Guide · Agent skill
How to use the plain-language-letters skill (deprecated)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
plain-language-letters is an agent skill for Claude that has been deprecated. It no longer drafts letters. Its only job is to point the agent to two replacement skills, client-letter for routine correspondence and status for substantive client updates. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it if you need it, and how to find the replacements you actually want.
Plain-Language Letters (Deprecated)anthropics/claude-for-legal · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Confirm you need this skill. Check whether you are drafting a new client letter. If you are, install client-letter or status instead, because this skill produces no letter content.
- 2Download the ZIP. Get the plain-language-letters ZIP from the directory page.
- 3Install it. Unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ in a project, or upload the ZIP under Settings, Capabilities, Skills in the Claude apps.
- 4Use the replacement commands. Run /client-letter [type] for routine correspondence or /status client for substantive client updates.
- 5Confirm CLAUDE.md is present. Make sure the CLAUDE.md file defining the plain-language standards is available, since it is not included in this package.
What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that gives an AI agent instructions for a specific kind of task. When the skill is active, the agent reads those instructions and follows them.
This skill does not contain drafting steps. Its SKILL.md says the work was split during a rebuild: routine correspondence (appointment confirmations, document requests, brief 'we filed it' updates) moved to client-letter, and substantive client status updates moved to status in client-facing mode. The file is kept only as a redirect so old references still lead somewhere.
Install the skill (only if you need the redirect)
Most people should skip installation and install the replacement skills instead. If you need this one, for example to check old references, you can install it in either of two ways.
Option one is to download the ZIP from the directory page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder to share it with one project.
Option two is to upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
- Personal: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- Single project: unzip into .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
Know what it needs before you run it
The source lists no requirements. The skill runs no scripts and makes no network calls. The only file in the package is SKILL.md.
Its frontmatter marks the skill as not user-invocable, so do not expect it to behave like a command you type on its own. The agent is the one that reads it and acts on the redirect.
- Requirements listed: none
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files: SKILL.md only
Trigger the right skill instead
Because this skill only redirects, the practical step is to ask for the replacement directly. The source names two invocations you can use.
Use /client-letter [type] for routine correspondence, such as an appointment confirmation or a document request.
Use /status client for a substantive status update to a client.
- Routine letter: /client-letter [type]
- Substantive update: /status client
/client-letter [type]
/status clientPlain-language standards and the missing CLAUDE.md
Both replacement skills apply plain-language standards, meaning reading level and no jargon, as defined in a CLAUDE.md file.
That CLAUDE.md file is not part of these materials. Installing plain-language-letters alone will not give you those rules, so check that the CLAUDE.md file is available in your setup before relying on the output.
Migrate old references
If your notes, prompts or internal docs still refer to plain-language-letters, update them to the two replacements. Use client-letter for routine messages and status for substantive updates. Then check that each reference now points to the skill that matches its purpose.
What people use it for
- Finding which replacement skill to use after an old prompt or script calls plain-language-letters
- Auditing internal documents to confirm they reference client-letter or status instead of the deprecated name
- Handling a routine appointment confirmation or document request with client-letter
- Writing a substantive client status update with status in client-facing mode
Frequently asked questions
Does plain-language-letters write client letters?
No. The SKILL.md file contains no drafting steps. It only tells the agent that routine correspondence moved to /client-letter and substantive updates moved to /status client.
Is plain-language-letters free to use?
The source says the item is licensed under Apache-2.0. It does not list prices, so check the directory page for any other terms.
What do I install instead of plain-language-letters?
Install or use the client-letter skill for routine correspondence and the status skill for substantive client updates. Use /client-letter [type] and /status client respectively.
What does it require to run?
The source lists no requirements. It runs no scripts and uses no network. The package contains only SKILL.md.
Why does the skill not produce any output?
It was deprecated and kept as a redirect for migration. Its purpose is to direct the agent to the replacement skills, not to produce letter content.
Where do the plain-language rules come from?
They are defined in a CLAUDE.md file that the source says is not included in these materials. Make sure you have that file before relying on the plain-language standards.
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Our verdict
Use this skill only if you need to find the replacements for an old plain-language-letters reference or to audit migrations. If you want to draft a client letter or status update now, use client-letter or status instead, and make sure the CLAUDE.md standards file is available.
Download the skill