Complete a Legal Analysis Project

The Full Workflow in Action

In the previous lesson, we explored compliance, due diligence, and workflows. Now let’s build on that foundation. You’ve learned the individual techniques. Now it’s time to combine them into a single, end-to-end legal analysis. This capstone simulates a real matter—the kind of project that would typically consume several days of focused work.

With your AI-assisted workflow, you’ll complete it in a fraction of the time while maintaining the rigor your profession demands.

The Capstone Scenario

Choose one of these scenarios (or adapt one from your actual practice):

Scenario A: Contract Dispute Analysis

A client received a demand letter alleging breach of a services agreement. They need you to:

1. Research the governing contract law principles
2. Analyze the contract provisions at issue
3. Assess the strength of the claim against your client
4. Draft a response strategy memo
5. Write a client letter explaining the situation and options

Scenario B: Regulatory Compliance Review

A client in a regulated industry is expanding into a new market. They need you to:

1. Research the regulatory requirements in the new jurisdiction
2. Create a compliance checklist
3. Review their existing agreements for compliance gaps
4. Draft a compliance roadmap
5. Write a client advisory explaining requirements and timeline

Scenario C: Transaction Support

A client is acquiring a small company. They need you to:

1. Research the legal structure options for the transaction
2. Review the target’s key contracts for risks
3. Create a due diligence summary
4. Draft key transaction documents
5. Write a client memo summarizing findings and recommendations

Part 1: Research (30 minutes)

Using the techniques from Lesson 2, conduct your research:

Frame the legal research for my project:

SCENARIO: [Brief description of your chosen scenario]
JURISDICTION: [Jurisdiction]
KEY LEGAL ISSUES:
1. [Issue 1]
2. [Issue 2]
3. [Issue 3]

Generate a research map covering:
- Governing statutory framework
- Key case law
- Legal standards and tests
- Secondary sources
- Open or unsettled questions

I will verify ALL citations independently.

Verification checkpoint: Before proceeding, verify at least 5-7 key citations from the AI output. Document your verification in the citation log:

CITATION VERIFICATION LOG
| Citation | Verified? | Holding Accurate? | Good Law? | Notes |
|----------|-----------|-------------------|-----------|-------|

Part 2: Analysis (30 minutes)

Using techniques from Lessons 3 and 5:

For Contract-Related Scenarios

Analyze the relevant contract provisions:

CONTRACT PROVISIONS: [Key provisions at issue]
LEGAL FRAMEWORK: [Verified research findings]
CLIENT'S POSITION: [What your client needs to argue]

Provide:
1. Interpretation analysis for each key provision
2. Risk assessment for each identified issue
3. Strengths and weaknesses of client's position
4. Counterarguments to prepare for

For Regulatory Scenarios

Analyze the compliance requirements:

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: [Verified regulations]
CLIENT'S CURRENT STATE: [What they have in place]
NEW REQUIREMENTS: [What the new jurisdiction requires]

Provide:
1. Gap analysis: current state vs. requirements
2. Risk prioritization (high/medium/low for each gap)
3. Recommended compliance actions
4. Timeline for achieving compliance

For Transaction Scenarios

Synthesize due diligence findings:

VERIFIED FINDINGS: [Your research and document review results]
DEAL STRUCTURE: [Proposed transaction structure]
KEY RISKS IDENTIFIED: [List of risks]

Provide:
1. Overall transaction risk assessment
2. Deal terms to negotiate based on findings
3. Representations and warranties to require
4. Conditions to closing
5. Post-closing considerations

Part 3: Draft Work Product (45 minutes)

Using techniques from Lesson 4, draft your primary deliverable:

For Contract Disputes: Strategy Memo

Draft a litigation strategy memorandum:

TO: [Senior partner]
RE: [Matter description—anonymized]

ANALYSIS: [Paste your verified analysis from Part 2]

Structure:
I. Executive Summary
II. Factual Background
III. Legal Analysis
   A. [Issue 1] - Analysis with verified citations
   B. [Issue 2] - Analysis with verified citations
   C. [Issue 3] - Analysis with verified citations
IV. Assessment of Claim Strength
V. Recommended Strategy (with alternatives)
VI. Estimated Timeline and Costs
VII. Next Steps

Use proper legal citation format.
All citations have been independently verified.

For Compliance: Compliance Roadmap

Draft a compliance implementation plan:

CLIENT: [Anonymized]
JURISDICTION: [New jurisdiction]

Structure:
I. Executive Summary
II. Regulatory Overview
III. Gap Analysis (current vs. required)
IV. Implementation Roadmap
   Phase 1 (30 days): Critical compliance items
   Phase 2 (60 days): Important compliance items
   Phase 3 (90 days): Remaining items and optimization
V. Ongoing Compliance Monitoring Plan
VI. Budget Estimate
VII. Risk Assessment if Timelines Slip

For Transactions: Deal Memo

Draft a transaction summary memorandum:

TO: [Client]
RE: [Transaction—anonymized]

Structure:
I. Executive Summary
II. Transaction Overview
III. Due Diligence Summary
   A. Red flags and deal risks
   B. Key findings by category
   C. Missing information
IV. Recommended Deal Terms
V. Conditions to Closing
VI. Post-Closing Integration Items
VII. Timeline and Next Steps

Part 4: Client Communication (15 minutes)

Quick check: Before moving on, can you recall the key concept we just covered? Try to explain it in your own words before continuing.

Using techniques from Lesson 6, translate your analysis into client-friendly communication:

Translate my legal analysis into a client letter:

ANALYSIS: [Paste your key findings and recommendations]
CLIENT: [Anonymized description—sophistication level]
PURPOSE: [Inform and get decision/approval/instructions]

The letter should:
1. Lead with the bottom line
2. Explain the situation in plain language
3. Present options clearly
4. Make a recommendation
5. Identify what the client needs to do
6. Set the timeline

Preserve legal accuracy while making it
accessible to a non-lawyer reader.

Part 5: Quality Control (15 minutes)

Before considering the project complete, run the full quality check:

Citation Verification

• Every citation verified against authoritative source
• All cases Shepardized/KeyCited
• Holdings accurately represented
• Cases still good law in your jurisdiction

Legal Accuracy

• Legal conclusions supported by verified authority
• Counterarguments identified and addressed
• No AI hallucinations in the final product
• Jurisdiction-specific requirements met

Document Quality

• Internal consistency (defined terms, cross-references)
• Professional formatting and style
• Appropriate caveats and qualifications included
• Client information properly anonymized where needed

Ethical Compliance

• No confidential information shared with AI tools
• Work product reflects independent professional judgment
• Disclosure requirements met (if applicable)
• VALID framework applied throughout

The Complete AI Legal Workflow: Summary

Building Your Personal AI Legal Practice

Your Prompt Library

Organize the prompts you’ve developed throughout this course:

AI LEGAL PROMPT LIBRARY
├── Research
│   ├── Research framing prompt
│   ├── Research map generator
│   ├── Statutory analysis prompt
│   ├── Case briefing prompt
│   └── Case comparison prompt
├── Contracts
│   ├── Executive overview
│   ├── Risk identification
│   ├── Clause analysis
│   ├── Consistency check
│   ├── Template comparison
│   └── Redline generator
├── Drafting
│   ├── Contract (staged)
│   ├── Legal memo
│   ├── Client letter
│   ├── Demand letter
│   └── Motion/brief
├── Case Analysis
│   ├── Fact pattern comparison
│   ├── Argument framework
│   ├── Trend analysis
│   └── Distinguish unfavorable cases
├── Client Communication
│   ├── Status update
│   ├── Options letter
│   ├── Risk assessment
│   ├── Bad news letter
│   └── Plain language translation
└── Compliance & DD
    ├── Compliance checklist
    ├── Due diligence request list
    ├── Document review flags
    ├── DD summary report
    └── Regulatory monitoring

Monthly Improvement Cycle

Set aside 30 minutes monthly:

1. Review recent matters. Which AI prompts produced the best results?
2. Update prompts. Refine based on what worked and what needed heavy editing
3. Add new prompts. For situations you encountered for the first time
4. Check the landscape. New AI tools or features relevant to legal practice?
5. Ethics review. Any new bar guidance or court rules on AI use?

Course Review: Your AI Legal Toolkit

Looking Forward

The legal profession is at an inflection point. AI won’t replace lawyers—but lawyers who use AI effectively will outperform those who don’t. The competitive advantage goes to professionals who:

1. Embrace the tool while maintaining professional rigor
2. Build systematic workflows that compound efficiency gains over time
3. Maintain ethical standards as the technology evolves
4. Keep learning as AI capabilities expand
5. Never forget that the profession is ultimately about human judgment, human relationships, and human justice

The AI is your research assistant, your drafting partner, and your efficiency engine. The expertise, the judgment, and the professional responsibility—those are yours.

Go practice law more effectively.