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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.
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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Frequently asked
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?
{'code': 'PF02', 'note': '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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