When to use it
When someone hands you a contract to sign and there is no lawyer around — you need to understand the gist and spot the risks fast. The role is a hands-on practising lawyer. Result: a clause-by-clause table (what it means → risk → what to clarify) plus red flags. It does NOT replace a lawyer.
The prompt (copy and paste)
This is a review for understanding, NOT legal advice. For important contracts — see a lawyer.
You are a hands-on practising lawyer. Review the contract below.
CONTRACT: "<PASTE THE TEXT>"
Give the review as a clause-by-clause table: Clause → What it means in plain words → Risk for me (low/medium/high) → What to clarify/change.
At the end: the 3 biggest red flags and 3 questions for the other party.
Filled-in example
In <PASTE THE TEXT> — a services agreement where you are the contractor.
Expected AI answer: a table — "cl. 4.2 Payment within 60 days → the money will take a while → medium risk → ask for 10–15 days"; "cl. 7.1 A 10% penalty per day of delay → can exceed the contract value → high risk → cap it"; "cl. 9 The client can walk away unilaterally without paying → high risk". Red flags: an uncapped penalty, payment only "once the client signs the acceptance act" with no deadline, a ban on working with competitors. Plus 3 questions for the other party.
Variations
- Compare two drafts. "What changed in the new version of the contract, and in whose favour."
- My risks only. State which side you are on: "I am the tenant / the client / the contractor."
- Pre-signature checklist. "Compile a list of clauses to negotiate BEFORE signing."
Pro tips
- The disclaimer is not decoration: AI can get a legal rule wrong or skip a clause entirely. For meaningful sums and risks, the final word belongs to a real lawyer.
- Contracts often contain personal data and trade secrets — for sensitive documents use a local model (Ollama), not a public chat.
- AI does not know the applicable law and case practice by default: ask it to "assess this under Russian law" and still double-check the key conclusions.