AI for Legal & Accounting Professionals

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Set Up ChatGPT for Real Work: A 10-Minute Guide for Professionals

Configure ChatGPT so it becomes a valuable thinking partner—not just a search tool.

1. Enable Memory

Go to Settings → Personalization → Memory → Turn it ON. Without memory, ChatGPT forgets everything between sessions. This step allows continuity across conversations.

2. Introduce Yourself

Navigate to Settings → Custom Instructions. Briefly explain who you are, your profession, and how you prefer to work. ​Example: “I’m a London-based tax advisor focused on cross-border clients and private wealth. I prefer concise, structured responses and assume a high level of subject knowledge.”

3. Define the Advisor You Want

In the same Custom Instructions section, specify the tone and behavior you want from ChatGPT. ​Example: “Challenge my assumptions. Offer counterpoints and frameworks. Be clear and strategic—not just agreeable.”

4. Share Business Context

Still in Custom Instructions, provide a short overview of your business or workflow:
What tools you use
Who your clients are
What kinds of problems you solve This saves you from repeating the same background every time.

5. Use a Framework for Better Prompts

When asking questions, specify a method. Try these:
Lean 5 Whys – for problem diagnosis
Jobs to Be Done – for product or service development
ICE Scoring – for prioritizing ideas or tasks
Add smart constraints: “Keep answers under 100 words.” “Ask one follow-up question at a time.” This keeps responses focused and actionable.
Done! Now Try This: Ask: “Use Lean 5 Whys to analyze the root cause of delays in our client onboarding.” This applies your setup immediately—and makes ChatGPT far more useful.
Most people skip these steps and get average results. You won’t.
Now you’re set up to extract real value from your AI—no fluff, no repetition, no wasted time.
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