What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have ChatGPT Plus set up to help you draft court report sections in 15–30 minutes instead of 4–8 hours. You'll use a structured prompting approach that keeps client information out of the AI while still getting professional, court-ready drafts.
What you'll need
- A ChatGPT account (free accounts work for shorter reports; Plus is better for longer ones)
- Time needed: 20 minutes to set up; 15–30 minutes per report section after that
- Cost: Free / $20/month for ChatGPT Plus (longer context, faster responses)
- Your case notes or bullet-point summary of the relevant case facts
How-To Guide: Court Report Drafting with ChatGPT Plus
Step 1: Create a ChatGPT Account
Go to chat.openai.com. Click Sign up and create an account with your personal email (not your work email — keep your personal AI use separate from agency systems). Choose a username and password.
What you should see: The ChatGPT chat interface with a blank message box at the bottom. Troubleshooting: If you're using a work computer, your agency's network may block ChatGPT. Try using your personal phone on mobile data for the setup.