The CLEAR Framework

What Is The CLEAR Framework?

The CLEAR Framework is your simple guide to writing better AI prompts for legal documents. When your prompts are CLEAR, you get better results from AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude.

CLEAR stands for:

• Concise: Keep it short and focused
• Logical: Follow a step-by-step structure
• Explicit: Be specific about what you want
• Adaptive: Include checks and balances
• Relevant: Add context that matters

Let’s break down each part with real examples you can use today!

C – Concise: Keep It Short and Focused

The Problem: Long, rambling prompts confuse the AI and create messy results.

The Fix: Focus on one main task. Use bullet points or numbered lists.

Examples:

❌ Weak Prompt: “I need an NDA. It should be good and cover everything important for my client who is working with another company on some technology stuff. Make sure it protects them and includes all the usual legal language and whatever else is necessary.”

✅ Strong Prompt: “Draft a mutual NDA for a technology partnership. Include:

• California jurisdiction
• 2-year term after disclosure
• Standard exclusions for public information
• Electronic signature blocks”

The Magic Words: “Focus on,” “Specifically include,” “Limited to”

L – Logical: Follow a Step-by-Step Structure

The Problem: Disorganized prompts create disorganized documents.

The Fix: Tell the AI the order to follow. Number your steps.

Examples:

❌ Weak Prompt: “Write an NDA with remedies and make it mutual and add something about GDPR compliance and make sure it works for tech companies and software development.”

✅ Strong Prompt: “Create a mutual NDA by following these steps:

1. Start with party definitions
2. Define confidential information
3. List permitted uses
4. Add GDPR compliance section
5. Specify remedies for breach
6. End with signature blocks”

The Magic Words: “Follow these steps,” “First…then,” “In this order”

E – Explicit: Be Specific About What You Want

The Problem: Vague prompts get vague results that need lots of editing.

The Fix: Name exact terms, clauses, and requirements.

Examples:

❌ Weak Prompt: “Draft an NDA for my client.”

✅ Strong Prompt: “Draft a unilateral NDA where:

• ABC Corp is disclosing confidential information
• XYZ Inc is the receiving party
• Purpose is evaluating potential software licensing
• Term is 3 years
• Governed by New York law
• Include liquidated damages of $50,000 per breach”

The Magic Words: “Specifically include,” “Define as,” “Exact wording”

A – Adaptive: Include Checks and Balances

The Problem: AI sometimes makes mistakes or misses important points.

The Fix: Build self-checking into your prompt.

Examples:

❌ Weak Prompt: “Write an NDA for my Florida client.”

✅ Strong Prompt: “Draft an NDA for a Florida corporation, then:

1. Verify all clauses comply with Florida law
2. Check that defined terms are used consistently
3. Flag any sections that might be unenforceable
4. List which standard clauses are missing, if any”

The Magic Words: “Verify that,” “Check for,” “Review and highlight”

R – Relevant: Add Context That Matters

The Problem: Generic prompts get generic documents that don’t fit your needs.

The Fix: Tell the AI about your specific situation and requirements.

Examples:

❌ Weak Prompt: “Create an NDA for a client meeting.”

✅ Strong Prompt: “Create an NDA for a meeting between:

• A medical device manufacturer
• A potential investor group
• Will discuss proprietary technology
• Need HIPAA compliance language
• Past issues with information leaks to competitors
• Jurisdiction in Massachusetts”

The Magic Words: “Because,” “Given that,” “For context”

Put It All Together: Complete CLEAR Prompts

Here’s a full example showing how to combine all parts of the CLEAR Framework:

Complete CLEAR Prompt Example:

Side-by-Side Comparison: Weak vs. Strong Prompts

Legal Task	Weak Prompt	Strong CLEAR Prompt
General NDA	“Write an NDA.”	“Draft a mutual NDA between two technology companies sharing product development information with California jurisdiction and a 2-year term.”
Specific Clause	“Add confidentiality terms.”	“Add a confidentiality clause that specifically protects source code, customer lists, and financial projections with a 5-year protection period.”
Document Review	“Check if this NDA is good.”	“Review this NDA for: (1) compliance with New York law, (2) missing standard clauses, (3) inconsistent defined terms, and (4) ambiguous language that could create enforcement issues.”

Trigger Words That Improve AI Legal Outputs

Use these specific words and phrases to get better legal documents:

Purpose	Trigger Words
Clarity	“explicitly state,” “clearly define,” “unambiguous”
Specificity	“enumerated list,” “particular requirements,” “exact language”
Compliance	“verify compliance with,” “ensure adherence to,” “check against”
Structure	“hierarchical order,” “separate sections for,” “formatted with”
Legal Standards	“industry standard clause,” “boilerplate language,” “as defined in [statute]”

Quick Reference Chart: NDA Components

Use this chart to make sure your prompts cover all essential NDA elements:

NDA Component	What to Specify in Your Prompt
Parties	Legal names, entity types, addresses
Definitions	What counts as “confidential information”
Purpose	Specific permitted use of information
Exclusions	Standard carve-outs (public info, etc.)
Term	Duration of both disclosure and obligations
Return/Destruction	Timeline and verification requirements
Remedies	Injunctive relief, damages, attorney fees
Jurisdiction	Governing law and venue for disputes

BONUS: Creating a Brand Voice for Your Legal AI Outputs

Legal documents don’t have to sound robotic! Here’s how to give your AI-generated NDAs your firm’s unique voice:

Step 1: Define Your Brand Voice Traits

Choose 3-5 words that describe how your firm’s documents should sound:

• Authoritative
• Approachable
• Precise
• Modern
• Straightforward

Step 2: Create Do’s and Don’ts

For example:

DO:

• Use active voice (“The Parties agree” not “It is agreed by the Parties”)
• Keep sentences under 25 words
• Use plain English where possible
• Include explanatory headings

DON’T:

• Use outdated phrases like “heretofore” or “witnesseth”
• Write paragraphs longer than 6 lines
• Include unnecessary Latin terms
• Use all caps for entire clauses

Step 3: Create a Brand Voice Prompt Add-On

Add this section to your CLEAR prompts:

Example: Before and After Adding Brand Voice

Before (Generic Legal Voice): “WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to engage in certain discussions and communications for the purpose of exploring a potential business relationship (hereinafter referred to as the “Purpose”); and WHEREAS, in connection with the Purpose, each party may disclose to the other party certain confidential and proprietary information which the disclosing party desires the receiving party to treat as confidential.”

After (With Brand Voice Applied): “Background: The parties wish to explore a potential business relationship. During these discussions, each party may share confidential information with the other. This agreement protects that information and sets clear rules for its use.”

Your Next Steps

1. Choose one NDA task you handle regularly
2. Write a CLEAR prompt using this cheat sheet
3. Add your brand voice section to humanize the output
4. Test the results and refine as needed
5. Save your best prompts for future use

Remember, every prompt you improve saves you time and creates better documents for your clients!

Want to master advanced legal AI techniques beyond the CLEAR Framework? Our complete course “AI Contract Automation Mastery” includes:

• 50+ specialized legal prompts for different document types
• Custom prompt libraries for 20+ jurisdictions
• Advanced editing techniques for perfect outputs
• Workflow integration guides for your existing systems
• Personal feedback on your custom prompts

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