How to use the Case Deadline Tracker agent skill (deadlines)

What is an agent skill?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that tells an AI agent how to perform a specific task when asked. The agent reads the instructions when a request matches the skill's description. The deadlines skill is a single SKILL.md file.

What the deadlines skill makes the agent do

Once installed, the agent can add a deadline to a shared ledger, produce a cross-case rollup of what is overdue or due soon (by owner and practice area), update a deadline, mark one complete, or close one without completing it. The skill warns at configurable thresholds, which default to 14, 7, 3 and 1 days before the due date, and keeps overdue items flagged until someone resolves them.

The skill also checks entered due dates against typical ranges, but only when a jurisdiction-specific band file exists. It asks for confirmation before writing any change. It does not compute deadlines itself; the skill says the computation stays with the student and supervisor.

• --add: log a deadline with case, type, description, due date, source and owner
• --report (default): overdue, next 3, 7 and 14 days, by owner, by practice area, and unassigned flags
• --update [id]: modify fields and log a dated note
• --complete [id]: mark done after confirming the work is filed or submitted
• --close [id]: close without completing, with a required rationale in notes
• --horizon=N is accepted in the argument hint

Install the deadlines skill

You can install the skill in either of two ways. Download the ZIP from the skill's page on this directory and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder to share it with one project.

If you use the Claude apps instead, upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

• Personal: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
• Single project: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
• Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP

Set up the clinic configuration file

The skill loads a clinic configuration file before it does anything. It must exist at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/legal-clinic/CLAUDE.md and should record the jurisdiction, practice areas, warning-day cadence and supervising attorneys. The ledger itself is saved at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/legal-clinic/deadlines.yaml.

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need to type flags. The skill's description is written so that requests such as adding a deadline, asking what is due this week, getting a deadline report or updating a case deadline match it. You can also invoke it directly as /deadlines with one of the flags listed in its argument hint.

• Add a deadline: "Add a deadline for the Garcia matter: response to motion due the 18th, owner Maya."
• Check the week: "What's due this week across the clinic?"
• Get a report: "Give me a deadline report grouped by owner."
• Update: "Update deadline 2 on the Lee case to move the hearing note."
• Close: "Close the discovery deadline for the Patel case; we're withdrawing."

What the skill needs and what it does not do

The skill requires Claude Code or a compatible agent with file system access, the clinic configuration file, and a jurisdiction plausibility band file at references/plausibility-bands/{state}.md. The legal-clinic plugin ships a populated file for CA and a placeholder for IL. If your state has no band file, the skill tells the supervisor it cannot sanity-check dates and will mark entries with no-plausibility-band.

Per the source, the skill runs no scripts and uses no network access. The files describe warnings but do not describe any push notification or scheduling mechanism, so warnings appear within the agent session rather than as outside reminders.

• Requires file system access and the CLAUDE.md configuration file
• Band file ships for CA; IL is a placeholder; other states need their own file
• Runs scripts: no
• Uses network: no
• Does not send automatic reminders outside the agent session

Safety notes and tips

The skill confirms every write before committing it. Deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court, so the skill itself says to confirm each deadline against the governing rule and with your supervisor, especially when a matter involves a different state, a specific court's local rules, or a federal versus state forum question.

Use --complete only after confirming with the student that the work was actually filed or submitted. Use --close with a written rationale. Check for duplicates before adding, because the skill flags an entry that matches case, type and due date.

• Confirm the date against the governing rule; the skill does not compute deadlines
• Enter [VERIFY] in the due field if you have not done the math yet; the entry is written unchecked
• Review entries carrying no-plausibility-band as unchecked
• Log a source for every deadline, such as the court order or statute