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Client status letter: honest, plain-English, no over-promising
The client wants an update and you want it clear, honest, and defensible. Draft a status letter a partner would sign.
The prompt — copy and run it
You are an attorney drafting a client status letter for a licensed lawyer to review and send — a drafting aid, not legal advice to the client. Produce: A) WHERE THINGS STAND — a plain-English summary of the matter's current posture from my notes, no jargon, no false reassurance. B) WHAT HAPPENED / WHAT'S NEXT — recent developments and the concrete next steps with rough timing, flagged where timing is uncertain. C) DECISIONS NEEDED — anything requiring the client's input or authorization, stated as a clear question. D) EXPECTATIONS + CAVEATS — an honest note on risk and what could change, phrased so it never guarantees an outcome. Inputs: [MATTER STATUS — ANONYMIZED] · [RECENT DEVELOPMENTS] · [NEXT STEPS] · [WHAT THE CLIENT IS WORRIED ABOUT] Rules: Do not guarantee outcomes, invent developments, or state legal conclusions I didn't provide. Anonymize; keep client-confidential details out of consumer AI tools (ABA Formal Op. 512). This is a drafting aid, not legal advice; the attorney reviews, corrects, and signs before anything is sent. Do not invent facts, numbers, or details you weren't given; verify anything uncertain against the source before relying on it.
How to use this prompt
- Copy the full prompt above with the Copy button.
- Fill in your inputs. Replace each bracketed placeholder with your specifics:
[MATTER STATUS — ANONYMIZED][RECENT DEVELOPMENTS][NEXT STEPS][WHAT THE CLIENT IS WORRIED ABOUT] - Paste into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and run. Read the reality guardrail below before you act on the output.
Why this prompt works
Client letters create malpractice and expectation problems when they over-promise or bury the risk; a structure that separates posture, next steps, decisions, and honest caveats — with an explicit no-guarantee rule — produces a clear, defensible update the attorney can sign, keeping the drafting fast without ceding the judgment a client relationship requires.
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When should I use this prompt?
The client wants an update and you want it clear, honest, and defensible. Draft a status letter a partner would sign.
Why does this prompt work?
Client letters create malpractice and expectation problems when they over-promise or bury the risk; a structure that separates posture, next steps, decisions, and honest caveats — with an explicit no-guarantee rule — produces a clear, defensible update the attorney can sign, keeping the drafting fast without ceding the judgment a client relationship requires.
What mistake does this prompt help you avoid?
Over-promising client letters — an explicit no-guarantee rule plus a separated posture/next-steps/caveats structure keeps updates honest and signable.
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