The Problem
AI gives you 3 paragraphs when you wanted bullet points. Or a long essay when you needed a summary table. You spend time reformatting the output to make it usable.
The Solution
Explicitly specify the exact format you want in your prompt. Be precise about structure, headings, length, and layout.
"Provide your answer in this format: [specify exact structure]"
Before You Rely on This
The examples on this page are made up to show the technique. No test results have been published for it, so try it on your own work and judge it by what you find.
This guide is about how to word a prompt. It does not make a client's document or information safe to put into an AI tool. What you may enter depends on the plan your firm has, its agreement with the vendor and your firm's policy: Claude Projects for Client Matters sets out the checks for one tool. To practise, use a precedent or a published document that contains no client information, and refer to parties by role.
Why It Works
LLMs can generate content in virtually any format - they just need to know which one you want. By default, they produce prose paragraphs. Tell them otherwise and they'll comply.
Example Formats
1. Executive Summary Format
Prompt:
Analyse this contract for risks.
Provide your answer in this format:
1. SUMMARY (3 bullet points max)
2. KEY RISKS (numbered list, ordered by severity)
3. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS (bullet points)
4. TIMELINE FOR ACTION (if applicable)
Keep the total response under 300 words.
2. Table Format
Prompt:
Compare these three law firms' proposals.
Provide your answer as a comparison table with these columns:
- Firm Name
- Proposed Fee
- Team Experience
- Relevant Expertise
- Key Differentiator
- Recommendation (Yes/No/Maybe)
Include a brief 2-sentence conclusion below the table.
3. Checklist Format
Prompt:
What due diligence should we do before this acquisition?
Provide as a checklist with:
- [ ] Item description
- Owner: [who should do it]
- Deadline: [when]
- Priority: [High/Medium/Low]
Group by category (Legal, Financial, Commercial, HR).
4. Q&A Format
Prompt:
Brief me on the new data protection regulations.
Format as Q&A:
Q: [anticipated question]
A: [concise answer, 2-3 sentences]
Cover 5-7 most important questions.
5. Memo Format
Prompt:
Advise on this employment dispute.
Format as an internal memo:
TO: [Partner Name]
FROM: [Your Name]
RE: [Matter Name]
DATE: [Today's Date]
SUMMARY: [2 sentences]
BACKGROUND: [Brief facts]
ANALYSIS: [Legal position]
RECOMMENDATION: [Clear advice]
NEXT STEPS: [Action items]
Pro Tips
Specify:
- ✅ Structure (headings, sections, hierarchy)
- ✅ Length (word count, number of bullets)
- ✅ Order (chronological, by priority, by category)
- ✅ Detail level (summary vs comprehensive)
- ✅ Visual format (table, bullets, numbered list, prose)
Combine with:
- "The Examples Pattern" - show a sample of the exact format
- "Constraint Setting" - add word limits or other boundaries
Common Formats for Legal Work
Contract Review:
Format:
1. Overall Assessment (3-line summary)
2. Critical Issues (numbered, with risk level)
3. Moderate Concerns (bullets)
4. Minor Points (bullets, optional)
5. Recommendation (approve/negotiate/reject + reason)
Case Summary:
Format:
Case Name: [full citation]
Court: [court and year]
Facts: [2-3 sentences]
Issue: [legal question]
Decision: [what the court decided]
Reasoning: [key points, 3-5 bullets]
Relevance: [why this matters to your case]
Client Update:
Format:
Matter: [case/transaction name]
Update: [what happened this week, 2-3 bullets]
Next Steps: [what's happening next, bullets with dates]
Action Required from You: [if any]
Estimated Completion: [timeline]
Quick Reference
Template:
[Your task]
Provide your answer in this exact format:
[Specify structure with headings, subheadings, and layout]
Keep to [word count/length constraint].
Works for:
- Memos
- Client emails
- Case summaries
- Comparison tables
- Checklists
- Risk assessments
- Board papers
- Executive summaries