If you work as in-house counsel, you already know the job is not really about hard legal questions. It is contract review that eats three hours before lunch, a business team that cannot self-serve on a routine NDA, a renewal that ambushes you because nobody was tracking it, and a Slack message from someone who thinks you are the reason their deal is stuck. Research on in-house legal work in 2026 keeps landing on the same number: nearly all in-house attorneys report stress and burnout, and a quarter to 40 percent of their time goes to admin instead of actual legal work. Most of that admin is repetitive enough that Claude can take a real chunk of it off your plate, as long as you know what to ask for.
I put together 40 Claude AI prompts built specifically around the day-to-day work of in-house counsel: reviewing and redlining contracts, drafting and standardizing templates, running intake and triage, staying on top of compliance, giving business teams real risk advice instead of a flat no, communicating with frustrated stakeholders, and managing your own workload before it manages you. If you are brand new to Claude, start with how to use Claude AI as a complete beginner first, it takes five minutes and covers everything you need before you touch any of the prompts below.
Copy any prompt into Claude, fill in the bracketed details with your own facts and jurisdiction, and adjust the tone to match your company. Every prompt here follows the same simple pattern I use for all my prompts, the Role, Context, Task, Format structure, so feel free to tweak them once you see how they are built. One note before you start: none of this replaces your judgment or a licensed attorney's review. Treat every output as a first draft, not a final answer to sign or send.
Contract Review & Redlining
Prompt 01: First-pass NDA risk scan
Act as a senior in-house counsel doing a first-pass review of an NDA. I am pasting the NDA below. Our standard position is mutual confidentiality, a [TERM]-year term, no non-solicit, and governing law of [STATE/COUNTRY]. [PASTE NDA TEXT]. Flag every clause that deviates from our standard position, plus anything unusually broad, and give me a suggested fallback edit for each one you flag.
Prompt 02: Vendor MSA redline against playbook positions
I am in-house counsel redlining a vendor Master Services Agreement against our contract playbook. Here are our approved fallback positions on indemnification, liability caps, data protection, and termination: [PASTE PLAYBOOK POSITIONS]. Now compare them against this draft MSA: [PASTE DRAFT MSA]. Tell me which clauses conflict with our playbook, which are missing entirely, and give me a specific redline for each conflict.
Prompt 03: Indemnification clause comparison across drafts
I have three versions of the same contract's indemnification clause from three rounds of negotiation. Version 1: [PASTE]. Version 2: [PASTE]. Version 3: [PASTE]. Trace how the protection shifted at each round, tell me who gained or lost coverage, and tell me whether Version 3 still meets a minimum standard of mutual indemnification capped at [DOLLAR AMOUNT].
Prompt 04: Plain-English contract summary for a business stakeholder
Turn this contract's key terms into a plain-English summary a non-lawyer business stakeholder can act on: parties [PARTY NAMES], term [LENGTH], payment terms [TERMS], termination rights [RIGHTS], and unusual obligations [LIST]. Give me five one-sentence bullet points and one line naming the single deadline they cannot miss.
Prompt 05: Standard clause checklist builder
Build me a reusable pre-signature checklist for commercial agreements that flags if any of these clauses are missing or weaker than our standard: [LIST, e.g. limitation of liability, governing law, assignment, confidentiality, data protection, termination for convenience]. For each clause, tell me what a red-flag version looks like.
Prompt 06: Limitation of liability benchmarking
I am evaluating a proposed limitation of liability clause capped at [AMOUNT OR MULTIPLE] on a contract worth [ANNUAL VALUE], where the vendor touches [DATA TYPE OR SYSTEM]. Tell me whether this cap is adequate for the actual exposure, and if not, give me the specific carve-out language to request for data breach, IP infringement, or gross negligence.
Contract Drafting & Standardized Templates
Prompt 07: Draft a standard NDA from playbook positions
Draft a reusable mutual NDA template for us. Our required positions: mutual confidentiality, a [TERM]-year term, [X]-year survival of confidentiality after termination, no non-solicit or non-compete, and governing law of [STATE/COUNTRY]. Use bracketed placeholders for party names, effective date, and term so the business team can fill it in and send it without further legal review.
Prompt 08: Draft a vendor agreement from intake answers
Here is a completed vendor intake form: [PASTE FORM DETAILS: vendor name, service description, contract value, payment terms, data access level]. Draft a first-pass vendor services agreement using our standard fallback positions on indemnification, liability, termination for convenience, and data protection, and tell me which intake fields were missing or unclear.
Prompt 09: Build a self-serve contract template with fallback positions
I want to design a self-serve contract template for [CONTRACT TYPE, e.g. vendor purchases under $50,000] that business teams can use without looping in legal every time. Give me the fixed clauses that should never change, the variable fields they can safely edit, and the specific triggers that should force mandatory legal review before signature.
Prompt 10: Draft renewal amendment language
Draft a short amendment extending our agreement between [PARTY A] and [PARTY B], dated [ORIGINAL DATE]. We are extending the term by [DURATION] and changing pricing from [OLD TERMS] to [NEW TERMS], with everything else staying the same. Include a clause confirming all other original terms remain in full force.
Prompt 11: Convert a legal template into plain-English guidance
Here is our standard vendor agreement template: [PASTE TEMPLATE]. Write a short guidance note explaining what each section does in plain English, using the section's everyday name instead of its legal heading, so a non-lawyer can understand it in under two minutes.
Prompt 12: Draft data processing addendum clauses
Draft Data Processing Addendum clauses for a vendor that will process customer personal data on our behalf. We are subject to [APPLICABLE LAWS, e.g. GDPR, CCPA/CPRA], the vendor is located in [COUNTRY], and they will process [DATA TYPES]. Cover processing scope, sub-processor approval, breach notification timelines, cross-border transfer, and deletion of data on termination, with a one-line note on which requirement each clause satisfies.
Legal Ops, Intake & Triage
Prompt 13: Build a contract intake triage rubric
Design a triage rubric for incoming legal requests at our company, so not everything lands on a senior attorney's desk. Sort requests into tiers such as self-serve, junior review, senior review, and general counsel escalation, based on contract value, risk type, and urgency, and give me a target turnaround time for each tier.
Prompt 14: Weekly renewal and expiration tracking report
I am tracking contract renewals. Here is our list of active contracts with renewal dates, auto-renewal terms, and notice periods: [PASTE LIST]. Flag anything with a renewal or notice deadline in the next 60 days, and tell me which are auto-renewing versus needing active action from us.
Prompt 15: Draft a legal request intake form
Design an intake form for business teams to submit legal requests. Our most common request types are [LIST, e.g. NDA, vendor contract, marketing review, employment question]. Build the form with the exact fields legal needs to start work immediately, without overwhelming a non-lawyer submitter with legal terms.
Prompt 16: Categorize and prioritize a request backlog
Here is our current backlog of open legal requests, with request type, date submitted, and requester: [PASTE LIST]. Categorize everything by type and age, and flag anything open more than 10 business days as overdue, oldest first.
Prompt 17: Monthly outside counsel spend summary
Here are this month's outside counsel invoices and matter descriptions: [PASTE DATA]. Summarize total spend by firm and matter type, flag anything more than 20 percent over budget, and note any invoice missing a matter description.
Compliance & Regulatory Monitoring
Prompt 18: Draft a Generative AI acceptable use policy
Draft a Generative AI Acceptable Use Policy for our company. Employees in [DEPARTMENTS] are already using GenAI tools informally. Cover approved tools, input restrictions on confidential data and PII, output review requirements, vendor selection criteria, and recordkeeping, and give me a short employee-facing summary at the top.
Prompt 19: Summarize new privacy law changes affecting the business
Here is a new privacy law or amendment: [PASTE LAW TEXT OR SUMMARY]. Explain what changed, which parts of our business it actually affects such as marketing, data retention, or vendor contracts, and the compliance deadline, in one paragraph plus a bulleted list.
Prompt 20: Build a compliance deadline calendar
Help me build a compliance calendar for recurring regulatory obligations, including [LIST, e.g. annual privacy policy review, quarterly board report, state registration renewals]. For each one, tell me the due date, whether it looks on track, at risk, or missed, and who should own it.
Prompt 21: Contractor classification risk check
Assess worker classification risk for this contractor arrangement: duties [DESCRIBE], hours [DESCRIBE], supervision level [DESCRIBE], tools provided [DESCRIBE], duration [DESCRIBE]. The worker is currently a 1099 contractor. Tell me the risk level under [APPLICABLE TEST, e.g. ABC test or IRS common law test] and whether to keep the classification, add contractual safeguards, or convert to employee status.
Prompt 22: Vendor data security questionnaire review
Compare this vendor's completed security questionnaire against our minimum requirements. Our requirements: encryption at rest and in transit, [CERTIFICATION, e.g. SOC 2 Type II], breach notification within [X] hours, and named sub-processor disclosure. Vendor's answers: [PASTE ANSWERS]. Flag every gap and give me the follow-up question to ask for each one.
Risk Assessment & Business Advisory
Prompt 23: Translate legal risk into a business decision memo
Write a decision memo for a business leader who is not a lawyer. The legal risk is [DESCRIBE THE ISSUE]. Explain it in business terms: cost, likelihood, and worst-case outcome, not legal jargon, and give me a clear recommendation: proceed, proceed with modifications, or do not proceed.
Prompt 24: Go or no-go recommendation for a new vendor relationship
I need a go, no-go, or go-with-conditions recommendation on a new vendor relationship. The vendor is [NAME], the use case is [USE CASE], the contract terms are [KEY TERMS], and the data or systems involved are [DESCRIBE]. Weigh the legal and commercial risk against the business need and give me one clear recommendation with any required conditions.
Prompt 25: IP ownership review for contractor agreements
Review whether this contractor agreement's IP assignment language actually covers what was delivered. The contractor built [DESCRIBE DELIVERABLE]. Here is the agreement: [PASTE AGREEMENT]. Flag any gap such as missing work-for-hire language, unassigned pre-existing IP, or third-party open-source components, and tell me if we need an amendment before using this commercially.
Prompt 26: Pressure-test a proposed workaround to a legal requirement
A business team wants to work around this legal requirement: [DESCRIBE REQUIREMENT]. Their proposed workaround is [DESCRIBE WORKAROUND]. Tell me every way this workaround could fail to satisfy the underlying requirement, and whether there is any modified version of it that would actually be acceptable.
Prompt 27: Diplomatic pushback memo to an executive
Write a short memo pushing back on an executive who wants to move forward despite a flagged legal risk. The executive is [NAME/TITLE], the risk is [DESCRIBE], and they said [PARAPHRASE THEIR POSITION]. Acknowledge their urgency and business judgment, but be unambiguous the risk needs to be addressed before launch, and offer one path that gets close to their timeline while addressing it.
Prompt 28: Board-level legal risk summary
Prepare the legal risk section of a quarterly board update. This quarter's notable matters: [LIST]. Summarize each matter's status, financial exposure if known, and what the board needs to know or decide, ending each one with a clear line on whether board action is needed.
Internal Communication & Stakeholder Training
Prompt 29: Explain a contract clause to a confused business partner
A sales rep is asking what this contract clause means so they can explain it to a customer in five minutes: [PASTE CLAUSE]. Explain what it actually means and does not mean in two sentences, then give me one sentence the rep can say word-for-word if the customer pushes back.
Prompt 30: Lunch-and-learn deck on contracting basics
Build a lunch-and-learn presentation outline on contracting basics for new managers who have never negotiated a contract before. Cover the lifecycle of a contract, the five things they should always check before signing, and clear triggers for when to escalate to legal. Give me 8 to 10 slides with a title and 2 to 3 bullets each.
Prompt 31: Respond to a frustrated business partner about a delay
A business partner is frustrated that their contract review is taking longer than expected. They said: [PARAPHRASE THEIR MESSAGE]. The real reason for the delay is [REASON]. Write a short, warm but professional reply that acknowledges their frustration honestly, explains the real reason without sounding defensive, and gives a concrete next step and timeline, in four sentences or fewer.
Prompt 32: FAQ doc for the business team's common legal questions
Build an FAQ document answering our most common questions from the business: [LIST, e.g. can I sign this NDA myself, how long does contract review take, do I need legal for a free trial agreement]. Answer each one in three sentences or fewer so a non-lawyer can act on it without a follow-up question.
Prompt 33: Slack-friendly explanation for a request needing more time
Write a short, friendly Slack message explaining that [REQUEST] is delayed because [REASON], with a new expected completion date of [DATE]. Keep it casual but professional, two to three sentences, no legal jargon, and don't sound evasive.
Prompt 34: Facilitate a post-mortem after a contract dispute
Facilitate a post-mortem on this contract dispute or near-miss: [PASTE WHAT HAPPENED]. Tell me what went wrong, such as a missing clause or a missed deadline, what worked well, and one specific process change that would prevent it from happening again.
Workload, Wellness & Professional Growth
Prompt 35: Weekly workload audit: legal work vs admin time
Here is what I worked on this week, roughly categorized as contract review, drafting, meetings, admin, or firefighting: [LIST YOUR WEEK]. Estimate the rough percentage split across categories, flag if admin or firefighting time is over 30 percent, and tell me the single biggest time drain plus one idea to reduce it next week.
Prompt 36: Build a case for additional headcount
Help me build a business case for additional legal headcount. Our workload data shows [DESCRIBE, e.g. request volume up 40 percent year over year, turnaround time up from 3 to 7 days]. Connect the data to business risk such as deal delays, compliance exposure, or turnover risk, and give me a one-page memo with a specific headcount ask and the three strongest data points to lead with.
Prompt 37: Reframe a chaotic week into a prioritized plan
Here is everything on my plate after a chaotic, reactive week: [LIST EVERYTHING, urgent and non-urgent]. Sort it into what genuinely must happen tomorrow, what can wait until this week, and what should be delegated or declined, with one line of reasoning for each item.
Prompt 38: Process a hard day before writing to the team
Today was genuinely hard: [DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW IT FELT]. Help me separate what actually happened from what I am feeling right now, and figure out what, if anything, is worth saying to my team tomorrow, and what I should leave unsaid.
Prompt 39: Development plan: from order-taker to strategic partner
I want to move from being seen as an order-taker to being included earlier in business decisions. Right now most of my interactions with the business are reactive: reviews, approvals, one-off questions. Build me a two-quarter development plan with three specific actions per quarter, not vague advice, and one metric per quarter to know if it's working.
Prompt 40: Monthly self-review of wins and lessons
Help me prepare a monthly self-review ahead of a performance conversation. Here is what I worked on this month, including wins, near-misses, and anything I'd do differently: [LIST YOUR MONTH]. Organize it into key wins with business impact stated, what I'd do differently, and one honest growth focus for next month.
Make These Prompts Part of Your Routine
None of these prompts replace your judgment, and none of them are a substitute for a licensed attorney's review. What they do is take the repetitive first pass off your plate, whether that is scanning an NDA, drafting a routine amendment, or explaining a delay to a frustrated stakeholder, so the hours you get back go to the decisions that actually need a lawyer in the room. Start with whichever section matches today's biggest headache, whether that is a contract sitting in your inbox or a week that got away from you.
If your role also involves running a small, high-pressure team, it is worth comparing notes with how other frontline roles use Claude day to day. I wrote a similar prompt pack for postal service officers that covers a lot of the same operational and compliance ground, just from a very different angle.
Every prompt above is included in the free downloadable pack below, formatted as a designed PDF where each one is also tagged with the exact Claude model (Haiku 4.5, Sonnet 5, Opus 4.8, or Fable 5) and the surface to run it in (Chat, Projects, Cowork, or Schedule), so you are never guessing which one to reach for.
