AI Prompt: Frame a Precise Legal Research Question
Convert a factual scenario into a precise legal research question with sub-issues and key terms of art for Westlaw or Lexis searching.
The Prompt
"I am researching a question about [brief factual scenario]. Help me frame this as a precise legal research question. Identify the core legal issue, 3-5 sub-issues or related doctrines I should investigate, and the key legal terms of art I should use when searching in Westlaw or Lexis. Do NOT provide case citations -- only provide the analytical framework and search strategy."Variables (1)
| Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| {{brief_factual_scenario}} | Brief Factual Scenario | A SaaS vendor's auto-renewal clause was triggered while the customer was in active termination negotiations; customer disputes the renewal charge. |
Expected Output
A precise research question, 3-5 sub-issues or related doctrines, and the legal terms of art to search in Westlaw or Lexis.
Usage Notes
Use this as the very first step of any AI-assisted research workflow. Pair the output with the Search Strategy prompt to generate Boolean strings.
Originally featured in: How to Use AI for Legal Research Safely in 2026: The Complete Workflow
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