Every prompt from the book, organized by chapter. Adapt them to the specific facts and requirements of each matter. All AI output requires review; legal content requires independent verification against primary sources in your jurisdiction.
Prompt Library by Chapter
Chapter 1 — AI Literacy · Concept Orientation
I am a paralegal in a family law practice. I need to understand [specific concept]. Please explain the general legal framework and note where the law commonly varies by state. I will verify all specifics against our jurisdiction's statute and case law.
Chapter 2 — UPL · Self-Check
I am preparing to [describe task]. Please identify any aspects that require attorney judgment rather than paralegal execution, and flag portions the attorney should specifically review before finalization.
Chapter 3 — Intake Questionnaire
Please create a comprehensive intake questionnaire for [dissolution / custody modification / post-decree enforcement]. Include sections for: domestic violence screening, conflict check parties, client and opposing party identification, factual background, children's information, financial overview, prior court orders, and desired outcome.
Chapter 3 — Intake Summary Template
Please create a template for a family law intake summary with sections for: case identification, DV screening result, conflict check result, matter type and background, key dates, parties and children, preliminary financial picture, existing court orders, immediate needs, documents received, and attorney action items.
Chapter 4 — Research Framework
I am researching [specific family law issue] for a case in [state]. Help me develop a research framework: key legal concepts and debates, the governing statute framework, main tests or factors courts apply, suggested search terms for Westlaw or LexisNexis. Note state variations so I know what to verify in our jurisdiction. Do not provide case citations — I will find them in Westlaw.
Chapter 5 — Parenting Plan Draft
I am drafting a parenting plan under attorney supervision. The custody arrangement is: [describe]. Children: [ages]. Please draft a comprehensive parenting plan addressing: legal custody, parenting time schedule, holiday schedule, communication protocols, transportation, dispute resolution, and modification procedure. Flag items requiring attorney judgment.
Chapter 5 — Financial Affidavit Prep Checklist
Please create a checklist for gathering information to complete a financial affidavit in a dissolution proceeding. Include categories for: income (all sources), expenses (monthly), assets (real property, financial accounts, retirement, vehicles, personal property, business interests), debts, and supporting documents needed for each category.
Chapter 6 — Discovery Management
For a [dissolution / custody / modification] case, please create (1) a discovery plan template listing document categories and witnesses typically needed, (2) a deposition preparation checklist, and (3) a discovery document tracking log capturing: what was requested, from whom, response deadline, and status.
Chapter 7 — Child Support Verification Checklist
I am preparing to run a child support calculation for review by the attorney. Please help me create a pre-calculation checklist covering: income inputs to verify (for each party), allowable deductions to confirm under our state's guidelines, expenses to document (childcare, health insurance), custody schedule impact on the calculation, and sources to confirm I am using the current version of the guidelines.
Chapter 7 — Parenting Plan Completeness Review
I have a draft parenting plan. Please review it against a comprehensive checklist of provisions a family law parenting plan should address: legal custody, physical custody schedule, holiday and vacation schedule, communication between parents, communication with child, transportation, school enrollment, healthcare, extracurricular activities, introduction of new partners, travel, relocation, dispute resolution, and modification procedure. Identify any gaps.
Chapter 8 — Family Law Deadline Checklist
Please develop a deadline checklist for [contested dissolution / custody modification / post-decree proceeding]. Include: triggering event, governing rule, calculation method, consequence of missing. I will verify all timeframes against our jurisdiction's rules.
Chapter 9 — Client Update Letter
I am drafting a client update letter for attorney review communicating: [authorized factual updates — hearing date, document needed, next step]. Do not include legal advice or case assessment. Keep it clear, professional, and reassuring. I will review for accuracy and obtain attorney approval before sending.
Chapter 10 — Trial Preparation Checklist
Please develop a family law trial preparation checklist organized by timeline (6 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week, day before, day of) for a [contested dissolution / custody trial] covering: exhibit preparation, financial exhibit organization, witness coordination, trial notebook assembly, legal standard compilation, and court logistics.
Chapter 11 — Professional Development Plan
I am a paralegal in family law with [describe experience level]. Help me develop a professional development plan covering: key knowledge areas for family law paralegal depth, relevant certification options (NALA APC Family Law, others), continuing education resources, and practical skills development priorities. I will verify program details against current NALA and AFCC resources.
NALA Canon 3 Quick Reference — Family Law Application
Canon 3 of NALA's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility prohibits paralegals from giving legal opinions or advice, establishing attorney-client relationships, or engaging in any act that could constitute the unauthorized practice of law. In family law specifically, the following categories carry heightened UPL risk:
1. Custody and parenting time advice. "What are my chances of getting primary custody?" "Is this parenting schedule reasonable?" "Does the other parent's behavior warrant a modification?" → Attorney question.
2. Settlement evaluation. "Is this settlement fair?" "Should I accept this property division?" "Is the proposed support figure reasonable?" → Attorney question.
3. Support calculations transmitted to clients. Never give AI-generated support figures to clients. Every figure reaching a client comes from current state guidelines + attorney review.
4. Property characterization. "Is this marital or separate property?" → Attorney question requiring legal analysis of facts and jurisdiction-specific law.
5. Modification advice. "Do I have grounds to modify?" → Attorney question.
The unifying response
"That is an important question. Let me make sure the attorney addresses it with you directly." — and then ensure the attorney actually does.
AI Platform Quick Reference
Platform capabilities, pricing, and features change frequently. Verify current information at each platform's official documentation. Use firm-approved enterprise tools — not consumer accounts — for any work involving client information.
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Enterprise version offers data protection appropriate for firm use. Useful for checklist generation, document structure review, orientation research. Never paste identifiable client information into consumer versions.
Claude (Anthropic)
Strong on long document review and careful analysis. Business/enterprise tier offers appropriate data protection. Useful for reviewing lengthy drafts, financial disclosures, discovery responses — with attorney review of AI output.
Grok (xAI) & Gemini (Google)
Grok provides real-time information access; Gemini integrates with Google Workspace. Same verification requirements apply. Same confidentiality analysis applies before use with client information.
Specialized legal AI tools
Legal-specific AI tools (Westlaw's AI features, Lexis+ AI, Harvey, and others) are increasingly available and often include better confidentiality terms, citation verification, and jurisdiction awareness than general-purpose AI. Know which tools your firm uses and how they differ from consumer AI.
AI Verification Checklist
Use this checklist before any AI-generated content appears in work product for the attorney, client, court, or opposing counsel.
Citations and authority
☐ Every case citation confirmed in Westlaw or LexisNexis.
☐ Every statute reference confirmed against current text in your jurisdiction's code.
☐ Every rule reference confirmed against current state and local rules.
☐ Citator check run (KeyCite / Shepard's) to confirm source is not overruled, superseded, or negatively treated.
☐ Citation format verified per your jurisdiction's required citation style.
Calculations and quantitative claims
☐ Child support: calculated using your jurisdiction's current guidelines with verified inputs. Attorney reviewed before any figure reaches the client.
☐ Spousal support: consistent with your jurisdiction's current statutory framework. Attorney reviewed.
☐ Date calculations for deadlines: verified against the controlling rule's calculation method (calendar vs. business days, service rules, etc.).
Legal conclusions and factual claims
☐ Every description of legal standards, holdings, or requirements traced to primary source.
☐ Every jurisdiction-specific claim confirmed to apply to your state — not a national average or another state's rule.
☐ Factual claims about the matter confirmed against the file (pleadings, orders, financial disclosures, correspondence).
☐ Anything requiring legal judgment is flagged for attorney review — not presented as a paralegal conclusion.
The bottom line
If you cannot verify it, do not include it. An unverified AI-generated fact, citation, calculation, or legal claim has no place in family law work product. Flag unverifiable content for removal or confirmation — never include it on the assumption that it is probably correct.