Legal Letter Drafting
Drafts litigation correspondence that advances settlement positioning, preserves rights, and builds a clean evidentiary record for personal injury cases.
Quick Start
Gather before drafting:
- Case identifiers — case name, docket number, matter number, claim number
- Recipient — name, title, firm/organization, delivery method
- Strategy — purpose, desired outcome, deadlines
- Supporting docs — prior correspondence, medical records, incident reports
- Damages (demand letters) — medical bills, lost wages, future costs
Header Template
[DATE]
Via [Delivery Method]: [address]
[RECIPIENT NAME]
[TITLE]
[FIRM/ORGANIZATION]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Re: [Case Name]
[Court Name] Case No. [Number] (if filed)
Our Client: [Client Name]
Matter No.: [Internal number]
Claim No.: [If applicable]
[Brief subject description]
Dear [RECIPIENT NAME],
Body Structure
Draft in this order:
- Opening — Identify client, state purpose, reference prior correspondence or deadlines
- Factual foundation — Chronological key facts with dates, amounts, parties; cite supporting docs
- Legal basis — Cite statutes, regulations, case law; connect to client's position
- Damages (if applicable) — Itemized monetary damages with calculations, non-economic damages, ongoing costs
- Demand & deadline — Specific demand or action requested, response deadline with consequences, payment instructions
- Closing — Invite communication, list enclosures, provide contact info
When litigation is anticipated, include preservation language:
Please preserve all documents, electronically stored information, and physical evidence related to this matter as litigation may be reasonably anticipated.
Tone by Recipient
| Recipient |
Tone |
Strategy |
| Opposing counsel |
Professional, firm, respectful |
Position client favorably; negotiate or preserve rights |
| Insurance company |
Business-like, documentation-focused |
Present clear liability and damages for coverage decision |
Letter-Type Variations
| Type |
Key Requirements |
| Settlement demand |
Lead with strongest liability facts; itemize damages; set firm deadline; leave negotiation room |
| Cease and desist |
Specify prohibited conduct; cite legal basis; state consequences; document prior violations |
| Statutory notice |
Meet statutory notice requirements exactly; use required delivery method; preserve proof of delivery |
| Response letter |
Address opposing points selectively; correct facts diplomatically; preserve position for future proceedings |
Signature Block
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Typed Name]
cc: [Client name]
Enclosures: [List attachments]
Checks
- Extract all available information from provided files before requesting user input; use placeholders for missing details
- Verify all names, dates, case numbers, and amounts against the file
- Base demands on documented losses; include interest and costs where appropriate
- Set realistic deadlines — allow reasonable response time while creating urgency
- Never disclose privileged or confidential information
- Include all referenced attachments in enclosures list
- Maintain firm but professional tone — no overtly aggressive language
- Flag in output that client must review and approve before sending
- FRE 408 considerations apply to all settlement communications
- For Illinois product liability: 735 ILCS 5/2-621 governs strict liability for defective products [VERIFY current statute]
1---2name: legal-letter3description: Drafts professional legal letters for personal injury litigation including settlement demands, cease-and-desist, notice letters, and response correspondence. Tailors tone by recipient type. Use when drafting demand letters, pre-suit correspondence, insurance claim letters, cease-and-desist notices, or litigation response letters.4---56# Legal Letter Drafting78Drafts litigation correspondence that advances settlement positioning, preserves rights, and builds a clean evidentiary record for personal injury cases.910## Quick Start1112Gather before drafting:1314- **Case identifiers** — case name, docket number, matter number, claim number15- **Recipient** — name, title, firm/organization, delivery method16- **Strategy** — purpose, desired outcome, deadlines17- **Supporting docs** — prior correspondence, medical records, incident reports18- **Damages** (demand letters) — medical bills, lost wages, future costs1920## Header Template2122```23[DATE]24Via [Delivery Method]: [address]2526[RECIPIENT NAME]27[TITLE]28[FIRM/ORGANIZATION]29[ADDRESS]30[CITY, STATE ZIP]3132Re: [Case Name]33 [Court Name] Case No. [Number] (if filed)34 Our Client: [Client Name]35 Matter No.: [Internal number]36 Claim No.: [If applicable]37 [Brief subject description]3839Dear [RECIPIENT NAME],40```4142## Body Structure4344Draft in this order:45461. **Opening** — Identify client, state purpose, reference prior correspondence or deadlines472. **Factual foundation** — Chronological key facts with dates, amounts, parties; cite supporting docs483. **Legal basis** — Cite statutes, regulations, case law; connect to client's position494. **Damages** (if applicable) — Itemized monetary damages with calculations, non-economic damages, ongoing costs505. **Demand & deadline** — Specific demand or action requested, response deadline with consequences, payment instructions516. **Closing** — Invite communication, list enclosures, provide contact info5253When litigation is anticipated, include preservation language:5455> Please preserve all documents, electronically stored information, and physical evidence related to this matter as litigation may be reasonably anticipated.5657## Tone by Recipient5859| Recipient | Tone | Strategy |60|-----------|------|----------|61| Opposing counsel | Professional, firm, respectful | Position client favorably; negotiate or preserve rights |62| Insurance company | Business-like, documentation-focused | Present clear liability and damages for coverage decision |6364## Letter-Type Variations6566| Type | Key Requirements |67|------|-----------------|68| **Settlement demand** | Lead with strongest liability facts; itemize damages; set firm deadline; leave negotiation room |69| **Cease and desist** | Specify prohibited conduct; cite legal basis; state consequences; document prior violations |70| **Statutory notice** | Meet statutory notice requirements exactly; use required delivery method; preserve proof of delivery |71| **Response letter** | Address opposing points selectively; correct facts diplomatically; preserve position for future proceedings |7273## Signature Block7475```76Sincerely,7778[Signature]79[Typed Name]8081cc: [Client name]82Enclosures: [List attachments]83```8485## Checks8687- Extract all available information from provided files before requesting user input; use placeholders for missing details88- Verify all names, dates, case numbers, and amounts against the file89- Base demands on documented losses; include interest and costs where appropriate90- Set realistic deadlines — allow reasonable response time while creating urgency91- Never disclose privileged or confidential information92- Include all referenced attachments in enclosures list93- Maintain firm but professional tone — no overtly aggressive language94- Flag in output that client must review and approve before sending95- FRE 408 considerations apply to all settlement communications96- For Illinois product liability: 735 ILCS 5/2-621 governs strict liability for defective products [VERIFY current statute]
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