AI Prompt Library

Construction Law prompts for Australian lawyers

These prompts are designed for AU construction practitioners handling contracts, payment disputes, adjudications, variations, delay claims, and defective work. Copy any prompt, replace placeholders with your matter facts, and run it.

In short

A curated library of 25 AI prompts for Australian construction lawyers. Each prompt is grounded in state-based security of payment legislation and current Supreme Court construction authority. Use them with Quillio for contract drafting, payment claims, and disputes.

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Research

Research prompts (5)

Research SOP adjudication grounds

Prompt

Research the current jurisdictional grounds for quashing an adjudication determination in [state] under the security of payment legislation. Cite recent Supreme Court authority.

Example use: Considering a judicial review application against an adverse adjudication determination in NSW.

Research concurrent delay

Prompt

Research the current Australian approach to concurrent delay and extension of time claims. Cover the prevention principle and recent state Supreme Court decisions.

Example use: Advising a head contractor on an EOT claim involving both owner-caused and contractor-caused delays.

Research liquidated damages enforceability

Prompt

Research the current test for enforceability of liquidated damages clauses in construction contracts following Paciocco v ANZ. Cover the penalty doctrine.

Example use: Assessing whether a $50,000/day LD clause in a commercial build contract is enforceable.

Research defective work remedies

Prompt

Research the current approach to remedies for defective work, including rectification costs and the Bellgrove v Eldridge principle. Cite recent authority.

Example use: Advising an owner on damages for defective waterproofing in a high-rise residential build.

Research good faith in construction contracts

Prompt

Research the current Australian position on implied obligations of good faith in construction contracts. Cite recent Supreme Court and Court of Appeal authority.

Example use: Arguing that a principal has breached a good faith obligation in terminating a contract.

Drafting

Drafting prompts (5)

Draft a payment claim

Prompt

Draft a payment claim under the [state] security of payment legislation. Claimant: [details]. Work: [details]. Amount: [$]. Ensure it meets the statutory content requirements.

Example use: A subcontractor claim for a progress payment on a commercial fit-out project.

Draft a payment schedule

Prompt

Draft a payment schedule in response to a payment claim under the [state] SOP Act. Principal: [details]. Reasons for withholding: [details]. Ensure full reasons are provided.

Example use: A head contractor's payment schedule disputing variations claimed by a subcontractor.

Draft a notice of dispute

Prompt

Draft a notice of dispute under the dispute resolution clause of [contract]. Dispute: [details]. Position: [details]. Ensure compliance with the contract notice requirements.

Example use: A contractor issuing a notice of dispute over a rejected variation on a hospital project.

Draft an EOT claim

Prompt

Draft an extension of time claim under [contract clause]. Events: [details]. Delay analysis: [method]. Include the notice compliance, entitlement, and supporting programme evidence.

Example use: A head contractor EOT claim for weather delays on an infrastructure project.

Draft an adjudication application

Prompt

Draft an adjudication application under the [state] SOP Act. Claimant: [details]. Respondent: [details]. Amount: [$]. Include the payment claim, schedule response, and submissions.

Example use: A subcontractor applying for adjudication after an inadequate payment schedule.

Review

Review prompts (5)

Review a head contract

Prompt

Review this head contract for the [contractor/principal]. Identify risk allocation in payment, variation, delay, defects, and termination clauses. Flag any unusual provisions.

Example use: Reviewing an AS 4000-based contract amended by the principal.

Review a subcontract

Prompt

Review this subcontract from the subcontractor's perspective. Identify back-to-back obligations, pay-when-paid issues, and risk transfer clauses.

Example use: A subcontractor reviewing a proposed subcontract for electrical work on a large commercial build.

Review a delay analysis report

Prompt

Review this delay analysis expert report. Check the methodology (e.g. time impact analysis), programme baselines, and the consistency with contemporaneous records.

Example use: An expert delay report prepared for the principal in an $8M EOT dispute.

Review an adjudication determination

Prompt

Review this adjudication determination. Identify any jurisdictional errors, denials of natural justice, or points amenable to judicial review.

Example use: A determination in favour of a subcontractor for $1.2M including disputed variations.

Review a defects report

Prompt

Review this defects inspection report. Identify the defects attributable to the contractor, the rectification scope, and any that may be latent defects.

Example use: An expert defects report for residential building defects in an apartment complex.

Client comms

Client comms prompts (5)

Explain the SOP process

Prompt

Draft a plain-English explanation of the security of payment process in [state], including payment claims, schedules, adjudication, and the debt recovery options.

Example use: A subcontractor unfamiliar with the adjudication process after a late payment.

Explain extension of time rights

Prompt

Draft a plain-English letter explaining the extension of time procedure under the contract. Cover notice requirements, qualifying causes, and the consequences of non-compliance.

Example use: A contractor first encountering delay events on a major project.

Explain practical completion

Prompt

Draft a plain-English explanation of practical completion under the contract, including its effect on defects liability, handover, and retention release.

Example use: An owner whose contractor is asserting practical completion despite outstanding works.

Explain a termination for cause

Prompt

Draft a plain-English letter to a client considering termination for breach. Cover the contractual grounds, notice requirements, and risks of wrongful termination.

Example use: A principal considering termination due to persistent subcontractor default.

Explain a claim under the HBA

Prompt

Draft a plain-English explanation of a claim under the Home Building Act [state], including statutory warranties, limitation periods, and insurance.

Example use: A homeowner discovering structural defects 4 years after completion.

Strategy

Strategy prompts (5)

Strategy for a payment dispute

Prompt

Develop a strategy for recovering payment on [project]. Facts: [details]. Consider SOP adjudication, contract dispute resolution, and direct litigation.

Example use: A subcontractor owed $500,000 in progress payments across two contracts.

Strategy for a delay claim

Prompt

Develop a strategy for a contractor's EOT and delay costs claim. Facts: [details]. Consider the programme, causation evidence, and concurrent delay issues.

Example use: A head contractor building a delay and disruption claim for a 6-month extension on a mixed-use project.

Strategy for defects litigation

Prompt

Develop a strategy for a defects claim against a builder. Facts: [details]. Consider liability, limitation, quantum, and joinder of consultants.

Example use: An owners corporation pursuing rectification costs for facade defects on an apartment building.

Strategy for termination

Prompt

Develop a strategy for termination of [contract]. Grounds: [details]. Consider notice compliance, the risk of wrongful termination, and claims on termination.

Example use: A principal seeking to terminate a head contract mid-project due to sustained quality and delay issues.

Strategy for judicial review of an adjudication

Prompt

Develop a strategy for judicial review of an adjudication determination. Facts: [details]. Identify jurisdictional error grounds and the risk of an adverse determination.

Example use: A respondent facing a $3M adverse determination and considering Supreme Court review.

Use with Quillio

Run these prompts grounded in AU law

Quillio is built for Australian construction practice — every output is grounded in state SOP legislation, standard form contracts, and current Supreme Court authority. See /practice-areas/construction-lawyers for details, or start a free trial at /free-trial to use these prompts on your own matters.

These prompts are templates — always verify outputs against source material and current legislation before relying on them in client matters.

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