Caseprep / The Open File / Authors
Graham Whitlock
Case writing and AI workflow writer · 10 articles
About Graham
Graham Whitlock has spent most of his working life around paperwork that matters: reports that had to hold up, summaries that had to be read in five minutes and timelines that had to survive a second look from someone who disagreed. He started experimenting with AI writing tools the way many people do, with a quick question and a disappointing answer, and kept going until he understood why the answers were disappointing.
On The Open File he writes about case summaries, timelines, report writing, supervisor briefings, interview preparation, verification of AI output, legal research framing, grant proposals and training materials. Every piece comes back to two ideas: protect the data first, and give the tool enough structure that its draft is worth checking.
Graham is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice. He uses fictional cases for every example and treats every AI draft as exactly that, a draft. Readers who want to talk shop about prompts, templates or checklists are always welcome.
Writes about: Case summaries, timelines, report writing, briefings, interview outlines, AI verification, legal research, grant writing, training materials.
Passionate about
- Templates that make the second draft unnecessary
- Fictional training cases with just the right complications
- Bottom-line-up-front briefings
- Catching an invented citation before anyone else does
- Prompts structured like a good case file
- Plain language over jargon, every time
10 articles
Everything Graham has written
Creating Training Materials for New Case Staff: Onboarding That Actually Sticks
New investigators, analysts and paralegals learn fastest with clear guides, realistic practice and good feedback. How to build training materials that work.
FundingWriting Grant Proposals for Justice Technology: A Practical Guide for Agencies
Many agencies fund new technology through grants. How to define the need, build a credible plan and write a proposal reviewers can say yes to.
ResearchAI as a Legal Research Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
AI can help frame research questions and suggest search terms. It cannot replace authoritative sources. How to use it responsibly in legal research.
VerificationTrust, Then Verify: Checking AI Output for Fabrications, Gaps and Bias
AI tools can invent citations, misstate facts and sound confident while doing it. A practical verification routine for anyone using AI in legal or case work.
InterviewsPreparing Interview Question Outlines: Covering What the File Still Needs
Good interviews start with knowing what the case is missing. How to build structured interview outlines and use AI to brainstorm categories safely.
CommunicationBriefing a Supervisor in Five Minutes: Structuring Case Updates That Get Decisions Made
Supervisors need the right information fast. How to structure verbal and written case briefings, and how AI can help you practice and build templates.
WritingClearer Report Writing for Case Teams: Plain Language That Holds Up Under Scrutiny
Reports are read by supervisors, attorneys, judges and juries. How to write clearly, precisely and fairly, and where AI can help with style.
TimelinesBuilding Case Timelines: How AI Can Help You Design the Process (Without Touching the Evidence)
Timelines win and lose cases. How to design a reliable timeline workflow, test it on fictional data and avoid the traps that creep into chronologies.
WritingBetter Prompts for Case Summary Templates: Structure First, Facts Later
Use AI to design the structure of a great case summary with fictional data, then fill it in inside approved systems. A step-by-step approach.
Data HandlingWhat Not to Paste Into an AI Tool: Confidentiality Rules for Case Teams
AI assistants can save investigators and attorneys hours. They can also leak confidential case material. A practical guide to drawing the line.