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How to Formulate Prompts for Legal Research/Analysis
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A legal research prompt has two basic parts:
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 1. Instructions (what the the system to do with the fact pattern)
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 2. Context (adequate information about the fact pattern)
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For a meaningful reply, sufficient information is crucial:
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 1. Furnish enough context so the prompt is comprehensible and relevant training data can be pinpointed
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 2. Furnish clear and precise instructions on your expectations from the system
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Legal Research Prompt Example Using 4 Prompt Elements (RICE)
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Prompt 1Role: You are an expert lawyer who specializes in Arizona DUI law.

Instructions: Please find and summarize relevant Arizona statutes and cases about about what constitutes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle.

Context: The question is whether the likelihood of Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle. The facts are that a woman named Drunka was arrested and charged with a DUI in Tucson, Arizona after a police officer found her drunk and sleeping in the back seat of her car while parked on the side of a two lane highway. When the police officer woke her up and asked her why she was parked there, she told him that she wasn’t sure and didn’t really remember. Her keys were in the ignition, but the car engine was not on, and neither were the lights or radio. She is not planning to deny she was drunk, so it is not necessary to address that issue.

Expectations: In addition to the summaries of relevant Arizona statutes and cases, please provide a comprehensive legal analysis and well-reasoned answer to their legal question which is supported by relevant legal authorities.
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Elements of a Prompt (RICE)
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R - Role
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Assign the AI system a role to give it more context about what it is suppose to do.
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Example 1You are an expert legal researcher and I have a hypothetical question.
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Example 2You are an expert lawyer who specializes in Arizona DUI law.
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I - Instructions
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Specifically tell the system what you want it to do with the context (aka fact pattern) provided. Sometimes this is combined with your desired expectations.
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Example 1Please analyze this issue and then list and summarize the relevant Arizona statutes or federal USC sections and CFR sections.
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Example 2Instructions: You essential tasks include:

1. Analyzing the fact pattern
2. Conducting comprehensive legal research on statutes and case law about what constitutes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle
3. Analyze how the statutes and case law precent apply to the facts
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Example 3Find and cite as many relevant cases as possible from the specific jurisdiction that apply to the legal issues. Summarize the facts, key rules, holdings, and legal tests from the cases.
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C - Context
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This is the information you are supplying the system about your question. Be sure to furnish enough detailed information (context (aka fact pattern)) so the prompt is comprehensible and relevant training data can be pinpointed
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Example 1Sarah, a 15-year-old high school student, started working part-time at a local commercial laundry facility to save money for college in Tucson, Arizona. The laundry manager, aware of Sarah's age, assigned her to work late night shifts that extended past 10 PM on school nights and sometimes required her to operate dangerous industrial laundry equipment. After several months, Sarah's parents discovered her work schedule and the nature of her tasks. They are upset and want to know if this is a violation of Arizona or federal child labor laws.
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Example 2The question is whether the likelihood of Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle. The facts are that a woman named Drunka was arrested and charged with a DUI in Tucson, Arizona after a police officer found her drunk and sleeping in the back seat of her car while parked on the side of a two lane highway. When the police officer woke her up and asked her why she was parked there, she told him that she wasn’t sure and didn’t really remember. Her keys were in the ignition, but the car engine was not on, and neither were the lights or radio. She is not planning to deny she was drunk, so it is not necessary to address that issue.
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E - Expectations
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Provide details about your expected response. Sometimes this is combined with the instructions.
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Example 1Please provide the user with a comprehensive legal analysis, including detailed research summaries and a well-reasoned answer to their legal question, supported by relevant legal authorities.
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Example 2Please provide a well-structured memorandum of no less than 3 pages. It should have the following sections - Question(s) Presented, Brief Answer, Facts, Discussion, Conclusion. The memorandum should be well organized and analyze in detail whether the employer violated Arizona or federal labor laws.
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Follow Up Questions
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Just like when working with a person, you usually have to ask follow up questions to improve your results.
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Example 1Great! Can you look again to identify some more relevant cases on the issue?.
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Example 2Great, but could you flesh out the memo with more relevant Arizona cases and make the discussion more detailed?
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Chain of Thought Analysis
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Encourage analysis (chain of thought reasoning) by using steps and sequential instructions. (Note: You can invoke analysis by giving steps in separate prompts.)
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Example 1Let's take this step by step.
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Example 2Instructions: Your essential tasks include:

1. Analyzing the fact pattern
2. Conducting comprehensive legal research on statutes and case law about what constitutes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle
3. Analyze how the statutes and case law precent apply to the facts
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Prompts Example 1 - For Case Law Research
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Prompt 1Role: You are an expert lawyer specializing in employment law, with a focus on child labor regulations.

Instructions: I am conducting some legal research on the fact pattern below. Please find and summarize as many Arizona and federal relevant statutes and regulations as possible, and then explain how they apply to the facts.

Context: Sarah, a 15-year-old high school student, started working part-time at a local commercial laundry facility to save money for college in Tucson, Arizona. The laundry manager, aware of Sarah's age, assigned her to work late night shifts that extended past 10 PM on school nights and sometimes required her to operate dangerous industrial laundry equipment. After several months, Sarah's parents discovered her work schedule and the nature of her tasks. They are upset and want to know if this is a violation of Arizona or federal child labor laws.

Expectations: Provide a comprehensive, well-organized legal analysis that cites relevant laws, applies them to the facts provided, and offers a clear conclusion.
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Prompt 2 (Follow Up Prompt)Great! Are there any other relevant statutes or regulations cases you can find?
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Prompt Example 2 - For Legal Research/Analysis (Same as the example above)
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Prompt 1Role: You are an expert lawyer who specializes in Arizona DUI law.

Instructions: Please find and summarize relevant Arizona statutes and cases about about what constitutes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle.

Context: The question is whether the likelihood of Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle. The facts are that a woman named Drunka was arrested and charged with a DUI in Tucson, Arizona after a police officer found her drunk and sleeping in the back seat of her car while parked on the side of a two lane highway. When the police officer woke her up and asked her why she was parked there, she told him that she wasn’t sure and didn’t really remember. Her keys were in the ignition, but the car engine was not on, and neither were the lights or radio. She is not planning to deny she was drunk, so it is not necessary to address that issue.

Expectations: In addition to the summaries of relevant Arizona statutes and cases, please provide a comprehensive legal analysis and well-reasoned answer to their legal question which is supported by relevant legal authorities.
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Prompt Example 3 - For Legal Research/Analysis
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Prompt 2Role: Hiya! I am doing some legal research today! You are an expert lawyer who specializes in Arizona DUI law!
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Prompt 1Context (aka Legal Fact Pattern): The question is whether the likelihood of Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle. The facts are that a woman named Drunka was arrested and charged with a DUI in Tucson, Arizona after a police officer found her drunk and sleeping in the back seat of her car while parked on the side of a two lane highway. When the police officer woke her up and asked her why she was parked there, she told him that she wasn’t sure and didn’t really remember. Her keys were in the ignition, but the car engine was not on, and neither were the lights or radio. She is not planning to deny she was drunk, so it is not necessary to address that issue. Please ponder this issue but don't do anything until I ask you to!
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Prompt 2Instructions: You essential tasks include:

1. Analyzing the fact pattern
2. Conducting comprehensive legal research on statutes and case law about what constitutes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle
3. Analyze how the statutes and case law precent apply to the facts

Expectations: Please provide the user with relevant Arizona statutes and cases, a comprehensive legal analysis and well-reasoned answer to their legal question which is supported by relevant legal authorities.
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Follow Up Prompt Great! Can you look again to identify some more relevant cases on the issue?
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Prompt Example 4 - For Legal Research (Works best with paid version of Claude - Claude 3)
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Prompt 1Role: As a highly skilled legal research assistant, carefully analyze the legal fact pattern provided by the user. Role: As a highly skilled legal research assistant, carefully analyze the legal fact pattern provided by the user.

Context (aka Legal Fact Pattern): In Tucson, Arizona, Maria, a roofer for SunRoof Inc., suffered heatstroke and severe dehydration after her supervisor, John, denied her water breaks during extreme temperatures exceeding 110°F, violating company policy. Maria filed for worker's compensation and seeks to sue SunRoof Inc., alleging John's refusal constituted an intentional disregard for her safety. I want to know if John's actions were sufficiently intentional to allow Maria to sue for a tort or if her remedies are limited to workers' compensation.

Instructions:

Follow these steps:
1. Identify the key legal issues and relevant jurisdiction based on the facts.
2. Research and cite the most relevant statutes from the specific jurisdiction that apply to the legal issues. Summarize the key rules and legal principles established by the statutes.
3. Find and cite as many relevant cases as possible from the specific jurisdiction that apply to the legal issues. Summarize the facts, key rules, holdings, and legal tests from the cases.
4. Review your summaries to ensure accuracy and thoroughness.
5. Analyze how a court would likely apply the law to the facts and rule on the legal issues based on the applicable statutes and precedent. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different legal positions. Provide a clear, concise answer to the legal question, supported by citations to relevant legal authorities.

Expectations: The goal is to provide the user with a comprehensive legal analysis, including detailed research summaries and a well-reasoned answer to their legal question, supported by relevant legal authorities.
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Prompts Example 5 - Writing a Very Skeletal Legal Memo (Works best with paid version of Claude - Claude 3)
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Prompt 1Context (aka Legal Fact Pattern): The question is whether the likelihood of Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle. The facts are that a woman named Drunka was arrested and charged with a DUI in Tucson, Arizona after a police officer found her drunk and sleeping in the back seat of her car while parked on the side of a two lane highway. When the police officer woke her up and asked her why she was parked there, she told him that she wasn’t sure and didn’t really remember. Her keys were in the ignition, but the car engine was not on, and neither were the lights or radio. She is not planning to deny she was drunk, so it is not necessary to address that issue.

Role: You are an expert lawyer who specializes in Arizona DUI law.

Instructions: Your essential tasks include:

1. Analyzing the fact pattern
2. Conducting comprehensive legal research on statutes and case law about what constitutes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle
3. Analyze how the statutes and case law precent apply to the facts
4. Drafting a detailed legal memorandum on whether Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle which is supported by Arizona case law precedent and statutes.

Expectations: Please provide a well-structured memorandum of no less than 2500 words. It should have the following sections - Question(s) Presented, Brief Answer, Facts, Discussion, Conclusion. The memorandum should be well organized and analyze in detail whether Drunka is likely to be convicted of DUI based on being in actual physical control of a vehicle with citations to relevant Arizona case law precedent and statutes, and it should provide a well-reasoned conclusion.
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Follow Up Prompt Great, but could you flesh out the memo with more relevant Arizona cases and make the discussion more detailed?
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Follow Up Prompt That is better! But it is still only 1200 words. Could you try again to flesh out the memo and make the discussion longer and more detailed?