Legal Letter Drafting

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:

1. Opening — Identify client, state purpose, reference prior correspondence or deadlines
2. Factual foundation — Chronological key facts with dates, amounts, parties; cite supporting docs
3. Legal basis — Cite statutes, regulations, case law; connect to client's position
4. Damages (if applicable) — Itemized monetary damages with calculations, non-economic damages, ongoing costs
5. Demand & deadline — Specific demand or action requested, response deadline with consequences, payment instructions
6. 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

Letter-Type Variations

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]