Writing Matters

• Citation: Vol. 29 No. 2 Pg. 0066
• Publication year: 2023
• Pages: 0066
• topic: Technology

Writing Matters Vol. 29 No. 2 Pg. 66 Georgia Bar Journal October 2023

Artificial Intelligence Is Here to Help

While caution on over-relying on technology is appropriate, lawyers are using ChatGPT (and similar services) to produce better legal writing. Generative AI like ChatGPT is here now, and it is here to help.

BY DAVID HRICIK AND KAREN J. SNEDDON

In our last installment of "Writing Matters," we showcased the potential value of ChatGPT by relying on it to draft the entire column. This installment of "Writing Matters" explains how we did that, so you can understand how to use one "prompt"—a request for ChatGPT to draft text—to generate an outline and then to use iterative prompts to add detail to that outline. Along the way, we share how similar prompts can generate useful outlines or structure for common legal documents. While caution on over-relying on technology is appropriate, lawyers are using ChatGPT (and similar services) to produce better legal writing. Generative AI like ChatGPT is here now, and it is here to help.

How "We" Wrote the Last Installment

The last installment began by asking ChatGPT this question: "What five ways can lawyers improve their writing?" One of the five suggestions it provided was this:

Clear and concise language: Lawyers should strive to use clear and straightforward language in their writing. Avoid unnecessary jargon, complex sentence structures and convoluted expressions. Focus on conveying your ideas in a concise and easily understandable manner, ensuring that your message is crystal clear to your audience.

Then, we asked an "iterative" prompt, a request for more detail on one aspect of that. We asked, "What are two examples of how lawyers can avoid unnecessary jargon?" One of its replies was:

Use plain language: Instead of using complex legal terminology, opt for plain language that is easily understood by a...