highly precise, customized answers.
Especially in the legal field, where the requirements for correctness and contextual understanding are particularly high, it pays to invest time in designing prompts properly. Legal AI can help you speed up routine tasks, but it's only through well-thought-out prompts that it reaches its full potential.
So, when working with ChatGPT or a specialized AI for lawyers, make sure you:
Clearly state your objective
Give the AI the relevant context
Specify the structure of the answer
Iteratively refine to achieve the best results
This way, you will not only become more productive but also more confident in using AI tools – and you can fully exploit the potential of the technology.
