This approach is more formally referred to as "Few-shot" prompting.
At this point, you've seen few-example prompting on numerous occasions in previous sections of this guide.
Let's dive into some "examples."
Example 1 : Drafting Contract Clauses
Lawyers often need to draft specific contract clauses.
Here is an example of using Few-Shot Prompting to draft clauses.
Prompt
Draft specific clauses for a service agreement.
Example 1:
Input: Draft a confidentiality clause for a service agreement.
Output: The Service Provider shall maintain the confidentiality of all confidential information disclosed by the Client during the term of this Agreement and for a period of three years thereafter.
Example 2:
Input: Draft a termination clause for a service agreement.
Output: Either party may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days' written notice to the other party. In the event of termination, the Service Provider shall be paid for all services rendered up to the date of termination.
Input: Draft a liability clause for a service agreement.
Output: (write the output like the examples obove).
Output
The Service Provider shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental,
special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of
profits, revenue, data, or use, incurred by the Client, whether in an action in
contract or tort, even if the Service Provider has been advised of the possibility
of such damages. The Service Provider's total liability for any claim arising out
of or relating to this Agreement shall not exceed the total amount paid by the
Client to the Service Provider under this Agreement.
Example 2: Case Briefings
Few-Shot Prompting can be extremely useful in providing case briefings in your desired format.
Prompt
Prompt: Create a case briefing with details on the issue, rule, analysis, and conclusion.
Example: Case: "R v. Brown [1994] 1 AC 212"
Output:
Issue - Can consent be a defense to charges of assault in cases involving sadomasochistic activities?
Rule - Consent is not a valid defense to charges of assault causing actual bodily harm or greater injury.
Analysis - The House of Lords held that the societal interest in preventing violence outweighs personal autonomy in such cases. The injuries inflicted were considered severe, and the activities posed significant health risks.
Conclusion - Consent was not accepted as a defense, and the convictions were upheld.
Prompt: Create a case briefing with details on the issue, rule, analysis, and conclusion.
Case: "Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co [1893] 1 QB 256"
Output:
Output
Issue - Is the advertisement offering a reward for using the smoke ball a binding unilateral contract?
Rule - An advertisement can constitute a unilateral offer if it is clear, definite, and explicit, leaving nothing open for negotiation.
Analysis - The Court of Appeal found that the advertisement demonstrated intent to be bound, especially as the company deposited money to show its sincerity. Mrs. Carlill's use of the smoke ball and subsequent illness constituted acceptance of the offer.
Conclusion - The Court ruled in favour of Mrs. Carlill, establishing that she was entitled to the reward.
Example 3: Creating Legal Checklists
Legal checklists ensure that no critical steps or requirements are missed in legal processes. Providing examples can guide the AI to create comprehensive checklists.
Prompt
Prompt: Create a checklist for the due diligence process in a real estate transaction.
Example 1:
Input: Checklist for buyer's due diligence in a residential property purchase.
Output:
- Verify property title and ownership.
- Conduct a property survey and inspection.
- Review zoning and land use regulations.
- Check for any outstanding liens or encumbrances.
- Ensure all necessary permits and approvals are in place.
Example 2:
Input: Checklist for seller's due diligence in a commercial property sale.
Output:
- Gather all property-related documents, including title deeds and lease agreements.
- Disclose any known defects or issues with the property.
- Ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
- Obtain necessary tax clearance certificates.
- Prepare a detailed list of fixtures and fittings included in the sale.
Input: Checklist for due diligence in purchasing a leasehold property.
Output:
Output
- Verify the lease agreement terms, including duration, rent, and renewal options.
- Review the ground rent and service charge obligations.
- Check for any restrictive covenants or conditions in the lease.
- Investigate the landlord's title and ownership of the freehold.
- Ensure the lease is properly registered with the relevant authorities.
- Inspect the property's condition and obtain a survey if necessary.
- Review any planned or ongoing maintenance works and associated costs.
- Confirm that all required consents for any alterations have been obtained.
- Investigate any disputes between the landlord and other leaseholders.
- Review the property's compliance with local building and safety regulations.
- Ensure there are no outstanding rent arrears or breaches of lease terms.
- Check for any planned developments in the surrounding area that may impact the property.
- Obtain a detailed list of any fixtures and fittings included with the property.
- Confirm the lease is transferable and the process for assignment or subletting.
Example 4: Extracting Information from PDF Files: Will and Testament
Prompt
Extract the beneficiary details, executor appointment, and specific bequests
from the attached PDF will and testament.
Examples:
PDF Content: "The will appoints John Smith as the executor. Beneficiaries include
Jane Doe and Mark Brown. Specific bequests include £10,000 to Jane Doe and the family
heirloom to Mark Brown."
Output:
Executor: John Smith
Beneficiaries: Jane Doe, Mark Brown
Specific Bequests: £10,000 to Jane Doe, family heirloom to Mark Brown
PDF Content: "The testator appoints Emily Clark as the executor. Beneficiaries are
Sarah Lee and Tom Harris. Bequests include £5,000 to Sarah Lee and a vintage car to
Tom Harris."
Output:
Example 5: Extracting Information from PDF Files: Corporate Mergers
Prompt
Extract key details from PDF files related to corporate mergers.
Prompt: Extract the names of the merging companies, date of the merger,
and key terms from the attached PDF document.
Examples: PDF Content: "The merger agreement between ABC Corp and XYZ Ltd was
signed on April 1, 2023. Key terms include a share exchange ratio of 1.5:1 and the
retention of all current employees."
Output:
Merging Companies: ABC Corp, XYZ Ltd
Date of Merger: April 1, 2023
Key Terms: Share exchange ratio of 1.5:1, retention of all current employees
PDF Content: "The document outlines the merger between 123 Inc and 456 Ltd,
effective from March 15, 2023. Key terms include a cash payment of £5 million and
no layoffs."
Output:
Example 6: Summarising Legislation Changes
Lawyers often need to summarise recent changes in legislation for clients or internal briefings.
Prompt
Summarise the recent changes to the Companies Act 2006.
Examples: Input: Summarise changes to director duties under the Companies Act 2006.
Output:The Companies Act 2006 introduces a statutory statement of directors' duties,
including the duty to act within powers, promote the success of the company, exercise
independent judgment, and avoid conflicts of interest.
Input:Summarise changes related to shareholder rights under the Companies Act 2006.
Output:
The Act enhances shareholder rights by requiring greater transparency and
accountability from directors, including the right to receive detailed annual reports
and vote on significant transactions.
Input: Summarise changes regarding company registration under the Companies Act
2006.
Output:
Example 7: Legal Research Summaries
Legal research can be time-consuming.
Few-example prompting can speed up the process by providing concise summaries of relevant case law or legal principles.
Here is an example:
Prompt
Provide summaries of key cases related to adverse possession in the UK.
Examples: Case: "JA Pye (Oxford) Ltd v Graham [2002] UKHL 30"
Output:
Issue: Whether the Grahams had acquired title to the land by adverse possession.
Rule: To establish adverse possession, the possessor must show factual possession of the land and an intention to possess.
Analysis: The Grahams had used the land for grazing, excluded others, and had intended to possess it. Their actions were sufficient to establish adverse possession.
Conclusion: The House of Lords ruled in favour of the Grahams, confirming their title to the land.
Case: "Buckinghamshire County Council v Moran [1990] 1 Ch 623"
Output:
Issue: Whether Moran had acquired title to the land through adverse possession.
Rule: Adverse possession requires continuous and exclusive possession, along with an intention to possess.
Analysis: Moran had fenced the land, maintained it, and used it as his garden, demonstrating both factual possession and an intention to possess.
Conclusion: The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Moran, establishing his title to the land.
Case: "Thorpe v Frank [2019] EWCA Civ 150
Output:
Few-Shot Prompting in a Nutshell
FSP mirrors how humans can learn from only a few examples.
eg. If you show a child a few pictures of a rabbit and tell them "These are rabbits," they can typically recognise other breeds of rabbit that they haven't seen before.
Whilst it is important to note that few-shot learning can be quite effective, it's not perfect.
The quality of responses can vary based on the complexity of the prompt, the quality and relevance of the examples given, and the inherent limitations of the AI model itself.
However, this is a valuable low-cost prompting strategy you should be using regularly.
Few-Shot Training to Ensure Firm-Wide Consistency
Every team - small or large - like things done a certain way; FSP can come in handy to ensure ChatGPT outputs text in your team's desired format.
This ensures speedier turnaround times.
As part of our & , we can develop an to ensure your outputs are exactly what you asked for.
