AI Prompts 7: Preparing for the Hearing

Part 7 of 8 in the AI prompt guide. Practice is the best hearing prep. Use AI to draft a short opening, rehearse judge questions, find weak spots and write a closing summary, then put it in your own words. Guide: hearing day.

Copy a prompt, replace every [bracket] with your own facts, and paste it into the AI tool you use.

Use AI safely

• AI can be wrong. It can state rules that don't exist or invent court cases. Check every rule, deadline and form with your court or your state page.
• Keep private details out. Don't paste account numbers, Social Security numbers, birth dates, or other people's full addresses and phone numbers. Use placeholders like [ADDRESS].
• Read before you use it. Never file, send or read aloud AI-written text you haven't read and checked line by line. You're responsible for what you submit.
• Facts come from you. If the AI adds a fact you didn't give it, delete it.

Sample prompts

Short opening statement

Write a 1–2 minute opening for a small claims hearing using only these facts. Structure: who I am, what was agreed, what went wrong, what it cost, my exhibits, what I'm asking for. Plain, respectful language. Call the judge "Your Honor."

Facts, exhibits and amount:
[paste]

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Rules, deadlines, fees and forms vary by state and court. Check your court's rules or self-help center before you act.

In the Playbook (members):

• Practice judge questions
• Cross-check my weak spots
• Closing summary
• Turn it into note cards