CoCounsel is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, but refining your prompts can help you get even more precise and valuable results. By applying a few best practices, you can level up your prompting skills and unlock more structured, insightful, and actionable responses. Here’s how to get the most out of CoCounsel without adding complexity to your workflow.

Using @ Mentions, Document Uploads, and Specifying Output Format

When prompting in CoCounsel, it's important to specify both which sources to use and how the response should be structured. If you upload a document or use the @ button to reference a file, CoCounsel will focus its response on that document. To ensure it also incorporates information from the @Research Library or any other source, be explicit in your prompt about what should be included in the final response. Additionally, defining the output format—such as tables, lists, or memos—improves clarity and usability.

Example:

Less effective prompt:

"What are the tax liabilities for this document @BROWNJ_AZ_2023_PreparerCopyTaxReturn.pdf"

Better prompt (using both @ mention and @Research Library):

"Using @BROWNJ_AZ_2023_PreparerCopyTaxReturn.pdf and the authoritative sources in @Research Library, identify the key tax liabilities, compare them to IRS corporate tax obligations, and summarize key differences in a table."

Why This Works:

• Ensures document-specific analysis while incorporating authoritative research – By referencing @BROWNJ_AZ_2023_PreparerCopyTaxReturn.pdf, CoCounsel will extract tax liabilities specific to this entity. Including @Research Library ensures the response is not limited to just the uploaded document but also integrates authoritative sources such as Checkpoint Content, IRS corporate tax regulations, and SEC filings for a comprehensive analysis.
• Formats the output for clarity – Requesting a table format ensures the response is easy to review, with clear distinctions between what is reported in the document and the IRS standards.
• Prevents incomplete analysis – Without explicitly stating that both the uploaded document and the research library should be referenced, CoCounsel might only analyze the document, potentially missing key regulatory context.

Best Practices:

• Define your preferred format – Specify whether you want a table, memo, list, or comparison report.
• Be explicit about your sources – If you need regulatory context, tell CoCounsel what to pull from @Research Library (Checkpoint content, IRS, SEC)
• Request comparisons when needed – If reviewing a document, specify whether CoCounsel should compare it to regulatory standards or other documents.

By combining clear source instructions and well-defined output formats, you can ensure CoCounsel delivers precise, structured, and actionable responses.

Defining Scope and Specificity