Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Claim Chart Builder agent skill (claim-chart)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The claim-chart skill is an agent skill for Claude Code or another SKILL.md-compatible agent that builds an element chart, either a patent claim chart or a civil element chart for a cause of action or defense. Every cell in the chart is pin-cited, and the main output is a list of gaps: elements the record does not yet support. This guide explains what an agent skill is, how to install this one, how to ask for a chart, and what to check before relying on the output.
Claim Chart Builderanthropics/claude-for-legal · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the claim-chart skill ZIP from the directory page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into .claude/skills/ inside your project.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. Upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills if you use the Claude apps.
- 4Gather your files. Make the patent, pleadings, evidence, or accused product material available as files the agent can read.
- 5Make a natural request. Ask for a claim chart or element chart, or ask what you are missing to prove a claim.
- 6Answer the mode question. If you do not specify patent or civil mode, answer the agent's question and supply the patent number and claim, or the cause of action and side.
- 7Review the gap list. Read the gap list or needs-evidence list first, then verify each mapped cell against its pin cite.
What is an agent skill, and what does claim-chart make the agent do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that tells a compatible agent how to perform a specific task. When the skill is installed, the agent can follow its workflow when a request matches the skill's description.
The claim-chart skill turns a patent claim or a legal cause of action into a table of individual elements. It then maps each element against evidence, an accused product, prior art, or a chart under review, with a pin cite for every entry. Its priority output is the gap list (for civil charts) or the needs-evidence list (for patent charts).
- Patent mode: infringement, invalidity, or review of a claim chart.
- Civil mode: an element chart for any pleaded cause of action or defense.
- Every cell carries a pin cite to its source.
- Gap detection is the first thing to read in the output.
- Every output carries a standing warning that the chart is a draft for attorney verification, not a finding.
How do you install the claim-chart skill?
Download the ZIP for the skill from the directory page. Unzip it into one of two locations: your personal skills folder at ~/.claude/skills/, or a project-specific .claude/skills/ folder inside the project you are working in.
Alternatively, you can upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/.
- Project install: unzip into .claude/skills/ within the project folder.
- App install: upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
~/.claude/skills/What does the skill need before it runs?
The skill requires Claude Code or another SKILL.md-compatible agent. It also needs access to the relevant patent, pleadings, evidence, or accused product material as files the agent can read.
A practice-level configuration folder at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/ is optional but recommended. If you have a practice profile there, the skill uses it for role, document storage, and decision posture. If your matter is intaken, it also reads the matter file for the pleaded elements, jurisdiction, and case phase.
- Claude Code or another SKILL.md-compatible agent.
- Readable files for the patent, pleadings, evidence, or accused product.
- Optional: practice-level configuration folder at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/.
- The skill runs no scripts and makes no network calls, according to its listing.
How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?
You do not need to type the flags. The skill's description matches requests for a claim chart, element chart, proof chart, infringement or invalidity contention, element-by-element mapping, or a question like what we are missing to prove a claim. You can also invoke it directly with /claim-chart.
If you do not specify a mode, the agent will ask whether you want a patent chart or a civil chart. Patent mode needs a patent number and at least one asserted claim. Civil mode needs the cause of action or defense and the side you act for.
- "Build a claim chart for the asserted claims of patent [number] against the accused product."
- "Make an invalidity claim chart for claim 1 using these prior art references."
- "Create an element chart for the breach of contract count in the complaint."
- "What are we missing to prove the fraud claim?"
/claim-chart --patent --infringement --claim 1What does the workflow produce?
The agent loads the relevant context, selects the mode, and maps each element against the target. For civil mode it consults a baseline element template before mapping and asks you to confirm the controlling pattern instruction or statute. For patent mode it parses claims into elements and flags disputed terms for construction.
Outputs are written in markdown, CSV with a companion sources file, and Excel or Sheets, depending on your preference. The summary readout lists the claims, targets, jurisdiction, phase, element counts by state, the gap list, file paths, and a reminder that every cell is a lead.
- Markdown, CSV (values plus a _sources companion), and Excel or Sheets output.
- Work-product header on every output.
- When a matter is active, files go to the matter's claim-charts/ folder and a line is added to history.md.
What should you check before using disclosed documents?
If any document was obtained through disclosure or discovery, the skill asks whether the use falls within the proceedings where it was disclosed. The skill describes restrictions such as CPR 31.22 in England and Wales and protective orders or Rule 26(c) in the US. If you cannot confirm the use is permitted, the skill flags it and asks you to confirm before proceeding.
Matter intake is also required. The skill refuses to build a chart on a matter that has not been added to the matter log, because the conflicts check runs during intake.
- Confirm use restrictions on disclosed or discovery-obtained documents before starting.
- Run matter intake first if you use matter workspaces; the skill will not proceed otherwise.
- Provisional mode runs with generic defaults and tags outputs as PROVISIONAL.
What people use it for
- Preparing an element-by-element analysis of a complaint or counterclaim before a motion.
- Building an infringement chart that maps an asserted patent claim against an accused product.
- Building an invalidity chart that maps a claim against prior art references.
- Generating a first-pass evidence gap list before discovery.
- Learning how claim charts and element analysis are structured.
Frequently asked questions
Is claim-chart free to use?
The source material for this listing does not state a price or licence terms beyond the Apache-2.0 licence shown for the repository. Check the licence file in the source repository for the terms that apply.
What do I need to run the claim-chart skill?
You need Claude Code or another SKILL.md-compatible agent and readable files for the patent, pleadings, evidence, or accused product. A practice-level configuration folder is optional but recommended. The skill runs no scripts and uses no network, according to its listing.
Where do I install the claim-chart skill?
Unzip the downloaded ZIP into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ in a project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Can the skill replace an attorney's legal analysis?
No. The skill states that its output is a draft for attorney analysis and verification, not a filed contention, brief, or legal opinion. Controlling jury instructions, statutes, or Markman orders may differ from its templates.
What is the difference between patent mode and civil mode?
Patent mode builds a claim chart for infringement, invalidity, or review and needs a patent number and at least one asserted claim. Civil mode builds an element chart for a cause of action or defense and needs the cause of action and the side you represent.
Can I use documents from discovery with this skill?
Only after confirming the use is permitted. The skill warns that disclosed documents may carry restrictions such as CPR 31.22 or protective orders, and it asks you to confirm before proceeding.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
Use claim-chart if you are a litigator, paralegal, in-house team, or law student who wants a structured, pin-cited element analysis and a first-pass gap list. Pick something else if you need a final opinion or filed contention, or if your claim type or jurisdiction is outside the included templates, since you would need to supply the controlling authority yourself.
Download the skill