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Drafting a contract from scratch can take hours. With the right prompt, an AI generates a solid draft in seconds.
The difference between a useful document and one that ends up in the trash lies in how you formulate that initial instruction.
In this article, we explore the key elements of an effective legal prompt, the most used prompting techniques in the legal field, and examples ready to adapt to your needs.
What is a legal prompt and why it matters
A legal prompt is a specific instruction you give to an artificial intelligence tool to generate legal documents. Unlike asking ChatGPT to write a poem or summarize an article, a legal prompt includes technical elements like the applicable jurisdiction, the parties involved, and the clauses the contract requires.
The difference between obtaining a useful draft and one that ends up in the trash usually lies in how you formulate that initial instruction. When you provide clear context and detailed specifications, the AI generates documents that function as a solid starting point. When the prompt is vague, the result will be too.
Legal teams that master this skill reduce drafting hours to minutes. Of course, every AI-generated document requires human review before use, but starting from a well-structured draft completely changes the workflow.
Key elements of a contract prompt
Every effective legal prompt shares certain components. Without them, even the most advanced AI will produce generic results that do not fit what you really need.
Context and object
The first step is to define what type of contract you need and for which industry. AI responds best when it understands the full picture. For example, a service contract for a software startup is not the same as one for a construction company. The vocabulary, relevant clauses, and even the tone change according to the sector. Including this information from the start avoids having to make corrections later.
Jurisdiction and applicable law
This element is probably the most critical and the most frequently omitted. A contract drafted without specifying where it will have legal effect can mix concepts from different legal systems, rendering it unenforceable. In your prompt, indicate the country, state, or province where the contract will operate. If specific laws apply, such as the Federal Labor Law in Mexico or the GDPR in Europe, mention them explicitly.
Parties and AI role
Define who the contracting parties are and what role you want the AI to assume. An instruction like "Act as a lawyer specializing in Mexican corporate law" helps the model adopt the appropriate tone, vocabulary, and structure. This role assignment is not decorative. It significantly changes the quality of the output because it guides the AI on what type of expertise to simulate.
Mandatory clauses
Do not assume the AI will know which sections are standard for your type of agreement.
Specify every clause the contract needs to include:
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Object of the contract: what exactly is being agreed upon
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Obligations of the parties: what each party does
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Payment terms: amounts, deadlines, conditions
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Confidentiality: protection of sensitive information
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Termination: under what circumstances it can be cancelled
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Dispute resolution: how conflicts are handled
Format and tone
Indicate how you want the final document presented. Do you prefer numbered paragraphs or sections with descriptive titles? Is the tone extremely formal or accessible to non-legal professionals? These specifications seem minor, but they prevent you from having to reformat the entire document after receiving it.
Prompting techniques applied to law
There are several methodologies that legal professionals can adapt according to the complexity of the contract they need to generate. Each has its time and place.
Zero shot
With zero shot, you provide all instructions in a single prompt without including previous examples. It is ideal for standard contracts where specifications are clear and direct. You simply describe what you need, and the AI generates the document based solely on your description.
Few shot
Here you include one or two examples of clauses or fragments of similar contracts within your prompt. The AI uses these examples as a reference for the style and structure of the document it will generate. It works particularly well when you have a specific format you want to replicate.
Chain of thought
With this technique, you guide the AI through step-by-step reasoning. For example: "First, identify the main risks for the provider. Then, draft clauses that mitigate each identified risk." This approach produces more thoughtful results because it forces the model to think before writing.
Layering
Layering consists of building the contract section by section in separate prompts. First, you generate the definitions, then the obligations, then the termination clauses. This technique is useful for complex agreements where a single prompt would be too long or confusing.
Controlled iteration
No prompt produces perfect results on the first try. Controlled iteration involves reviewing the output, identifying what is missing or excessive, and refining the original prompt. Each cycle improves the quality of the final result.
Step-by-step to draft the perfect prompt
Now that we know the elements and techniques, let's see how to integrate everything into a practical process you can follow every time you need to generate a contract.
1. Define the type of contract
Start by identifying exactly what document you need. A service agreement has very different requirements than a non-disclosure agreement or a commercial lease contract. This initial clarity determines everything that follows.
2. List the necessary clauses
Before writing your prompt, create a list of all the sections the final contract requires. This list becomes your checklist to verify that the output is complete. If you forget to include something in the prompt, it probably won't appear in the result.
3. Select the appropriate technique
For simple contracts, zero shot is usually sufficient. For complex agreements with multiple parties or jurisdictions, consider using layering or chain of thought. The complexity of the document guides the choice of technique.
4. Write and refine the prompt
Write your initial prompt including all the key elements we discussed. After receiving the first result, identify what is missing or needs adjustment. Modify your prompt and try again. This refinement cycle is normal and expected.
5. Validate with human review
This step is not optional. Every AI output requires review by a qualified legal professional before use. AI is an efficiency tool, not a substitute for legal judgment.
Metrics to measure prompt quality
How do you know if your prompt is working well? These metrics help you evaluate and continuously improve your process.
Clause coverage
Check if the generated contract includes all the sections you requested. A good prompt produces documents where no important clause is missing. If you constantly have to add sections manually, the prompt needs more detail.
Legal accuracy
Evaluate if the legal language is correct for your jurisdiction. Are the terms appropriate? Are the legal references precise? This metric requires expert eyes but is fundamental for determining the real utility of the output.
Language clarity
A contract can be technically correct but incomprehensible. Evaluate if the document uses clear language without unnecessary jargon. The best contracts are those that the parties can understand without needing a legal translator.
Human review time
Measure how many minutes of manual editing each generated document requires. Over time, your prompts will improve, and this number should decrease. If you continue spending hours editing, something in the prompt is not working.
Ready-to-use prompt examples
Let's look at some complete prompts you can adapt to your specific needs. These examples illustrate how to apply all the elements we have discussed.
Service Agreement
"Act as a Mexican commercial lawyer. Draft a software development service agreement between a provider company and a corporate client. Include: definitions, scope of services, specific deliverables, 30-day payment terms, intellectual property in favor of the client, confidentiality for 5 years, termination grounds, and jurisdiction in Mexico City. Format with numbered clauses and formal but accessible language."
NDA with data clause
"Generate a bilateral non-disclosure agreement between two technology companies under Spanish law. Include a broad definition of confidential information, personal data protection obligations pursuant to GDPR, standard exceptions, validity of 3 years post-termination, and jurisdiction clause in Madrid. Use professional format with clearly delimited sections."
Frequent errors and how to avoid them
Even with good prompts, certain errors can compromise the utility of the generated document. Knowing them helps you avoid them from the start.
Jurisdiction ambiguity
Saying "applicable law" without specifying which one generates contracts that mix concepts from different legal systems. A paragraph may follow common law logic while the next assumes civil law. The result is an unusable document.
Lack of specificity
A prompt like "make me a service contract" will produce something so generic that it will require almost complete rewriting. The more details you provide about the parties, the object, the terms, and the conditions, the better the result will be.
Ignoring sensitive data
Be careful with the confidential information you include in your prompts. Use generic descriptions instead of real client data or specific transactions. The information you enter into AI tools may not be protected in the same way as your internal files.
Forgetting to review the output
Excessive trust in AI can lead to costly errors. Each generated document needs expert human eyes before signing. AI can invent clauses that sound convincing but are legally problematic.
Integrating prompts with automated workflows
Legal prompts reach their full potential when integrated with business automation systems. Instead of manually copying and pasting, you can create flows where contracts are generated automatically when certain conditions are met.
Connect to a CLM
Contract Lifecycle Management systems can use predefined prompts to automatically generate drafts when a new contractual process begins. This eliminates the manual step of opening ChatGPT and writing the prompt every time.
Synchronize with CRM and Darwin AI
Platforms like Darwin AI allow digital employees to automate contract generation using perfected prompts. Customer information in your CRM can directly feed document creation, always maintaining human oversight for legal validation.
Configure review alerts
Set up automatic notifications that alert the legal team when an AI-generated contract is ready for review. This ensures no document passes without validation and keeps the workflow moving.
Taking your legal writing to the next level with AI
Mastering legal prompting transforms legal practice significantly. What used to take hours of drafting can now be completed in minutes, freeing up time for strategic analysis and high-value advisory. Technology works best when combined with well-designed processes and expert oversight. AI does not replace legal judgment; it enhances it. Ready to automate your legal workflows? Try Darwin AI now and discover how our digital employees can optimize your contractual processes while you maintain full control over document quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I adapt a legal prompt if laws change during negotiation?
Update the jurisdiction and applicable law sections in your prompt to reflect current regulations. Always validate with updated legal advice before finalizing any document.
Can I use the same prompt for contracts in different countries?
Each jurisdiction has specific legal requirements that affect the necessary language and clauses. The most effective approach is to create variations of the prompt adapted to each country where you operate.
How secure is confidential information in AI prompts?
Use platforms with enterprise-level security and avoid including sensitive personal data in your prompts. Focus on structural and legal requirements rather than specific confidential details.
Can a prompt completely replace review by a lawyer?
Professional legal review remains indispensable. Prompts improve efficiency in draft generation, but expert human judgment is essential to guarantee accuracy and regulatory compliance.
