Draft a Simple Summary of Your Employment Contract
The topic
AI tools now help analyze and summarize legal documents for clarity
Recent AI advancements are making it easier for everyday users to understand complex legal language. These tools can deconstruct dense contracts, terms of service, or legal notices into digestible summaries, highlighting key obligations and rights without requiring a legal background.
Today's framework: TAG — Task · Action · Goal
Draft a Simple Summary of Your Employment Contract
You'll end up with a one-page 'Plain English Summary' of a dense document that breaks down your specific obligations, deadlines, and rights.
The prompt
Task: You are a helpful legal assistant for a first-time office worker. Review the text of an employment contract and explain it in plain English.
Action: Deconstruct the dense legal language of this document. Create a summary that identifies the top 3 key responsibilities, any non-compete clauses, the exact notice period required to quit, and any hidden fees or penalties. Use bullet points and avoid all legal jargon.
Goal: Help me, a new employee, understand exactly what I am signing before my Monday morning deadline so I can ask my recruiter intelligent questions.
[Paste your contract text here]
Result: A one-page 'Plain English Summary' organized by clear headings like 'What I Must Do' and 'Things to Watch Out For'.
How to use it
1.Copy the text of your contract or terms of service document.
2.Paste the text at the bottom of the prompt where indicated.
3.Paste the full prompt into ChatGPT or Gemini.
4.Review the bulleted summary to identify any areas of concern.
5.Save the summary as a PDF or Print it to use as a cheat sheet during your meeting.
Things to watch for
·Remove personal details like personal addresses or bank info before pasting for privacy.
·AI is not a lawyer; use this for understanding, not as formal legal advice.
·If the contract is very long, paste it in 2-3 smaller sections.
Why this prompt works
This prompt uses the TAG framework to ensure a high-quality result. By defining the Task, the AI knows its persona is a helpful assistant rather than a coder or poet. The Action section gives it a specific checklist of what to look for, like notice periods, so it doesn't miss the 'fine print'. Finally, the Goal forces the AI to produce a specific, organized artifact you can actually use in a meeting.
Example AI response
Plain English Summary for your Employment Contract: First, your top 3 responsibilities are managing the team schedule, filing weekly budget reports, and attending the Monday morning strategy call. Regarding your non-compete: for 12 months after leaving, you cannot work for direct competitors within 50 miles. Your notice period is exactly 30 days; you must tell them in writing. Things to watch out for: There is a clause stating you must pay back your training bonus if you leave within the first 6 months. This is a point you may want to negotiate with your recruiter.
Sample only — your AI's answer will be different. That's the fun part.
Try a variation
For a New Apartment Lease
Task: You are a friendly real estate advisor helping a family move into a new rental.
Action: Analyze this lease agreement to find the rules on security deposit returns, pet policies, and who is responsible for specific repairs like plumbing or broken windows.
Goal: Create a 'Tenant Quick-Guide' for a family to keep on their fridge so they don't accidentally break the house rules.
[Paste your lease text here]
Result: A bulleted list of 5-8 essential 'Golden Rules' for the new apartment.
For App Terms of Service
Task: You are a digital privacy expert helping a parent evaluate a new social media app.
Action: Scan the Terms of Service for how user data is shared with third parties and how to delete an account permanently.
Goal: Draft a 'Privacy Risk Report' so I can decide if it is safe for my teenager to use.
[Paste Terms of Service here]
Result: A 3-section report covering Data Usage, Account Deletion, and Safety Settings.
For a Freelance Client Agreement
Task: You are a business consultant helping a freelance graphic designer.
Action: Review this service agreement to find the payment schedule, the late fee policy, and who owns the final 'Intellectual Property' (the art).
Goal: Create a 'Project Cheat Sheet' to ensure the designer gets paid on time and knows their rights.
[Paste agreement text here]
Result: A summary table showing Due Dates, Payment Amounts, and Ownership status.
Power tips
Ask the AI to 'explain this like I am five' if a specific clause is still confusing.
Tell the AI which specific country or state you are in for more relevant context.
Follow up by asking 'What are 3 questions I should ask my boss based on this?'
Use this for gym memberships or car rental agreements to find hidden fees.
About this framework
TAG — Task · Action · Goal
TTask
What needs solving.
AAction
Steps the AI should take.
GGoal
The outcome you're after.
When it works best
Goal-focused thinking — planning, problem solving, decision support.