How to Use Claude for Legal Document Review 2026
TL;DR: A step-by-step guide with copy-paste prompts you can use immediately.
Step 1: Upload the full document
Claude’s 200K context window handles entire contracts. Upload and ask: ‘Summarize this contract highlighting key obligations and deadlines.’
Step 2: Identify risks
Ask: ‘What are the riskiest clauses in this contract? Flag anything unusual, one-sided, or potentially problematic.’
Step 3: Compare versions
Upload both versions: ‘Compare these two contract versions. List every change and assess whether each change favors buyer or seller.’
Step 4: Extract key terms
Prompt: ‘Extract all financial terms, deadlines, termination clauses, and liability limits from this agreement.’
Step 5: Disclaimer
AI is a powerful review tool but does not replace legal advice. Always have a qualified attorney review important contracts.
Pro Tips
- Save your best prompts as templates for future use
- AI provides first drafts — always review and customize the output
- Iterate on responses: ask for refinements until the output matches your needs
- Combine multiple AI tools for the best results
FAQ
Which AI tool is best for this?
Start with ChatGPT (free) for most tasks. Use Claude for long documents and quality writing. Use Perplexity for research with sources.
Can I rely on AI output for professional use?
AI output should always be reviewed by a human. Use it as a starting point, then apply your expertise and judgment.
Ready to get started?
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