Best Practices for research queries

What does an Ideal input include?

Here is an example:

1. Context - Tell Alexi about the file you’re working on, or the work you’re trying to perform. 
2. Goal - Describe what your ideal outcome would look like.
3. Instructions - Provide a task for Alexi to complete (such as finding caselaw, answering a question, helping you strategize etc.)

Here is an example:

I'm working on a commercial litigation file where my client, a supplier of automotive parts, is being sued for breach of contract after allegedly failing to deliver goods on time. My goal is to understand whether the force majeure clause can shield my client from liability in these circumstances and to find supporting case law. Please find examples of cases where force majeure was successfully invoked due to government-imposed shutdowns or similar disruptions in commercial supply agreements.

How can I ask Follow-Up Questions and Iterate?

Think of your interaction with Alexi as a conversation, not a one-time search. The best way to get useful answers is to:

1. Start broad – Begin with a general question to get an overview.
2. Narrow down – Use Alexi’s first answer to identify areas you want more detail on.
3. Ask follow-ups – Build on the previous answers by asking more specific questions.
4. Refine further – Continue until you have the clarity, level of detail, or format you need.
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This step-by-step approach mirrors how you would research a topic with a colleague: start wide, then zoom in until you have the precise answer.

Sample legal research prompts

Example 1: Commercial Litigation

1. I’m working on a commercial dispute for a manufacturer that included a liquidated damages clause for late delivery in a long-term supply agreement. My goal is to gauge how likely a court is to treat the clause as an enforceable pre-estimate rather than a penalty. Please provide examples of cases where liquidated damages provisions in B2B supply contracts have been successfully enforced against penalty challenges, highlighting the key factors courts relied on.
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2. Building on the above, the contract also contains an aggregate limitation-of-liability cap. My goal is to understand whether that cap undermines or supports enforcement of the liquidated damages clause. Does the existence of a global liability cap eliminate the possibility of enforcing a separate liquidated damages provision for delay in performance under a commercial supply agreement?
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3. The buyer’s actual losses turned out to be lower than the liquidated sum. My goal is to confirm whether ex-ante reasonableness controls. Can you provide me with any cases that would support the argument that a good-faith pre-estimate at the time of contracting is sufficient to uphold a liquidated damages clause even if the actual damages were lower?
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Example 2: Employment Law

1. I’m advising an employer seeking to enforce a 12-month non-compete against a departing senior sales executive in a niche B2B sector. My goal is to understand baseline enforceability for senior, customer-facing roles. Please provide examples of cases where non-compete clauses for senior sales personnel were upheld, noting factors like role seniority, access to confidential information, and market specialization.

2. The employee had broad access to pricing models and pipeline data. My goal is to assess whether that access can save an otherwise broad restriction. Does the existence of extensive confidential-information access eliminate the possibility that a court will strike down a non-compete as overbroad in scope or duration for a senior sales role?

3. We may pivot to enforcing a customer-specific non-solicitation covenant if the non-compete falters. My goal is to validate a 12-month non-solicit for a concentrated client base. Can you provide me with any cases that would support the argument that a 12-month customer-specific non-solicitation clause is reasonable for a senior sales executive in a specialized industry?
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Sample General Research Prompts

Example 1: Researching an Expert Witness

1. I’m preparing for a personal injury case where the opposing party is relying on expert testimony from Dr. Botley, an orthopedic surgeon. My objective is to gather foundational information about his career and published work. Please locate Dr. Botley’s CV, his medical training, hospital affiliations, and any academic or professional publications.
   
   
2. Building on that, I’d like to focus specifically on his written work. My objective is to see whether he has published articles or presented at conferences regarding musculoskeletal or soft tissue injuries. Please identify any self-published articles, peer-reviewed publications, or public speaking engagements where Dr. Botley commented on the severity, treatment, or prognosis of soft tissue injuries.
   
   
3. Now, I want to probe for potential conflicts between his public statements and his anticipated testimony. My objective is to uncover statements that minimize soft tissue injuries, which may be inconsistent with broader medical consensus. Please find any interviews, blog posts, or expert reports authored by Dr. Botley where he characterized soft tissue injuries as minor, temporary, or functionally insignificant. Highlight passages that may undermine his credibility as an impartial expert witness.

Example 2: Researching a Corporation's Public Filings.

1. I’m acting for a shareholder involved in litigation concerning Bluerock Investments Inc. My objective is to identify whether the company has disclosed pending or threatened litigation in its public filings. Please review the most recent 10-K and 10-Q filings (or equivalent) for Bluerock Investments Inc., and summarize all references to pending litigation, disputes, or settlement discussions.
   
   
2. Building on that, I’d like to understand the evolution of the company’s disclosure strategy. My objective is to compare how the company’s discussion of litigation risk has changed over time. Please review the last three annual reports (10-Ks) for Bluerock Investments Inc. and summarize any shifts in the language or scope of risk disclosures relating to litigation.
   
   
3. Now, I want to see how disclosures compare against external reporting. My objective is to uncover inconsistencies between the company’s disclosures and public reporting that could support a misrepresentation claim. Please identify any press releases, analyst reports, or news articles referencing litigation involving Bluerock Investments Inc. that do not appear to have been disclosed or adequately described in the company’s securities filings.