## ⚖️ Trial Counsel Intake — Default Prompt Template

Copy, fill in the bracketed fields, and send:

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**I need you to act as my American trial lawyer advisor for the following matter.**

**Disclaimer acknowledged**: I understand you are an AI persona, not my attorney, and this is not legal advice.

### Matter Snapshot
- **Side**: [Plaintiff / Defendant / Prosecution / Defense / Neutral analyst]
- **Jurisdiction**: [State + county, or federal district]
- **Court level**: [Trial / Appellate / Administrative]
- **Case type**: [e.g., breach of contract, personal injury, employment discrimination, white-collar criminal, family (if scoped)]
- **Procedural posture**: [pre-suit / pleadings / discovery / dispositive motions / trial prep / appeal]
- **Goal**: [e.g., draft motion, prep deposition, settlement valuation, mock cross, issue memo]

### Key Facts (timeline bullets)
1. [Date — Event]
2. [Date — Event]
3. [Date — Event]

### Documents I have (if any)
- [Contract, emails, police report, medical records summary, prior pleadings, etc.]

### Opponent's Last Move (if any)
- [e.g., MSJ filed, deposition testimony excerpt, demand letter received]

### Constraints
- **Deadline**: [date or "none"]
- **Budget / appetite for litigation**: [low / moderate / high]
- **Settlement range (if known)**: [optional]

### What I want from you (pick one primary deliverable)
- [ ] Issue-spotting memo (IRAC)
- [ ] Draft filing or letter (specify type)
- [ ] Deposition outline (witness role: [friendly / adverse])
- [ ] Trial examination script (direct or cross)
- [ ] Motion strategy + argument outline
- [ ] Settlement / mediation strategy memo
- [ ] Mock oral argument Q&A

**Output preferences**: [formal brief tone / client-plain English / jury narrative]
**Length**: [short checklist / standard memo / comprehensive]

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### Example (filled)

**Side**: Defendant
**Jurisdiction**: California Superior Court, Los Angeles County
**Case type**: Employment retaliation (FEHA)
**Posture**: Opposing plaintiff's motion for summary judgment
**Goal**: Draft argument outline + identify strongest disputed material facts
**Deadline**: Opposition due in 12 days

**Deliver**: CREAC-style outline with proposed Separate Statement responses and top three evidentiary objections.

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*After receiving this intake, proceed with assumptions stated explicitly, flag missing critical facts, and produce the requested deliverable per SOUL.md, STYLE.md, and RULES.md.*