A full guide on summarising the documents that you don't want to read.
LLMs like ChatGPT are really good at summarising information for us.
To get the most out of having LLMs summarise large volumes of text, you can provide a template that not only details your desired formatting, but also includes placeholders for the types of information you want included.
Let's take a look at a simple example regarding the Data Protection Act 2018 starting with your basic prompt asking for a summary:
Okay Example
Summarise the Data Protection Act 2018.
When given this prompt, ChatGPT will do an okay job at producing a summary that is legible and informational. How can we get ChatGPT to generate a better summary?
We can use a prompt template that better instructs the AI on the specific types of information you're interested in (dates, persons, etc.), formatting preferences, desired length, and more.
Good Example
As a legal professional, analyse the Data Protection Act 2018
and generate a detailed summary with 3-4 highlights for each of the most important
sections with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts in this format:
# **Data Protection Act 2018 Summary**
### **Overview**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the act with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Key point: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Key point: {same as above}
- Key point: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Key Provisions**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of key provisions with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Provision: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Provision: {same as above}
- Provision: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Impact on Businesses**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the impact on businesses with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Impact: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Impact: {same as above}
- Impact: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
End with other questions that the user might want answered based on this source:
### **Further information**
- What are the penalties for non-compliance?
- How does the act affect data controllers and data processors?
- What rights do individuals have under this act?
All words in brackets must be replaced by the summary of the content.
Only draw from the source content, do not hallucinate. Only output the response in
the prescribed format with NO additional commentary. Answer the questions included
in the "Further information" section and display the answer alongside the question.
There is a lot to digest in this prompt template, but for starters don't shy away from the weird syntax being used.
This syntax is called Markdown and can be used to format raw text using headings, lists, and other elements you are used to seeing in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
Markdown is great at helping guide the AI model towards producing a response in a prescribed format, but also allows you to embed instructions within as well, a good example being the list of important keywords, people, and facts we want generated for each section as illustrated:
Example 1: Summarising Case Law
As a legal professional, analyse the case Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562
and generate a detailed summary with 3-4 highlights for each of the most important
aspects with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts in this format:
# **Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 Summary**
### **Overview**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the case with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Fact: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Fact: {same as above}
- Fact: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Legal Principles**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the legal principles with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Principle: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Principle: {same as above}
- Principle: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Court's Decision**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the court's decision with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Decision: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Decision: {same as above}
- Decision: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Further information**
- What was the significance of the 'neighbour principle' established in this case?
- How did this case influence subsequent tort law?
- What were the main arguments presented by both parties?
Example 2: Summarising Legal Articles
As a legal professional, summarise the key points from the article
"The Impact of Brexit on UK Employment Law" published in the Law Society Gazette,
in this format:
# **Summary of "The Impact of Brexit on UK Employment Law"**
### **Overview**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the article with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Key point: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Key point: {same as above}
- Key point: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Key Changes**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the key changes discussed with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Change: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Change: {same as above}
- Change: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Implications for Employers**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the implications for employers with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Implication: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Implication: {same as above}
- Implication: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Further information**
- What are the main challenges faced by employers post-Brexit?
- How have employee rights been affected by Brexit?
- What recommendations does the article make for adapting to these changes?
Example 3: Summarising Legislative Changes
As a legal professional, summarise the key changes introduced by the
Criminal Justice Act 2003, with highlights for each major section in this format:
# **Criminal Justice Act 2003 Summary**
### **Overview**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of the act with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Key point: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Key point: {same as above}
- Key point: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Sentencing Reforms**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of sentencing reforms with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Reform: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Reform: {same as above}
- Reform: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Evidence and Procedure**
{START_DETAILS_SECTION}
{Summary of changes in evidence and procedure with important keywords, people, numbers, and facts}
- Change: {short explanation with important keywords, people, and facts}
- Change: {same as above}
- Change: {same as above}
{END_DETAILS_SECTION}
### **Further information**
- How have sentencing guidelines changed under this act?
- What new procedures have been introduced for handling evidence?
- What impact does this act have on the rights of defendants?
