Contract Review Prompt Templates
You get a plain-language summary of what the contract commits you to, the clauses that carry the most risk, and questions to raise before signing. The prompt below works in any AI assistant. It comes with a worked example, the mistakes that make AI output for this task weak, and variations for common situations.
Help me understand a contract before I sign it. This is not legal advice, and I will have a lawyer review anything important. ## Contract Type: [e.g. freelance services agreement, SaaS subscription, commercial lease] My role: [e.g. the contractor, the customer, the tenant] Jurisdiction stated in the contract: [if listed] What matters most to me: [e.g. getting paid on time, being able to cancel] ## Text [paste the contract or the relevant clauses] ## Instructions - Summarize what I am agreeing to in plain language: what I must do, what I get, how long, how it ends. - Flag clauses that are unusual or one-sided for my role, and quote the exact text. - Check for: payment terms, termination, auto-renewal, liability caps, indemnity, IP ownership, non-compete, confidentiality, and dispute resolution. - For each risk, suggest a question or change to ask for. - Say clearly if a clause is ambiguous. ## Output format 1. Plain-language summary 2. Risk table: clause, quote, why it matters, suggested change 3. Questions to ask the other side
How to use this prompt
- 1
Copy the prompt
Use the copy button, or type its Retext trigger in any app to paste it.
- 2
Open your AI assistant
Start a new chat in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or whichever assistant you use, so earlier messages don't steer the answer.
- 3
Fill in the brackets
Replace every [bracketed] part with your real details. Specific inputs are what make the answer specific.
- 4
Check and refine
Read the result against the goal above, then reply with one change at a time.
Worked example
What you give it
Type: freelance design services agreement. My role: the contractor. What matters: getting paid and keeping portfolio rights. Clauses: "Payment is due within 60 days of Client's acceptance of the deliverables." "All work product, including drafts and concepts, is the exclusive property of Client upon creation." "Contractor shall indemnify Client against any and all claims arising from the Services."
What a good answer looks like (shortened)
1. Summary: you deliver the design work, the client owns everything you create from the moment you make it, and you are paid up to 60 days after they accept the work. 2. Risks - Payment: "within 60 days of Client's acceptance." No deadline for acceptance, so payment could be delayed indefinitely. Ask for acceptance to be assumed after 10 business days without written feedback, and net 30. - Ownership: "including drafts and concepts... upon creation." You lose rights even to rejected concepts and cannot show the work. Ask for ownership to transfer on full payment, for final deliverables only, with a portfolio-use exception. - Indemnity: "any and all claims." This is unlimited. Ask to limit it to claims caused by your own breach or negligence, capped at fees paid. 3. Questions: What is the acceptance process? Can I show the final work in my portfolio after launch?
Tips for better results
- •State your role clearly. A clause that is standard for a client can be a serious risk for a contractor.
- •Fill in "What matters most to me" so the risk table is ordered around your real concerns.
- •Use the questions in section 3 in your negotiation, then bring the final version to a lawyer if the stakes are high.
- •Avoid this: Treating the AI's review as legal advice, especially for high-value contracts, leases or anything with personal liability.
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Variations
Compare versions
Replace Text with: Version 1 [paste] and Version 2 [paste]. List every change and whether it is better or worse for me.
Redline suggestions
Change Output format to: For each flagged clause, a rewritten version I could propose, in contract language.
Lease review
Change Type to commercial lease and add these to the checklist: rent escalation, maintenance responsibilities, assignment and subletting, personal guarantee.
Save it as a Retext snippet
Retext is a free text expander for Mac. Save this prompt once, then type ;contract in any app (ChatGPT, Claude, your editor, a browser tab) and the full prompt is pasted in.
- Click Add to Retext. The prompt installs as a snippet with the trigger ;contract.
- Change the trigger in Retext if you prefer a different one.
- Type the trigger wherever you want the prompt, then fill in the brackets.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI review a contract instead of a lawyer?
No. It can help you understand terms and prepare questions, which can make a lawyer's review faster and cheaper. For anything with significant money or liability, have a qualified lawyer in your jurisdiction review it.
Is it safe to paste a contract into an AI tool?
Contracts may include confidential terms. Check any confidentiality clause and your company policy, and remove names and figures you do not need to share.
How do I reuse this prompt without copying it every time?
Click Add to Retext to save it as a snippet. Then type ;contract in any Mac app, including your AI tool, and the full prompt is pasted in.
Related Templates
Get the free prompt pack
Our best AI prompts in one Markdown file, delivered by email. The templates here stay free either way — the pack just saves you the copying.