Plain-English Document Translator
When a client needs to understand a document but the legal language would confuse them — court orders, opposing counsel letters, contracts, estate plans.
Clients rarely struggle with the substance of their own matter — they struggle with the language lawyers use to describe it. A divorce decree, a commercial lease, or a trust instrument can leave an intelligent client genuinely unsure what they are obligated to do or what they just agreed to. Translating that language into plain English is not dumbing it down; it is a core part of competent communication and informed consent.
Claude is well suited to this rewrite. Give it the document and a short note about who the client is, and it produces a topic-organized explanation in short sentences, defines any unavoidable legal term in parentheses, and flags the points that require the client's decision. It even closes with a few questions the client should bring back to you, which often heads off a follow-up call. For a solo or small firm, this is a fast, inexpensive way to deliver white-glove client communication.
The plain-English version is a companion to the original, never a replacement, and it is a draft you must check. Simplifying language can shade meaning, and a translation that is slightly off can mislead a client more than dense text would. Review the output for accuracy before sending, make clear it is a summary rather than the binding document, and remember it is not legal advice to the client on its own.
The Prompt
Translate the following legal document into plain English for my client. Rules: - No legal jargon — if a legal term is essential, define it in parentheses on first use - Short sentences and paragraphs - Organize by topic, not by document section - Highlight what affects the client directly - Flag anything that requires their decision or action - End with "Questions to ask your attorney" — 2-3 things the client should follow up on Client context: [e.g., individual in a divorce, small business owner reviewing a lease, beneficiary of a trust] Document: [PASTE THE DOCUMENT]
Example Output
A 1-2 page plain-English summary organized by topic, with action items highlighted and follow-up questions listed.
Illustrative example — names, figures, and facts are fictional.
PLAIN-ENGLISH SUMMARY: Your Parenting Plan For: Dana Whitfield (individual in a divorce) What this document does This is the court's order that sets the rules for sharing time with and making decisions about your two children. Once the judge signs it, both you and the children's other parent must follow it. Your parenting time - The children live with you on school nights (Sunday through Thursday). - They are with their other parent on weekends, from Friday after school to Sunday at 6:00 p.m. - Holidays alternate each year; this year you have Thanksgiving, and the other parent has winter break. Decisions - Day-to-day decisions are made by whichever parent has the children at the time. - Major decisions (school choice, non-emergency medical, religion) must be made together. If you cannot agree, the order requires mediation (a meeting with a neutral person to help you reach agreement) before going back to court. Money - Child support of $1,150/month is due to you on the 1st of each month. What needs your decision or action - You must give written notice at least 30 days before any move that changes the children's school. Questions to ask your attorney 1. What counts as a "major decision" if we disagree about an activity or a doctor? 2. What happens if a support payment is late or missed? 3. Can the holiday schedule be adjusted by mutual agreement, or only by the court?
Tips
- •Specify the client's context so Claude adjusts the explanation level appropriately.
- •Ask Claude to flag the sections that require the client's decision — this saves a follow-up call.
- •Use this alongside the original document, not as a replacement — clients should always have both.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the plain-English translator most useful?
Use it whenever a client needs to understand a document whose language would otherwise confuse them — court orders, opposing counsel letters, leases, and estate plans are common candidates. It is especially helpful for individual clients and small-business owners who lack a legal background, and as a companion piece you send alongside the document itself rather than in place of it.
Should I review the translation before sending it to the client?
Yes, always. Simplifying legal language inevitably involves judgment calls, and an oversimplified explanation can mislead a client more than the original text. Read the output against the document, correct any place where meaning shifted, and confirm that every flagged decision point is accurate before the client relies on it. The summary supplements your counsel; it does not replace it.
How do I get a translation pitched at the right level?
Tell Claude who the client is and the context — for example, a beneficiary of a trust versus a small-business tenant — so it calibrates the explanation. Ask it to flag the sections that require the client's decision, and to organize the summary by topic rather than by document section. Keeping the original document attached lets the client cross-reference anything that matters.
Is it appropriate to put a client's confidential document into Claude?
Only with proper safeguards. Model Rule 1.6 and ABA Formal Opinion 512 require lawyers to protect client confidences when using AI, which means vetting the tool's data handling and avoiding consumer products that may use inputs for training. Prefer a business or enterprise tier with contractual protections, and redact names or identifiers where the translation does not depend on them.
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