From Keywords to Conversations: How Law Firms Can Unlock the Power of GenAI Prompts

From Keywords to Conversations: How Law Firms Can Unlock the Power of GenAI Prompts

According to an EDRM article by John Tredennick, CEO and founder of Merlin Search Technologies, generative AI (GenAI) enables attorneys to interact with their documents using natural, conversational prompts, rather than relying on complex Boolean searches or rigid syntax. 

This shift makes AI more accessible, enabling lawyers to ask questions in plain English and receive immediate, context-rich answers, often accompanied by links to source materials. However, Tredennick points out that the change is not just technological but cognitive. Which is why learning to create effective GenAI prompts is vital.

At its core, prompting is about asking good questions, something lawyers are trained to do. Even basic prompts can yield valuable results, and more detailed questions can uncover nuanced patterns, relationships, and timelines. The article highlights example prompts, such as “Who approved the project, and what was their role?” or “Compare the public statements with internal discussions about the merger,” which can produce structured outputs that would take hours to compile manually.

Crafting an effective prompt means providing context, stating specific goals, and specifying desired output formats. Rather than writing cryptic keywords, Tredennick says attorneys can ask, “Summarize safety testing discussions before FDA submission,” and the AI can return a chronological summary with named participants and document citations.

As investigations evolve, prompting can follow a progressive framework, from broad overviews to targeted follow-ups, analytical comparisons, and synthesis. Whether reviewing product liability issues or uncovering accounting irregularities, the approach remains consistent: start with a question and refine it iteratively.

Managing partners should recognize writing GenAI prompts as a practical skill, one that requires no technical background and can be applied across teams. Firms that empower lawyers to explore GenAI through simple, structured prompts will gain efficiency, reduce review costs, and surface insights that might otherwise be missed.