How should you prompt AI to write a plain-language client update email about case status

The Prompt

Write a client update email on the status of [matter name/type].

What's happened since the last update: [summary of developments]
What happens next: [next step, and realistic timeframe]
Anything the client needs to do: [action items, or "none right now"]

Write for a non-lawyer client — no legal jargon without a plain-language explanation attached. Keep it under 200 words unless there's a lot to report.

Why This Prompt Works

Client dissatisfaction in legal representation is consistently tied more to poor communication than to case outcomes — a short, plain-language status update that clearly states “what happens next” and “what you need to do” directly addresses the update clients say they actually want.

How to Customize It

If the timeframe is genuinely uncertain, say so explicitly rather than omitting it — “no update yet, expect the next one by [date]” reads better to clients than silence. On a matter with several moving pieces, consider briefly noting which one this update is about, since clients juggling a long-running case can lose track of which thread a given email addresses.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t let the model soften or hedge on bad news to the point of vagueness — clients need to understand real setbacks, just explained clearly rather than harshly. Also avoid sending an update with no new information just to maintain a cadence — a genuinely empty update reads worse to a client than a longer gap.

Bottom Line

Short, plain-language updates that state next steps and any client action items outperform longer, jargon-heavy status emails for client satisfaction.