In the world of law, and especially in the legal and compliance sectors, precision is never just a detail. Every day, lawyers, compliance professionals, legal consultants, and accountants deal with complex regulations and increasingly demanding client requests.
In this scenario, Artificial Intelligence represents a valuable ally, but to get truly useful answers, it’s essential to learn how to communicate with AI in the right way. Writing effective prompts is the first step in transforming technology into a tool of real value.
Here is a practical guide, made of 8 golden rules to writing effective prompts and getting the most out of legal AI assistants, such as Aptus.AI’s one.
Why is it essential to write effective prompts?
A well-structured prompt enables the AI to better understand the objective, providing fast, precise answers perfectly aligned with your professional needs.
Just a few simple steps are enough to optimize output quality, save time, and reduce the risk of errors. All needs that definitely need to be answered in the legal and compliance sectors.
The guide: 8 steps for winning prompts
Below is a practical guide – with practical examples – to optimize the prompts given to AI, in order to make the most of AI’s potential in the legal sector, in compliance, and in all fields where people work with regulations daily.
1. Assign a role to the AI assistant
Specifying the role the AI should take on is fundamental. This way, the answer will be tailored to the expertise required by the specific case.
Examples:
- “You are a lawyer specialized in labor law”
- “You are a Compliance Officer”
- “You are an Accountant”
2. Use explicit commands
Give clear and direct instructions to obtain precise and targeted results.
Examples:
- “Find legal sources and case law”
- “Help me structure a training plan on conflicts of interest”
- “Find legal sources”
3. Simplify complex requests
Break down complex questions into several separate requests: this allows the AI to respond in a more detailed and precise manner.
Examples:
- Question 1: “Identify the formal validity requirements for dismissal for just cause”
Question 2: “Verify the reasons that legitimize dismissal for just cause” - Question 1: “Analyze the European and Italian regulatory landscape applicable to an asset management company”
Question 2: “Write the list of relevant regulatory measures”
Question 3: “Analyze the attached policy and procedure”
Question 4: “Provide concrete examples of conflicts of interest applicable to my organization” - Question 1: “Check what regulatory changes have been introduced in tax matters”
Question 2: “Identify which changes apply to SMEs”
4. Clarify the context
Provide useful details, such as legal sources, articles of law, or fields of application, to improve the accuracy of the answers.
Examples:
- “For the answer, use Italian regulations applicable to private individuals. Exclude regulations applicable to public administrations”
- “Focus on regulations issued by Consob”
- “Focus only on national Italian regulations”
5. Explain the final objective
Clearly state the goal, specifying it in the prompt, so that the output will be more personalized and functional.
Examples:
- “I need to draft a legal opinion to justify the decision to challenge or not the dismissal for just cause imposed on my client”
- “The training course must cover the entire applicable regulatory framework, with a specific focus on regulatory changes from the past year”
- “My goal is to draft a tax law opinion”
6. Indicate the recipient of the output
Specifying who will receive the document helps the AI personalize tone and content.
Examples:
- “The recipient is my client, an individual with no legal background”
- “The training course is for new hires in various departments of the organization with different levels of experience”
- “This contract will be delivered to the company’s tax affairs office”
7. Define tone and style
Communicate your preferred tone and style to ensure consistency and professionalism.
Examples:
- “Use a formal tone and address the recipient as ‘Lei’. Express yourself clearly and concisely”
- “Formulate the answer in a detailed manner. Use a formal tone”
- “Draft the opinion clearly and concisely. Use a formal tone suitable for a client”
8. Specify length and formatting
Indicate the desired length and structure: this way, you’ll get a result that’s ready to use.
Examples:
- “Use a maximum of 300 words. Do not use bullet points”
- “Use bullet points to summarize the main regulatory requirements”
- “Use bullet points”
Conclusion
Knowing how to write effective legal prompts is no longer just a technical aspect of the technology sector, but a strategic skill to acquire for anyone who works daily with regulations.
Aptus.AI’s AI assistant, especially for those who follow these 8 simple rules, can truly make a difference in simplifying and speeding up legal and compliance work, reducing the margin for error and increasing the value delivered to clients.
Want to learn more about how to optimize your work with AI?
Follow our guide and start experimenting with the AI: every well-written prompt is a step forward toward a more efficient, precise, and faster work.
