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How to Overcome Common Challenges in Legal Document Drafting

Taher Hassonjee
August 6, 2024

Often, the challenge people face with ChatGPT drafting is not knowing how to use it effectively and precisely. As an AI tool, ChatGPT requires some effort and skill to be used efficiently. Although it is quite adept at understanding queries, maximizing its potential involves knowing how to prompt it correctly. What seems clear and obvious to you might not always be accurately interpreted by ChatGPT, given its occasional communication limitations. Therefore, providing explicit instructions is essential for achieving precise results.

To enhance your experience with legal document drafting at DocDraft, we provide some tips for you:

Be Specific and Detailed

Clear Instructions: The more specific you are, the better the response. Provide context to help ChatGPT understand the situation. For example, “I need a rental dispute involving breach of contract in California.”

Break Down Complex Questions

Step-by-Step: If your query or question is complex and hard to understand, break it down into smaller parts before asking the chatbot. For example, instead of asking, “What are the legal implications of X?” begin with, “What are the general principles of X?” and then build on that. Use a series of prompts to narrow down the information. For instance, after getting an overview, ask for specific details or examples.

Use Examples

Clarify with Examples: Providing examples can help clarify your request. For instance, instead of just saying, “Draft a document for a living will for my mother,” you can share sample outputs or preferred formats. This guidance can help ChatGPT deliver the response in the desired style or structure.

Specify the Format

Desired Output: Specify the format you want the information in. For example, "Provide a bullet-point summary of the recent changes in employment law" or "Draft a formal letter to a client."

Length and Style: Indicate if you need a brief summary, a detailed explanation, a formal tone, or casual language.

Ask Follow-Up Questions

Clarification: If something is unclear, ask for clarification or additional information.

Provide Feedback

Feedback for Improvement: If the response or drafted document isn't quite right, provide feedback on what needs adjustment. For example, "This summary is good, but can you add more details about the legal precedents involved?"

Iterate: Use an iterative approach to refine the response, enhancing the output with each iteration.

Use Constraints and Conditions

Boundaries: Define limits for the response. For example, “Explain the impact of the new tax law on small businesses, but focus only on companies with fewer than 50 employees.”

Conditions: Include specific conditions to guide the response. For instance, “Draft a memo on the recent Supreme Court decision, assuming the reader has no prior legal knowledge.”

Experiment and Adjust

Trial and Error: Feel free to experiment with different phrasings and prompts. Adjusting your approach can result in better responses. Use various prompts to determine which one provides the best results. Exploring different angles can sometimes produce more comprehensive answers.

Incorporate Contextual Information

Background Info: Provide relevant background information. For example, “Summarize the legal implications of remote work policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Use Commands and Action Words

Direct Language: Use direct language and action words like “summarize,” “list,” “explain,” “draft,” or “analyze” to make your requests clear. Phrasing your prompts in the active voice can help ensure clarity and precision.

DocDraft is dedicated to creating optimized legal documents for every individual, ensuring a worry-free chatbot experience. By using the tips above, you can further refine your prompts to receive the most accurate, relevant, and useful responses from ChatGPT. 

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