Preface

Welcome to an exciting journey into the world of language models for Legal and Compliance! In an era where technologies - and particularly AI - are revolutionizing the way we work, we face the thrilling challenge of harnessing these powerful tools responsibly and safely. This 'Prompting Guide for Legal and Compliance' is your compass on this path - a carefully curated guide to navigate the complex landscape of language models, offering best practices and proven prompts from leading experts at renowned companies.

But let's not be dazzled by large language models. Like any technology, their use entails risks and challenges. Misunderstandings, erroneous interpretations, and potential legal pitfalls can arise if these new tools are not utilized with the necessary care and expertise. It is therefore essential to remain vigilant and aware.

This guide places special emphasis on neutral, interdisciplinary knowledge sharing. It is designed to serve as an entry-level guide for the curious while also offering new inspiration for experienced professionals. Regardless of your current level of expertise it provides resources to help you navigate language models with confidence and skill. Every member of the Legal and Compliance team will need a solid understanding of these technologies to build a strong foundation on which new solutions can be developed together within and for the company.

The chapters of this guide range from the fundamental principles of using language models to specialized prompts developed by industry experts and successfully applied in practice. You’ll learn how to achieve precise results while upholding the integrity and confidentiality of your work. The insights here are valuable not only for legal professionals but also for non-legal and administrative staff!

Our gratitude goes to the many bright minds from within our LLI Community who contributed their best practice prompts, knowledge, and experience to this publication. Without their invaluable insights, this guide wouldn’t be the reference work you now hold. Special thanks go to our LLI member Martina Seidl for leading and initiating this guide, and to our LLI team member Larissa Hambek - without your commitment, this work would not exist!

We hope you see this guide not only as a helpful tool but also as a source of inspiration. Let’s unlock the potential of language models together, while keeping critical aspects in view, to ensure a safe and effective application in the Legal and Compliance world.

Together we design the future of Legal!

Kai, Dierk, Lina and Bernhard (the Board of the LLI in May 2025)