AI Prompts for Lawyers: Contract Review, Due Diligence, Compliance

Published: June 2026 | 7 min read

AI is transforming legal work — but most lawyers use AI wrong. They type "review this contract" and get a generic summary that misses the issues that matter. The key is structured prompts that think like a lawyer: identify risks, spot anomalies, draft precise language, and flag compliance gaps.

Below are production-ready AI prompts for lawyers, organized by practice area. These are adapted from Skillent's Legal AI Prompt Library.

Contract Review & Drafting

1. Contract Issue Spotting

Role: You are a senior commercial attorney reviewing a [contract type].
Task: Review the following contract and identify all material risks.
For each issue found:
1. Clause reference (section number)
2. Risk description (what could go wrong)
3. Severity (High/Medium/Low)
4. Recommended revision (specific language)
Focus on: indemnification, limitation of liability, termination, IP ownership, payment terms, governing law
Do NOT provide general commentary — only actionable issues.
Output: Numbered list of issues, sorted by severity (High first).

2. Redline Drafting

Role: Contract attorney
Task: Draft redline revisions to the following clause to protect [client type]
Original clause: [paste clause]
Goals: 
- Cap liability at contract value
- Add mutual indemnification
- Include carve-outs for gross negligence/willful misconduct
- Add 30-day cure period
Output: Revised clause with changes marked and rationale for each change

3. NDA Generator

Role: Corporate attorney
Task: Draft a mutual NDA
Parties: [Party A] and [Party B]
Purpose: [business purpose]
Term: 2 years
Include: Definition of confidential info, exclusions, permitted use, return/destruction, remedies, governing law ([state])
Format: Full contract with section numbers, ready for review
Do NOT include: non-compete, non-solicit (separate agreement)

4. Contract Summary for Client

Role: Attorney communicating with client
Task: Summarize this contract in plain English for a non-lawyer
Include: What they're agreeing to, key obligations, financial terms, termination rights, biggest risks
Format: 1-page summary with sections: Overview, Key Terms, Risks, Recommendations
Tone: Clear, no legalese, actionable
Length: Maximum 400 words

5. Force Majeure Clause Review

Role: Litigation attorney
Task: Analyze this force majeure clause for [dispute scenario]
Clause: [paste clause]
Questions:
1. Does [event] qualify as force majeure under this clause?
2. What notice requirements apply?
3. What's the mitigation obligation?
4. Can either party terminate? Under what conditions?
5. What's the financial exposure?
Format: Legal memo structure (Issue, Analysis, Conclusion)

Due Diligence

6. Document Review Checklist

Role: M&A due diligence attorney
Task: Create a due diligence checklist for [transaction type]
Categories: Corporate, Financial, IP, Employment, Real Estate, Litigation, Regulatory, IT/Data
For each category: 5-10 specific documents to request
Format: Categorized checklist with priority (Critical/Standard/If Applicable)
Include: Red flags to watch for in each category

7. Contract Inventory Analysis

Role: Due diligence analyst
Task: Analyze the following list of [company]'s contracts
For each contract: identify type, counterparty, value, term, termination, change-of-control provisions
Flag: Contracts with auto-renewal, unfavorable termination, or IP assignment issues
Format: Summary table with risk flags column
Highlight: Top 5 contracts that need attention before closing

8. Litigation Risk Assessment

Role: Litigation counsel
Task: Assess litigation risk from due diligence findings
Input: Pending/threatened litigation, regulatory inquiries, employment claims
For each matter:
1. Potential exposure ($ range)
2. Probability of adverse outcome (High/Med/Low)
3. Insurance coverage (if known)
4. Representation/warranty implications
Format: Risk matrix sorted by exposure × probability

Compliance & Regulatory

9. Regulatory Compliance Check

Role: Compliance attorney
Task: Check [company description] against [regulation] requirements
For each requirement:
1. Is the company compliant? (Yes/No/Unknown)
2. What evidence is needed?
3. What's the risk of non-compliance?
Format: Compliance matrix with gaps highlighted
Include: Recommended remediation steps for each gap

10. Privacy Policy Review

Role: Privacy attorney
Task: Review this privacy policy against [GDPR/CCPA/state law]
Check: Required disclosures, data subject rights, retention periods, cross-border transfer mechanisms, cookie notice
Flag: Missing required elements, overly broad language, potential risks
Format: Issue list with section references and recommended fixes

11. Employment Law Compliance

Role: Employment attorney
Task: Review [company]'s employment practices for [state] compliance
Areas: Worker classification (1099 vs W-2), meal/rest breaks, overtime, final pay, background checks
For each area: Requirement, current practice, compliance status, risk level
Format: Compliance scorecard with remediation priority

Legal Research & Writing

12. Case Law Summary

Role: Research attorney
Task: Summarize [case citation]
Include: Facts, procedural history, holding, reasoning, dissent (if any), implications for [our matter]
Format: Case brief (IRAC structure)
Length: 1 page maximum
Note: Flag any jurisdictions where this precedent may not apply

13. Legal Memorandum

Role: Associate attorney
Task: Draft a legal memo on [question]
Structure: TO/FROM/DATE/RE, Question Presented, Short Answer, Background, Analysis, Conclusion
Tone: Objective, balanced (present both sides if applicable)
Citations: Include relevant statute and case citations
Length: 2-3 pages
Do NOT: Argue a position — present analysis objectively

14. Statutory Interpretation

Role: Regulatory attorney
Task: Interpret [statute section] as applied to [fact pattern]
Steps:
1. Plain language reading
2. Statutory context (surrounding sections)
3. Legislative history (if relevant)
4. Regulatory guidance
5. Case law interpretation
Format: Step-by-step analysis with conclusion
Flag: Ambiguities that could lead to different interpretations

Corporate & Transactional

15. Term Sheet Drafting

Role: Corporate attorney
Task: Draft a term sheet for [transaction type] between [parties]
Include: Valuation, structure, governance, liquidation preference, anti-dilution, board composition, protective provisions, information rights
Format: Standard term sheet format with brackets for negotiable terms
Note: Mark each term as (Founder-friendly / Investor-friendly / Market standard)

16. Board Resolution

Role: Corporate secretary
Task: Draft board resolution for [action]
Include: Recitals (WHEREAS), resolution language, certified copy format
Ensure: Compliance with bylaws and state law
Format: Formal resolution ready for board signature

17. Stock Purchase Agreement Outline

Role: M&A attorney
Task: Outline stock purchase agreement structure for [transaction]
Sections: Purchase/sale, reps & warranties, covenants, conditions, indemnification, termination, misc
For each section: 3-5 key provisions to include
Format: Outline with section numbers and brief descriptions
Include: Negotiation notes (what each side typically pushes for)

Intellectual Property

18. IP Assignment Agreement

Role: IP attorney
Task: Draft IP assignment agreement
From: [employee/contractor] To: [company]
Include: Assignment of all IP, waiver of moral rights, cooperation obligation, future inventions clause
Format: Full agreement ready for review
Ensure: Covers existing and future IP, work made for hire doctrine

19. Trademark Clearance Assessment

Role: Trademark attorney
Task: Assess likelihood of confusion between [proposed mark] and [existing mark]
Factors: Similarity of marks, similarity of goods/services, channels of trade, sophistication of consumers, strength of senior mark
Format: Likelihood of confusion analysis with risk rating (Low/Medium/High)
Recommend: Whether to proceed, modify, or abandon

20. Patent Application Abstract

Role: Patent attorney
Task: Draft a patent abstract for [invention description]
Requirements: 150 words max, enable a reader to quickly understand the technical disclosure
Format: Single paragraph abstract
Include: Technical field, problem solved, key features

Dispute & Litigation

21. Demand Letter

Role: Litigation attorney
Task: Draft a demand letter for [claim]
Tone: Professional, firm, non-threatening
Include: Facts, legal basis, damages calculation, demand, response deadline (14 days), consequences of non-response
Format: Formal business letter
Do NOT: Threaten criminal action or make unsupported claims

22. Settlement Agreement

Role: Negotiating attorney
Task: Draft settlement agreement for [dispute]
Include: Release language, payment terms, confidentiality, non-admission, future claims bar
Format: Full agreement ready for signature
Ensure: Mutual release, no admission of liability, confidentiality clause

23. Discovery Request Drafting

Role: Litigation attorney
Task: Draft interrogatories for [case type]
Number: 25 interrogatories
Categories: Parties, facts, documents, damages, witnesses, insurance
Format: Numbered interrogatories with definitions and instructions
Ensure: Proportionality and relevance to claims

Real Estate & Leasing

24. Commercial Lease Issue Review

Role: Real estate attorney
Task: Review this commercial lease for tenant risks
Focus on: Rent escalation, CAM charges, co-tenancy, exclusive use, assignment/subletting, holdover, restoration
For each issue: Clause reference, risk, severity, recommended revision
Format: Issue list sorted by severity

25. Title Commitment Review

Role: Real estate attorney
Task: Review this title commitment for [property]
Schedule A: Verify legal description, vesting, policy amount
Schedule B-I: Review exceptions, identify curative items
Schedule B-II: Review requirements, assess feasibility
Format: Title review memo with required curative actions
Flag: Any exceptions that require endorsement or removal

Best Practices for Legal AI Prompts

1. Always define the role — "You are a senior commercial attorney" produces better output than no role

2. Specify the deliverable format — memo, issue list, redline, checklist

3. Include failure modes — tell AI what to avoid (legalese, unsupported claims, generic summaries)

4. Use domain-specific language — "indemnification," "force majeure," "change of control"

5. Review everything — AI output is a first draft, not a final product. A lawyer must review all AI-generated content.