Document Summary

What it does

Reads the whole document, works out what kind of document it is and what it is trying to achieve, and returns a short, structured summary a busy owner can act on. If the document contains contract terms, it also flags terms that may raise Australian unfair contract terms questions and suggests a full contract review.

When to use it

• A supplier proposal, tender, lease, report or board pack lands and you have ten minutes.
• You need to brief a partner, manager or accountant on a document.
• You want to check a document before replying or signing.

What you need

• Required: the document, uploaded (PDF, Word, slides, spreadsheet) or pasted.
• Helpful: why you are reading it (deciding, replying, signing, filing) and which side of any deal you are on.
• Optional connectors, if you already use them: Google Drive, Microsoft 365 (OneDrive, SharePoint), Notion or Dropbox to open the file. None is required.

Steps for Claude

1. Read the full document, including appendices. Note any attachment or schedule that is referred to but missing.
2. Decide privately: document type, author and audience, the decision or action it exists to drive, and whether it recommends, commits to or reports on something.
3. Write the summary in the format below. State things directly and do not pad.
4. Show amounts in AUD as written, and note whether they include or exclude GST. If the document does not say, flag it.
5. Write dates in Australian format (for example 14 March 2027) and flag any deadline within the next 30 days.
6. If the document contains contract terms, add a short "Contract terms to check" section. Flag one-sided terms such as the other party alone being able to change the price or terms, renew or end the contract, or decide whether you breached it, plus automatic renewal and exit fees. Recommend a full review with the au-contract-risk-review skill or a lawyer.
7. If the document is routine and nothing needs attention, say so.

Output format

• Summary (3 sentences): what this is and what it is for; the most important thing it says; what needs to happen because of it.
• Decisions or commitments: up to eight, each specific ("Supplier to deliver 40 units by 30 November for $12,000 plus GST"). Say "None" for purely informational documents.
• Numbers that matter: figure, what it refers to, why it matters.
• Action items: owner, action, deadline. Mark unclear owners and missing deadlines.
• Needs attention: unsigned sections, missing attachments, numbers that do not add up, vague wording in a binding commitment, outdated information.
• Contract terms to check: only when relevant.

Australian rules and sources

• Unfair contract terms. For standard form contracts made, renewed or varied from 9 November 2023, proposing, using or relying on unfair terms is banned and penalties can apply. The protection covers consumers and small businesses with fewer than 100 employees or under $10 million annual turnover. Only a court can decide a term is unfair. ACCC: https://www.accc.gov.au/business/selling-products-and-services/contracts
• What you can do about an unfair term: https://business.gov.au/legal/fair-trading/australian-consumer-law-and-your-business
• Personal information in documents. Remove sensitive personal details you do not need before uploading, in line with OAIC guidance on AI tools: https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-guidance-for-organisations-and-government-agencies/guidance-on-privacy-and-the-use-of-commercially-available-ai-products

Limits

This is not legal, financial or tax advice. Claude can misread scanned pages, tables and handwriting, so check key figures against the original. For contracts, have a qualified Australian lawyer review anything significant before you sign.

Example requests

1. "Summarise this 40-page tender from the council. What do we have to deliver and by when?"
2. "Here's the landlord's new lease. Give me the summary and flag anything I should question."
3. "Summarise this supplier proposal for my business partner in under a page."