Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Expansion Tracker Update agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The expansion-update skill is a set of instructions that lets an AI assistant, such as Claude, pick up an existing tracker for a country-by-country expansion project and bring it up to date. It is aimed at employment or HR legal teams and project leads managing a multi-step expansion, such as hiring in a new country. After this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for an update in plain language, and what it needs to run.
Expansion Tracker Updateanthropics/claude-for-legal · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it to get SKILL.md.
- 2Place the skill folder. Put it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
- 3Check the prerequisites. Confirm the Claude for Legal config folder exists and that an expansion tracker YAML was created by expansion-kickoff.
- 4Make the reference skill available. Ensure you can access the international-expansion reference skill, which the instructions say to load first.
- 5Invoke the skill. Ask naturally or run /employment-legal:expansion-update with a country name.
- 6Review the status summary. Check the counts and the next priorities listed by the assistant.
- 7Give your updates in one message. Describe what has changed, add new items or new due dates, and let the assistant save the file.
What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file of instructions that an AI assistant loads when a task matches its description. This skill is for returning to an open international expansion tracker after work has happened since the last session.
When you run it, the assistant reads the tracker file, shows the current status (open, in progress, done and blocked counts plus the next priorities), and asks you once for changes. It then records those changes, marks any items that are now unblocked, flags items past their due date, and confirms the next priority.
- Shows a status summary with counts and the top open items and owners
- Asks for all updates in a single prompt rather than item by item
- Flags overdue items that are still open or in progress
- Surfaces tasks that become actionable when a dependency is marked done
Install the expansion-update skill
Download the ZIP for this skill from this page and unzip it. The skill is a single file, SKILL.md, so you can install it in one of two ways.
For personal use across projects, unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/. To scope it to one project, unzip it into the project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill
Set up the prerequisites before you run it
The skill does not create a tracker from scratch. It needs three things in place. First, the Claude for Legal plugin configuration files must exist at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/employment-legal/. Second, you need an existing expansion tracker YAML file, which is created by the expansion-kickoff command. Third, the skill's instructions tell the assistant to load the international-expansion reference skill first. That reference skill is not included in the provided files, so you need access to it separately.
If no tracker exists for the country you name, the skill stops and asks you to start one with the kickoff command rather than inventing one.
- Config folder: ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/employment-legal/
- Tracker file pattern: expansion-[slug].yaml in that folder
- Starting command when none exists: /employment-legal:expansion-kickoff [country]
- Reference skill: international-expansion (not bundled)
/employment-legal:expansion-kickoff [country]Trigger the skill with a natural request
The skill's description says to use it when work has happened since the last session and the tracker needs to reflect the current state. In practice you can ask in plain language, for example that you want to update the Germany expansion tracker because the employer-of-record decision has been made. You can also run it directly with a slash command.
Pass a country name to target a specific tracker. If you leave it out and several trackers exist, the assistant will ask which country you mean.
- Plain request: "Update the Germany expansion tracker, we've made the EOR decision."
- Direct command with a country: /employment-legal:expansion-update Germany
- Direct command without a country: /employment-legal:expansion-update (the assistant asks which country if several trackers exist)
/employment-legal:expansion-update GermanyGive updates and read the results
When the assistant asks what has moved, describe changes in ordinary language. The source gives examples such as an EOR decision made and going with a provider, outside counsel engaged with a call scheduled, or a PE analysis still open while waiting on tax. You can also add new items or change due dates in the same message.
After it saves the file, look for three outputs: the confirmation line with the number of items closed and still open, the next priority item, and any overdue warnings. Items newly marked done are checked for whether they unblock other work, and those are flagged as now actionable.
- Closed items are marked done and their dependents are flagged
- Overdue items appear with the original due date and owner
- The final line names the top open item
Tracker updated — [N] items closed, [N] still open.
Next priority: [top open item].Safety, privacy and limits
The skill reads and writes a local tracker file in your configuration folder rather than a shared system. According to its documentation, it runs no scripts and makes no network calls. Because the skill only edits a local YAML file, the main risk is incorrect data you enter or accept, so review the file after each update.
The skill tracks tasks. It does not verify legal requirements and is not legal advice. Its output should be checked by qualified counsel before anyone relies on it for a decision in a new country.
- No scripts are run by this skill
- No network use is documented for this skill
- Reads and writes only the local tracker file
- Does not verify legal requirements; have qualified counsel check outputs
Tips for getting good results
Keep your updates specific. A line such as "PE analysis still open, waiting on tax" lets the assistant record status and dependencies accurately. Vague updates make the next-priorities list less useful.
Set realistic due dates when you create items through the kickoff process, since the overdue flag depends entirely on them. Run the update at the start of each working session after a gap so the status summary reflects reality.
- Name the specific item and its new status
- Mention dependencies explicitly when you know them
- Keep due dates current so overdue flags are meaningful
- Review the YAML file after each update
What people use it for
- Tracking an employer-of-record decision and seeing which hiring tasks it unblocks
- Returning to a Germany expansion tracker after a few weeks and getting a quick status summary
- Spotting open items that have passed their due date before a project review
- Recording that outside counsel has been engaged and noting the scheduled call
- Keeping a PE analysis item visible while it waits on tax input
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the expansion-update skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What are the requirements to use expansion-update?
You need the Claude for Legal plugin configuration files at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/employment-legal/, an existing expansion tracker YAML file created by expansion-kickoff, and access to the international-expansion reference skill. The reference skill is not included in the provided files.
Is the expansion-update skill free to use?
The source material does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the Apache-2.0 licence listed for the item. Check the licence file in the repository for the terms that apply to your use.
Does the skill run scripts or use the internet?
According to the item's documentation, it runs no scripts and uses no network. It reads and writes a local tracker file in your configuration folder.
Can I use it without a tracker already set up?
No. If no tracker exists for the country you name, the skill stops and tells you to run /employment-legal:expansion-kickoff [country] to start one.
Does this skill give legal advice?
No. It tracks tasks and does not verify legal requirements. Its output should be checked by qualified counsel before you rely on it.
How does it compare to just keeping a spreadsheet?
The skill works on a YAML tracker file and adds specific behaviour: it recalculates unblocked items when something is marked done, flags overdue items, and lists next priorities. Whether that beats a spreadsheet depends on whether you need dependency tracking; the source does not compare it to other tools.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you are an employment or HR legal team, or a project lead, running a multi-step expansion into a new country and you already have a tracker created by expansion-kickoff. Pick something else if you need legal advice, if you have no tracker yet, or if you cannot access the international-expansion reference skill that the instructions depend on.
Download the skill