Case Summary for Client
When a client asks 'Where does my case stand?' Generate a clear cumulative summary before returning the call.
Clients rarely follow the procedural rhythm of their own cases, so the question "Where do things stand?" comes up again and again. Answering it well means translating discovery deadlines, motion practice, and litigation strategy into plain language that explains what has happened, what comes next, and what the client needs to do, without jargon and without false reassurance. Done by hand for every call, that translation eats into time you could spend moving the matter forward.
Claude is a natural fit here. Feed it the case type, the chronology of key events, the current posture, and upcoming milestones, and it produces a clear, non-lawyer summary: what has happened, where things stand today, what is next and when, the client's action items, and the possible next stages. It is a fast way to prepare before returning a call or to send as a written follow-up that keeps the client informed and reduces anxious check-ins.
Accuracy and tone both need your eye before this reaches a client. Claude works only from what you provide, so it can state the posture imprecisely, overstate certainty about outcomes, or omit a development you did not include. Review the summary, correct anything off, and make sure the expectations it sets are realistic. The output is a client-communication draft for the attorney to approve, not legal advice and not a promise about how the case will end.
The Prompt
Write a plain-English status summary of the whole case for my client. (For an email about a single new development, use the Case Update Email Drafter.) <case_history> [LIST MAJOR EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, OR PASTE YOUR CASE NOTES] </case_history> Client: [NAME] Case type: [TYPE] Current stage: [e.g., pre-litigation, discovery, motion practice, trial prep, appeal] Current status: [WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW] Upcoming milestones: [WHAT'S NEXT AND WHEN] Start with a "Confidential attorney-client communication" header. Then, writing for a non-lawyer, explain: 1. What has happened so far (3-5 sentences) 2. Where the case stands today (2-3 sentences) 3. What happens next and when (2-3 sentences) 4. What the client needs to do (specific action items) 5. The range of possible next stages, without predicting a result or value Avoid legal jargon; define any legal term you must use. End with an invitation to call with questions. Base every statement on <case_history> and the fields above. If something I need is missing or ambiguous, say so instead of assuming. Do not invent facts or dates. This is a draft for attorney review.
Example Output
A 1-page plain-English summary covering case history, current status, next steps, client action items, and the possible next stages.
Illustrative example — names, figures, and facts are fictional.
Subject: Where Your Case Stands: Reyes v. Halcyon Property Management CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION Dear Ms. Reyes, Here is a plain-English update on your case so you have everything in one place. What has happened so far We filed your complaint in March, and the property management company answered in April, denying responsibility. Since then both sides have been in "discovery": the stage where we exchange documents and information. We have produced your medical records and the photos of the stairwell, and we have requested the building's maintenance and inspection logs. Where things stand today We are waiting on the other side's document production, which is due at the end of this month. Once we have those records, we will schedule depositions (sworn, recorded interviews) of the building manager and the maintenance contractor. What happens next and when Depositions are currently planned for the summer, and fact discovery is scheduled to close in the fall. After that, either side may file motions before any trial date is set. We will update you as dates are confirmed. What we need from you - Let us know of any new medical appointments or bills. - Keep us updated if your contact information changes. Possible next stages From here, the case could resolve through a negotiated settlement, a ruling on motions, or a trial. We will talk through the options with you as each stage approaches. No outcome is guaranteed. Please call me with any questions. I am glad to walk through any of this. Warm regards, [Attorney Name]
Tips
- •Update the key events list each time something happens; this prompt becomes more useful over the life of a case.
- •Be honest about uncertainty, but leave any discussion of likely outcome or value for a conversation with the client.
- •Send this as a follow-up email after substantive client calls.
- •Review every statement for accuracy before sending; the summary becomes part of the client file.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to use this prompt?
Use it before returning a client's "where do things stand?" call, and as a written follow-up after any substantive development: a hearing, a deposition, or a settlement offer. Sending proactive summaries at each milestone keeps clients oriented and tends to reduce anxious check-ins and complaints. Updating the key-events list as the matter progresses makes the prompt more useful over the life of the case.
Can I send the summary to the client without reviewing it?
No. Claude only knows what you tell it, so review the draft for accuracy before it goes out: confirm the posture is stated correctly, that no development is missing or misdescribed, and that nothing in it predicts or promises an outcome. A client update is a communication you are accountable for, so the attorney should approve every summary before sending.
How do I get the clearest, most useful summary?
Provide a complete chronology of key events, an accurate description of the current stage, and the upcoming milestones with dates. State the case type so Claude calibrates the explanation, and ask it to describe the possible next stages without predicting a result, plus specific client action items. The more current and complete your inputs, the less editing the draft needs and the more reassuring it reads.
Are there confidentiality or accuracy duties to keep in mind?
Yes. Client matter details are confidential, so be mindful of what you paste into AI tools and use options with appropriate data protections. The duty of competent communication under Model Rule 1.4 means the summary must be accurate and not misleading; consistent with ABA Formal Opinion 512, review and correct the draft so the client receives a faithful picture of their case.
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