253 | 🙅"over-Googlizing" your prompts

In today’s Brainyacts:

1. Edtech and law firm learning & development

2. You’re likely “over-Googlizing” your prompts

3. Ads coming to ChatGPT and other AI model news

4. LinkedIn posts are mostly AI-generated plus more news you can use

   👋 to all subscribers!

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Lead Memo 🔬💨 A Micro-Primer on EdTech and Law Firm Learning & Development

A New Era for Law Firm Learning and Development

Law firms have long relied on conventional approaches to training: CLEs, workshops, and mentoring programs. But these methods rarely deliver transformative results. Generative AI, the crown jewel of today’s EdTech revolution, offers an unprecedented opportunity to reinvent how lawyers learn, grow, and deliver value to clients. By becoming early adopters, law firms can address two critical challenges in professional development:

1. Empowering Educators and Mentors

Generative AI equips legal educators, practice group leaders, and mentors with tools to amplify their impact. It assists with:

• Content generation: Create dynamic training materials tailored to real-world practice areas.

• Research facilitation: Provide rapid access to synthesized insights, cases, and trends.

• Skill-building frameworks: Develop curated learning pathways for associates and partners alike, integrating firm values with client needs.

This doesn’t replace human mentors but enhances their ability to teach effectively and scale their guidance across large teams.

2. Cracking the Personalized Learning Code

Every lawyer’s learning needs are unique. Generative AI delivers hyper-personalized educational experiences that adapt to an individual’s role, practice area, and career stage. This addresses the “Two Sigma Problem” (the dramatic performance gains of one-on-one tutoring) by making tailored learning scalable and actionable. Imagine:

• AI-driven tutors: Simulating client scenarios to hone problem-solving skills.

• Instant feedback loops: Highlighting strengths and areas for improvement based on real-time case reviews.

• Adaptive learning models: Keeping lawyers up-to-date with legal developments while also fostering business acumen.

Case Study: Building AI Tutors in Legal Education

As a law school professor, I’ve been prototyping AI tutors and mentors to explore their potential for legal education. The results are promising: generative AI tools can simulate client interactions, offer nuanced feedback, and guide students in navigating complex legal and business challenges. This model isn’t limited to academia. Law firms can adapt similar technologies to provide associates with hands-on learning tailored to firm priorities and client demands.

Moving Beyond CLEs: A New Vision for Professional Development

Lawyers, especially in large firms, often hear the same critique: they’re exceptional legal technicians but fail to truly understand their clients’ businesses. Generative AI has the power to close this gap by:

• Fostering client-centric learning: Training lawyers to see the big picture, connect legal strategy with business outcomes, and align with client priorities.

• Simulating high-stakes decision-making: Allowing lawyers to practice balancing legal risks and business opportunities in realistic scenarios.

• Personalized mentoring at scale: Offering continuous, AI-powered guidance that deepens knowledge over time.

Planting the Seed for Change

Generative AI is not a replacement for human expertise but a multiplier of it. For law firms willing to embrace this technology, the payoff isn’t just better-trained lawyers; it’s a stronger alignment with client expectations and a distinct competitive edge. Becoming EdTech superfans isn’t just about adopting a trend—it’s about ensuring the legal profession evolves with the demands of a rapidly changing world.

Spotlight 

More Research Supports: You’re Likely “over-Googlizing” your prompts

Recent research into how we interact with generative AI suggests we may need to rethink our approach to prompting these tools. A study introduces the concept of treating language models as "method actors," where prompts act as scripts and responses as performances. The findings? A well-structured, thoughtful approach to prompting yields significantly better outcomes compared to the minimalist, Google-like queries we often rely on. For legal professionals who regularly turn to these tools for assistance, learning to "script" your interactions more effectively is worth the extra effort.

Here’s why—and how—you can improve your prompting approach without turning it into a chore.

The “Method Actor” Approach: What It Is and Why It Works

In the study, researchers framed large language models (LLMs) as performers, akin to actors interpreting a role. Prompts were likened to scripts that set the stage, providing detailed roles, motivations, and context. Instead of treating AI like an all-knowing oracle, this approach acknowledges that the quality of its output depends heavily on the precision and richness of its inputs.

For complex tasks—whether drafting legal arguments or summarizing regulations—the traditional "vanilla" prompt often underwhelms. By contrast, prompts that treat the model as a specialist acting within a detailed scenario consistently yield better results.

The key principles of this approach are:

1. Be the Director, Not Just the User:

   • Think of yourself as a playwright. Provide context, role, and purpose in your prompt.

   • Example: Instead of "Summarize this case," try "You are a legal analyst tasked with summarizing the key arguments and their implications for constitutional law. Focus on brevity and precision."

2. Prepare the Scene:

   • Like an actor rehearsing, the AI benefits from a step-by-step setup.

   • Example: If you need a comprehensive risk analysis, first ask it to identify potential risks, then prompt it to categorize and rank them based on severity.

3. Decompose the Task:

   • Break your query into digestible parts. Rather than requesting a full motion in one prompt, start with an outline, then ask for sections or arguments one at a time.

   • Example: “Outline the key arguments for this motion, then expand on the argument about jurisdiction.”

4. Iterate and Refine:

   • Review and refine the output as you go. Iterative interaction can lead to clarity and precision.

   • Example: Ask for the model’s output to be rewritten for clarity or adapted to meet specific tone or style preferences, such as "simplify this explanation for a client unfamiliar with legal terminology."

Here’s an example of a plain vanilla prompt:

Here’s an example of a method actor prompt:

Why It’s Not Too Much Work to Think Differently

Yes, this approach requires more thought than plugging a few keywords into a box. But consider the payoff: nuanced, higher-quality outputs that more closely align with your needs. For legal professionals, where precision and clarity are paramount, this is a game-changer.

Think of prompting as programming, but in plain language. You don’t need technical expertise to master it—just an understanding of how to set clear instructions and provide sufficient context. In practice, this isn’t overthinking; it’s leveraging the tools at your disposal to their fullest potential.

Practical Tips for Legal Professionals

Here are some quick wins you can apply today:

1. Frame the AI’s Role:

   • Use prompts like, "You are a legal editor tasked with improving this contract for readability while maintaining legal accuracy."

2. Script with Purpose:

   • Avoid vague prompts like "What’s the law on X?" and instead opt for, "Explain the relevant sections of the UCC related to X, focusing on [specific jurisdiction]."

3. Start Small, Build Big:

   • For drafting documents, ask for sections individually before combining them into a cohesive whole.

4. Encourage Reflection:

   • Prompt the AI to evaluate its work: "Does this argument align with precedents in similar cases? If not, revise it."

5. Create Scenarios:

   • When seeking creative solutions, provide a detailed setup. Example: "You are a mediator working to resolve a conflict between two parties with these interests. Draft a resolution plan that balances both perspectives."

The Bottom Line

Generative AI is only as good as the instructions it receives. For legal professionals, adopting a more methodical, role-driven approach to prompting can transform how you use these tools—saving time and improving the quality of your work. Don’t fall into the trap of “over-Googlizing” your interactions. With a little upfront effort, you can unlock the full potential of AI to work for you.

AI Model Notables

► Get ready for ads in ChatGPT.

►Why does the name ‘David Mayer’ crash ChatGPT? Digital privacy requests may be at fault.

►As more publishers cut content licensing deals with OpenAI, a study put out this week shows that ChatGPT still gives wrong cites even for the licensed media.

►Can we avoid more water and power-hungry data centers by training AI models via distributed networks? Perhaps. And you can watch it live (spoiler it’s not very exciting).

►Amazon is giving its data centers a facelift for the generative AI age.

► Amazon announces Nova, a new family of multimodal AI models

News You Can Use:

➭ The CEO of Intel is leaving the company as investors fear it's falling behind in the AI chip wars against booming titans like Nvidia, among other challenges.

➭ US tightens curbs on China’s access to AI memory, chip tools.

➭ Indigenous languages are rapidly disappearing, and AI could help preserve them.

➭ A new study from WIRED found that over half of longer English posts on LinkedIn are now AI-generated, aligning with the platform’s increasing embrace of AI writing tools.

Who is the author, Josh Kubicki?

Some of you know me. Others do not. Here is a short intro. I am a lawyer, entrepreneur, and teacher. I have transformed legal practices and built multi-million dollar businesses. Not a theorist, I am an applied researcher and former Chief Strategy Officer, recognized by Fast Company and Bloomberg Law for my unique work. Through this newsletter, I offer you pragmatic insights into leveraging AI to inform and improve your daily life in legal services.