Australian lawyers are under increasing pressure to deliver high-quality legal services quickly, accurately, and at a lower cost. With generative AI tools like ChatGPT Search, legal professionals now have a powerful assistant at their fingertips—one that can draft, summarise, explain, and outline legal material faster than ever before.
This article introduces 15 ChatGPT prompts designed for day-to-day practice. Whether you're working in family law, commercial, or criminal litigation, these templates help you delegate routine cognitive tasks to AI—while keeping control over legal accuracy and professional judgement.
Using ChatGPT Effectively in Legal Workflows
Strong prompts produce better results. Instead of asking, “Summarise this law,” add context:
- Assign a role—e.g. “Act as a corporate lawyer.”
- Provide detailed context and the desired format.
- Request credible sources or citations.
- Iterate and refine until the output aligns with your needs
For example, “Act as an NSW family lawyer. Summarise parenting orders under the Family Law Act 1975 for a client with no legal background. Use plain English and bullet points.”
Prompt quality matters. When done well, ChatGPT functions like a fast, tireless research assistant—saving hours of drafting or explaining repetitive issues to clients.
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Avoiding Common Prompting Pitfalls
Generic prompts often produce generic results. When lawyers ask ChatGPT vague questions like “Explain directors' duties,” the output might miss jurisdiction-specific nuances or statutory references under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Accuracy matters. Always specify the legal context and ask for citations when appropriate. Treat ChatGPT as a first-draft assistant, not a legal advisor.
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Where AI Fits into Legal Practice
For lawyers, the value of AI lies in saving time on standardised, repeatable work—without compromising quality. ChatGPT can support tasks like:
- Writing simple explanations of legal concepts
- Drafting template letters or clauses
- Creating internal workflows and checklists
- Preparing court document outlines
- Generating ideas for professional marketing
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15 ChatGPT Prompts for Australian Lawyers
These prompts are structured for real-world use. Replace the placeholders in brackets with your own context.
Client Communication & Plain English
- Act as a [JURISDICTION] [PRACTICE AREA] lawyer. Explain in plain English (200 words or fewer) the difference between joint tenants and tenants in common, including one relevant statutory reference.
- You're a solicitor writing to a [CLIENT TYPE] who is self-represented. Summarise the process and timeline for applying for a [COURT ORDER TYPE] in the [COURT NAME], using bullet points and everyday language.
- Draft an email to a client in [JURISDICTION] explaining the legal effect of a [SPECIFIC OUTCOME, e.g. Section 10 dismissal], with next steps, using non-technical language.
Legal Research & Drafting
- Summarise the impact of [SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, e.g. Fair Work Amendment Act 2022] on [TOPIC, e.g. enterprise bargaining], citing sections and explaining in bullet points for internal briefing.
- List key director responsibilities under the [RELEVANT LEGISLATION] in [JURISDICTION], formatted for a client advisory document. Include statutory references.
- Draft a professional letter of demand under [RELEVANT CONSUMER OR CONTRACT LAW], regarding a [PRODUCT/SERVICE DISPUTE], requesting resolution within 14 days.
Internal Firm Templates & Checklists
- Create a client intake checklist for a [PRACTICE AREA] matter in [JURISDICTION], including KYC, conflict checks, and key documents required.
- Write a privacy policy for a boutique law firm in [JURISDICTION], compliant with the [RELEVANT PRIVACY REGULATIONS], including collection, use, and disclosure of client data.
- Outline a basic retainer agreement for a sole practitioner handling [PRACTICE AREA] matters in [JURISDICTION], including scope of work, billing model, and termination clause.
Court Preparation & Procedure
- Provide a sample affidavit structure for a [CASE TYPE] matter in [COURT NAME], using standard headings and guidance for content under each section.
- List 10 suggested witness questions for a [TRIBUNAL/COURT] hearing regarding a [DISPUTE TYPE, e.g. tenancy bond claim] in [JURISDICTION].
- Summarise procedural steps, filing fees, and time limits to appeal a decision in [COURT/TRIBUNAL], including links to relevant forms and rules.
Legal Marketing & Continuing Education
- Draft a LinkedIn bio (3 sentences) for a lawyer specialising in [AREA OF LAW] in [JURISDICTION], highlighting experience, approachability, and trustworthiness.
- Suggest 5 LinkedIn post ideas for promoting legal services in [PRACTICE AREA] to [AUDIENCE, e.g. small businesses] in [JURISDICTION]. Make each informative and non-salesy.
- List five trending CPD topics in Australian legal tech, AI, and compliance for 2025. For each, briefly explain why it's relevant to practising lawyers today.
Conclusion
When used strategically, ChatGPT can reduce the time lawyers spend on repeatable tasks—drafting templates, explaining legal concepts, and summarising legislation—while maintaining high professional standards. These customisable prompts are designed to fit directly into your workflow, freeing up your time to focus on complex analysis, advocacy, and client care.
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