Using Skills with Claude

Overview

Compound Skills are plain Markdown files that contain structured legal methodology. They work natively with Claude products — no plugins, no integrations, no API keys. You download a .md file, give it to Claude, and Claude follows the methodology to analyze your document.

A Skill file gives Claude a specific legal framework to apply — the same way a checklist gives structure to an experienced reviewer. The two main ways to use Skills are Claude Cowork (the desktop app) and Claude Code (the command-line interface).

Claude Cowork (Desktop App)

Claude Cowork is the desktop application most lawyers start with. Here is how to use a Skill step by step.

Step 1 — Download the Skill file. Browse the Compound Skills library and download the .md file for the Skill you need — for example, nda-review.md or gdpr-data-request.md.

Step 2 — Start a conversation. Open Claude Cowork and start a new conversation or open an existing project.

Step 3 — Attach the Skill file. Drag and drop the .md file into the conversation window, or use the attach button. Claude reads the Skill automatically — there is no install step or activation command.

Step 4 — Upload your document. Attach the document you want to analyze: an NDA, employment reference, general terms and conditions, a GDPR data subject request, or anything else the Skill covers. Claude supports PDF, DOCX, and plain text.

Step 5 — Ask Claude to apply the Skill. Be explicit about which Skill to use. Example prompts:

• “Review this NDA using the NDA Review skill.”
• “Apply the GDPR Data Request skill to this email from the data subject.”
• “Use the Employment Reference skill to check this Arbeitszeugnis for hidden language.”
• “Analyze these GTCs with the B2B Terms Review skill. Flag anything unusual for a German SaaS company.”

Claude will work through the Skill’s methodology step by step, producing a structured analysis.

Claude Code (CLI)

If you prefer working in a terminal, Claude Code gives you the same capability from the command line.

Step 1 — Place the Skill file in your workspace. Put the .md file in your project directory or a skills/ folder. Claude Code automatically picks up Markdown files in the workspace context.

Step 2 — Reference the Skill directly. Run Claude Code and tell it which Skill to use:

claude "Use the NDA Review skill to analyze this contract" -f ./contract.pdf

Or start an interactive session and attach files as you go:

claude
> Read the NDA Review skill in skills/nda-review.md and apply it to contract.pdf

Step 3 — Make a Skill permanently available (optional). If you use a Skill frequently, add a reference to it in your project’s CLAUDE.md file. For example:

## Skills
Always load skills/nda-review.md when reviewing NDAs.

Claude Code then knows about the Skill in every session. You can simply say “Review this NDA” and Claude will apply the right methodology.

Best Practices

Be explicit about which Skill to use. Say “Use the NDA Review skill” rather than just “Review this NDA.” Claude can review an NDA without a Skill, but the result will be generic. Naming the Skill ensures Claude follows the specific methodology and structure the Skill defines.

Provide the full document, not excerpts. If you paste only a few clauses, the Skill cannot check for missing provisions or interactions between sections. Upload the entire file.

Ask follow-up questions. The Skill structures the initial pass, but the real value often comes in the follow-up. After the first analysis, ask things like:

• “What is the practical risk of the non-compete clause given that the company is based in Munich?”
• “Draft an alternative version of clause 7 that would be more balanced.”
• “Compare this liability cap to what we typically see in German SaaS contracts.”

Chain multiple Skills for complex matters. For an M&A context, you might run the NDA Review skill first, then follow up with the GmbH Formation skill on the corporate documents. Tell Claude when you switch: “Now apply the GmbH Formation skill to this Gesellschaftsvertrag.”

Treat the output as a starting point. Save Claude’s analysis, then apply your professional judgment. The Skill ensures nothing gets overlooked, but the final assessment is yours.

What to Expect

When you apply a Skill, Claude works through each step of the methodology in sequence. The output is a structured analysis — organized by topic or clause, with flagged issues, risk ratings where the Skill defines them, and references to the document text.

This is not a legal opinion. It is a structured first-pass review — think of it as a thorough associate’s memo that surfaces issues and organizes them clearly. You remain the decision-maker on risk assessment, client advice, and strategic judgment.