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Turn your legal research notes into a tidy memo
A structured research note listing each source, what it says and its status, with every citation flagged for checking against the original.
When to use it
After a research session, before reporting back
Step by step
Collect your own research first
Do the research in your usual legal databases and official sources. Copy your notes, the citations you found and the key passages into one document.
Ask the AI to organise, not to research
Paste your notes with this prompt. You are asking it to structure what you found, not to find new law.
Prompt to copyOrganise my legal research notes into a memo for my supervising lawyer. Use only the sources in my notes and do not add any cases, statutes or quotes of your own. Structure: 1) The question researched, 2) Short answer from the sources (2 to 3 sentences, marked 'for lawyer review'), 3) A table: Source citation exactly as in my notes, What it says (one or two sentences), Pinpoint paragraph or section, Status to check (e.g. still in force, appealed, overruled), 4) Points that conflict or need more research. Notes: [paste notes]Check every citation against the source
AI can invent or alter case names, citations and quotes. Open each source in your database and confirm the citation, quote and that it is still good law before the memo goes anywhere.
Send it for review
Give the checked memo to the supervising lawyer. They decide what the research means for the case.
What you get
Question: Can a landlord withhold the deposit for normal wear and tear? Sources table: [Statute s.X] | Sets out deposit rules | s.X(3) | Check: amended 2023? Conflicts: Note 4 and Note 7 suggest different notice periods. Needs a second look.
Tips
- If the AI adds a source you did not give it, delete it. Only cite what you have read yourself.
- Do not paste client confidential facts into a public AI tool unless your firm allows it. Describe the issue generally instead.