Write a one-page board summary of a litigation memo

About this exercise

Summarize the status memo for the board in plain text, under 150 words, as exactly these labeled lines: Matter:, Where it stands:, Next dates:, Amount claimed:, then a final line exactly: Prepared for the board - counsel to approve before circulation. Leave out counsel's view of the case and any reserve figure. Present the amount as what the plaintiff claims, not as owed.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Counsel opinion repeated. The AI includes 'claims are weak, expect to win'. Try: Say: "Leave out counsel's view of the case and any reserve."
• Claim stated as owed. The AI writes the damages as exposure. Try: Say: "Present the amount as claimed by the plaintiff."
• Wrong closing line. The AI ends with an offer or sign-off. Try: Say: "Final line exactly: Prepared for the board - counsel to approve before circulation."
• Dates mixed up. The AI confuses discovery close and mediation dates. Try: Say: "Copy dates exactly from the memo."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 15 words."
• Markdown. The AI bolds words or adds headings. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

• Four labels
• Board reader
• Leave out opinion
• As claimed
• Exact final line

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