Using Microsoft Copilot to Draft Legal Documents Faster
Drafting is one of the most time-consuming parts of legal practice, and many documents follow common patterns. Copilot can produce a structured first draft when the lawyer provides a clear prompt. A helpful prompt includes the document type, purpose, audience, and any specific points that must be addressed. Copilot will not create a final product on its own, but it can handle the initial structure and wording so the lawyer can focus on refining the content.
Practical tips:
- State the document type, purpose, and intended reader.
- List key clauses or issues that must appear in the draft.
- Ask Copilot to create multiple versions so you can compare them.
- Request tone adjustments such as more formal, more concise, or more client-friendly.
Summarizing Legal Documents with Copilot
Lawyers often review long documents such as contracts, briefs, or email chains. Copilot can summarize selected sections so the lawyer can focus on the main issues more quickly.
Highlighting text before asking for a summary helps Copilot stay focused on the correct material. This feature is useful when preparing for meetings or evaluating large amounts of information under time pressure.
Practical tips:
- Highlight the specific text you want summarized for better accuracy.
- Ask for a summary written for a particular purpose, such as a client update or risk overview.
- Request lists of deadlines, obligations, or main arguments.
- Follow up with instructions to shorten, clarify, or simplify the summary.
Improving Clarity and Client Communication
Clients appreciate explanations written in plain English. Copilot can take a complex paragraph and rewrite it using simpler language while keeping the original meaning. This is helpful for engagement letters, status updates, explanatory sections of agreements, and any document that needs to be clear for a non-lawyer reader.
This was originally published on January 20, 2026, in the ABA’s Law Technology Today