Table of Contents
We get it, legal fees are expensive. And with technologies like generative AI becoming more accessible, it’s no surprise that people are increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT for help with legal questions.
ChatGPT is far from a substitute for a licensed attorney, but it can still be useful for general guidance or helping you get started on legal research or drafting. And while OpenAI updated its internal policies on October 29th to prohibit tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal advice, the tool remains helpful for broad research and early-stage drafting.
Important Precaution
Keep in mind that anything you enter into ChatGPT is not protected by confidentiality or privilege. If you include sensitive or private details in a prompt, the system will have access to that information, and it can turn up in court (unlike correspondence with a lawyer).
For this reason, many law firms strictly prohibit their attorneys from entering client data into large language models (“LLMs”) like ChatGPT. So be cautious about what you share.
Getting Started
The key to getting useful legal insights from ChatGPT is crafting effective prompts. Thoughtful, well-structured prompts produce the most helpful responses. Here are a few tips:
1. Provide Context – Lay out the facts or background information related to your question. Without context, the response may be too generic to be helpful
2. Assign a Role – Tell ChatGPT what perspective to take (e.g., “assume I am the company’s General Counsel presenting to the Board Chair”). This adds clarity and direction.
3. Refine the Output – The first answer isn't usually the one you’ll use. Ask it to revise, shorten, expand, or adjust the response until it meets your needs.
4. Ask Follow-Up Questions- Follow-ups help narrow the focus and improve the accuracy and depth of the output.
Josh Kubicki’s “5 P’s”—prime, persona, prompt, product, polish—are another helpful framework for interacting effectively with ChatGPT.
Got My Answer, Now What?
Before relying on any response for something important, verify key information. For example, if ChatGPT cites case law that its analysis depends on, it’s wise to confirm that the case is still good law and hasn’t been overturned on appeal. Tools like LexisNexis can help you check a case’s history.
However, if you’re using ChatGPT simply to get started or to generate ideas, an in-depth fact-check isn’t always necessary.
At Apex Law, we have experience in effectively leveraging AI tools to gain legal insights. Reach out and we will be happy to assist in guiding you through this process!
