Prompts 101

Let's dive into the concepts of prompts, effective tools for writing them, and the distinction between a prompt and prompting in the context of artificial intelligence (AI).

What is a Prompt in AI?

In AI, especially in the realm of language models like GPT-5, a "prompt" is the initial text or input provided to the model to generate a response. Think of it as the starting point for a conversation or a task you want the AI to perform. The quality and specificity of the prompt can greatly influence the relevance and accuracy of the AI's output.

For example, if you're using an AI model to draft a legal document, your prompt might be: "Write an introductory paragraph for an immigration application explaining the applicant's qualifications and reasons for applying."

Note: You should never submit confidential information to AI models that are not domain-specific and built for handling sensitive client and lawyer information. Visalaw.ai is secure and accurate for immigration legal purposes. Generic LLMs store and train their models based on the information provided. Using non-domain specific LLMs for immigration legal work poses a significant risk to your clients and to you as the legal practitioner. 

Effective Tools in Writing a Prompt

Creating effective prompts is crucial to getting useful and relevant outputs from AI models. Here are some tools and techniques to help craft effective prompts:

1. Clarity and Specificity: The more precise your prompt, the better the AI can understand and respond to your request. Avoid vague language and be as detailed as possible. Example: Instead of "Explain immigration law," you could say, "Summarize the key points of the Immigration and Nationality Act relevant to family-based visas."
2. Context Provision: Providing context helps the AI understand the background and the specifics of what you're asking. Example: "In the context of U.S. immigration law, describe the process for obtaining a green card through employment."
3. Step-by-Step Guidance: If the task is complex, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Example: "First, outline the basic eligibility criteria for a work visa. Then, explain the application process."
4. Role Specification: Specify the role or perspective the AI should adopt to tailor the response appropriately. Example: "As an immigration attorney, draft an email to a client explaining the recent changes in H-1B visa regulations."
5. Examples: Providing examples of the desired output can help the AI understand the format and style you are looking for. Example: "Write a brief summary similar to this example: [Insert an example of your preffered format or style]."

Difference Between a Prompt and Prompting

• Prompt: As explained, a prompt is the initial text or instruction given to the AI. It sets the stage for what the AI needs to generate.
• Prompting: This is the broader practice or process of providing prompts to the AI. It involves the strategic formulation of prompts to guide the AI towards producing desired outputs. Prompting can be an iterative process, where you refine and adjust your prompts based on the AI's responses to achieve more accurate or useful results.

Example to Illustrate the Difference

• Prompt: "Draft a letter to the immigration office explaining the reasons for a visa extension request."
• Prompting: This involves a series of interactions where you might start with the above prompt, review the AI's output, and then refine the prompt further to get a more precise or comprehensive response. For instance:
  1. Initial Prompt: "Draft a letter to the immigration office explaining the reasons for a visa extension request."
  2. Review the AI's output.
  3. Refined Prompt: "Include specific details about the applicant's job and why their presence is crucial for the ongoing project, and mention any relevant documents attached to support the request."

Example of a Strong Prompt for AI

Here is an example of a well-rounded prompt using the above techniques. You can find this prompt on Prompt.law, a free service for legal professionals to find and share their prompts: 

Drafting an Asylum Declaration from Client Interview Notes or Recordings

Use this prompt to draft a compelling, factually grounded asylum declaration from interview notes, intake forms, or uploaded audio/text records, organized around legal standards for persecution and credibility.

You are a legal assistant trained in asylum law. Your task is to help draft a clear, emotionally compelling, and legally relevant asylum declaration based on the client’s testimony, interview notes, and supporting documentation. The declaration will be submitted with Form I-589 or in immigration court as the applicant’s sworn account of past persecution and/or fear of future harm.

The user may upload:

Handwritten or typed interview notes

Transcripts of intake interviews or affidavits

Audio recordings or draft declarations

Supporting documents that reference events (e.g., police reports, medical records, articles)

You must:

Carefully review all uploaded materials before drafting

Extract and organize only the facts explicitly provided—do not invent details or embellish the story

If key facts are missing (e.g., timeline of events, dates of entry, harm suffered), ask one clarifying question at a time

Once you have sufficient detail, draft a declaration that includes:

Opening Paragraph stating name, country of origin, and purpose of the declaration

Background Section with basic personal history (e.g., family, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, etc.)

Narrative of Harm and Persecution (organized chronologically and tied to protected ground)

Flight and Entry to the U.S. (including fear of return and reason for seeking asylum)

Fear of Future Harm (and why internal relocation is not an option)

Closing Statement affirming truth and requesting protection

The tone should be authentic, personal, and respectful, written in the client’s voice (first person) and suitable for inclusion with an I-589 filing or EOIR submission.

General Principles for Creating Your Output:

Use only uploaded and user-provided material—do not make up people, events, or motivations

Do not suggest legal strategies or give legal advice

Do not use phrases like “based on the context” or fictional narrative styles

Avoid flowery or overly dramatic language; keep the focus on clarity and emotional truth

Do not add fictional dialogue or speculative emotional states

Response Quality Protocol:

Verify Information:

Confirm consistency across timeline, dates, and narrative events

Check that the facts support at least one protected ground (race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group)

Final Review:

Ensure structure follows a logical, chronological format

Flag any missing elements that are typically expected in an asylum declaration (e.g., threats, police involvement, reasons for not reporting)

End Objective:

Deliver a complete, emotionally authentic, and factually accurate draft asylum declaration that meets credibility standards and supports the client's legal claim.

Feedback Prompt:

Ask if the user would like the declaration translated, shortened for use in a hearing outline, or split into a declaration and separate timeline exhibit.

Why Creating Effective Prompts for AI is Worth Time and Effort

Sometimes you have to balance deadlines with your quality considerations, especially in law. But, setting aside the time to create optimized AI prompts that you can turn into templates can supercharge your efficiency and quality in the long run.

By understanding and utilizing these concepts, you can effectively leverage AI tools to assist with tasks such as drafting documents, summarizing legal texts, or generating client communications.

One of the reasons AI tools are gaining popularity is their flexibility. Like having a fantastic new junior employee, the better your instruction, the better the product.

The AI output will only ever be as good as the input it receives. So, it is important to take your time crafting a strong input. This will save you time in the long run and once you have some strong prompt templates, you can reuse those and optimize as needed instead of creating them from scratch every time you have a new task.

But if you are short on time and need a prompt now, check out Prompt.law to see if there are prompts already created that can help your practice run smoother.

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