Legal Clause Plain English Prompt

What this prompt does

Legal clauses are written to be precise, not readable. This prompt translates a specific clause into plain English — explains what it means, what it commits you to, what it protects the other party from, and what follow-up questions are worth asking a lawyer. It's a comprehension tool, not a legal opinion.

The prompt

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How to use it

1. Paste the exact clause text — paraphrasing it yourself before pasting changes the meaning. Include the full clause including any subpoints.
2. Give the contract type and your role — "as the freelancer" or "as the buyer" shapes which obligations are yours.
3. Focus on the flags — the most useful output is usually what's unusual or one-sided. That's where to focus attention if you're negotiating.
4. Use the lawyer questions list — these are specific enough to make a legal consult efficient (and cheaper).

Example output

Clause: "Contractor grants Company a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, modify, and distribute any work product created under this Agreement, including all derivatives thereof."

Contract type: Freelance services agreement
My role: The freelancer (Contractor)

Plain English translation: You're giving the company permission to use your work forever, anywhere in the world, without paying you extra — and they can also change it, build on it, and share it in any form they want.

What it obligates me to: You're giving up ongoing financial rights to this work. Even if the company later profits significantly from what you created, you can't ask for additional payment.

What it protects the other party from: This protects the company from you coming back later and claiming they owe you additional royalties, or trying to limit how they use the work (e.g., claiming you didn't authorize them to modify it).

Flags to pay attention to:

• "Perpetual and irrevocable" is common in IP assignments, but the combination here is strong. You can't take this back.
• "All derivatives" is broad — it means versions of your work that someone else builds on top of.
• "Royalty-free" combined with "perpetual" means no ongoing compensation regardless of the work's future value.
• This is a license, not an assignment — you technically still own the work, but the rights you've given are so broad it's nearly equivalent to a full assignment.

Questions to ask:

1. Does this clause mean you retain no right to display this work in your portfolio?
2. Is the company taking an exclusive license (only they can use it) or non-exclusive (you can sell it elsewhere too)?
3. Can you negotiate to limit this to a specific use case or time period rather than perpetual/irrevocable?

Variations

For a clause you want to negotiate

Add to the prompt:

"I want to push back on this clause. What's the standard alternative language that protects me better while still being reasonable to the other party?"

For reviewing a full contract (multiple clauses)

See the document summary prompt for summarizing an entire contract with flags and obligations identified.

For real estate contracts

"I'm a buyer reviewing this purchase agreement clause. Translate it and tell me: does this favor the buyer, the seller, or is it standard?"

Common pitfalls

• Don't: Assume that because you understand a clause, you've assessed its risk. Understanding what it says and understanding its legal implications in your jurisdiction are different things.
• Try instead: Use this to build a list of specific questions before talking to a lawyer — it makes the conversation faster and more productive.

Who uses this prompt

• Freelancers: Client contracts, NDAs, IP assignment clauses, non-compete clauses
• Small business owners: Vendor contracts, commercial leases, supplier agreements
• Real estate agents: Purchase agreements, commission agreements, representation contracts
• Managers: Employment agreements, vendor contracts, service level agreements