Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Privilege Log Review agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The privilege-log-review skill is an agent skill for Claude that acts as a first-pass reviewer of a litigation privilege log, the list of documents a party withholds from production as attorney-client privileged or work product. It sorts each entry into obviously privileged, obviously not privileged, or needs attorney review, and gives reasons for each flag. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to trigger it, and what it needs before it will run.
Privilege Log Reviewanthropics/claude-for-legal · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip. Download the ZIP from the skill page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 2Set up the configuration files. Make sure CLAUDE.md and matters/_log.yaml exist under ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/.
- 3Intake the matter. Run /litigation-legal:matter-intake so the conflicts check runs and the matter is added to the log.
- 4Activate the matter workspace. If workspaces are enabled, run /litigation-legal:matter-workspace switch <slug> or answer practice-level when asked.
- 5Ask for the review. Say 'review the privilege log' or run /privilege-log-review with your log file or document set.
- 6Check the disclosed-document question. Confirm whether any documents came from disclosure, and confirm the use is permitted before the review continues.
- 7Attorney review of every flag. Read the reviewed log and reasons. An attorney reviews every flag before anything is produced.
What an agent skill is and what this one does
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file and instructions that Claude loads when a request matches the skill's description. This skill is part of the Claude for Legal setup in the anthropics/claude-for-legal repository, under litigation-legal/skills/privilege-log-review, and is licensed Apache-2.0.
When it runs, the agent loads the litigation-legal CLAUDE.md for your review protocol and privilege log format, then marks each entry as obviously privileged, obviously not privileged, or needing attorney review. The output is the reviewed log with flags and reasons. The skill says every flag must be reviewed by an attorney before anything is produced.
- Sorts entries into three groups so attorney time goes to the hard calls
- Gives a reason for every flag
- Checks whether documents obtained through earlier disclosure carry use restrictions
- Requires a matter-intake conflicts check before it works
- Asks the lawyer to verify any cited authority
Install the skill
Option one: download the ZIP from the skill page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for a personal install, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder if you want it limited to one project.
Option two: in the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP there.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
- App install: Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Meet the requirements before your first run
The skill reads configuration files from ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/, specifically CLAUDE.md and matters/_log.yaml. Without them it cannot load your review protocol or check the matter log.
The matter must already be intaken. Run /litigation-legal:matter-intake first; the skill refuses to review a log for a matter that is not in _log.yaml.
For forum rule research you need access to a legal research tool: Westlaw, CourtListener, Trellis, Descrybe, or your firm's platform. Web search is optional and only runs if you approve it.
- Config files at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/ (CLAUDE.md, matters/_log.yaml)
- A matter already intaken via /litigation-legal:matter-intake
- Legal research tool access for forum rules, or a firm platform
- Web search only with your approval
/litigation-legal:matter-intakeTrigger the skill with natural requests
The skill's description lists phrases that should start it. You can say things like 'review the privilege log', 'priv log', or 'check privilege on these docs', or ask for a QA pass on a log before production. You can also invoke it directly as /privilege-log-review with a log file or document set as the argument.
If your matter workspaces are enabled and no matter is active, the skill will ask which matter this is for. Switch first with the matter-workspace command, or answer 'practice-level'.
- 'Review the privilege log for the Henderson matter' (illustrative)
- 'Check privilege on these docs before we produce'
- 'Priv log QA, I need a first sort'
/litigation-legal:matter-workspace switch <slug>Work through the review step by step
Before reviewing entries, the skill asks whether any documents came from disclosure or discovery in legal proceedings. If so, it asks you to confirm the use is within those proceedings, or that you have permission or consent, or that the documents are now public. If you cannot confirm, it flags the set as possibly restricted before continuing.
The skill then researches the forum's privilege-log requirements, such as FRCP 26(b)(5)(A) or the state equivalent, any local rule variant, and the judge's standing orders. It tags each citation with where it came from, so you know which ones to check first.
- Disclosed-document check: England & Wales (CPR 31.22), US protective orders and Rule 26(c), other jurisdictions' local rules
- Waiver: attorney-client waiver can be broad, while work-product waiver is typically narrower
- If research returns thin results, the skill reports that and offers options rather than filling the gap silently
Safety notes: scripts and network
According to the skill's metadata, it runs no scripts and it does use the network, because it queries legal research tools. Web search is optional and must be approved by you. Results from web search are tagged as [web search — verify] and should be checked against a primary source before you rely on them.
The skill does not decide whether to accept lower-confidence sources. The reviewing attorney does. Citations recalled from model knowledge are tagged [model knowledge — verify] for the same reason.
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: yes (legal research tools; web search only if approved)
- Every flag needs attorney review before production
What people use it for
- First sort of a large privilege log before attorney time is spent on the hard entries
- QA pass on a log a paralegal has drafted before it goes to opposing counsel
- Learning how privilege log review is structured, for law students or legal ops staff
- Checking which cited rules and cases need manual verification before service
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the privilege-log-review skill?
Download the ZIP from the skill page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Is the privilege-log-review skill free?
The source material does not state pricing or licence fees for the skill beyond its Apache-2.0 licence. Check the repository's licence and your own Claude plan for any costs.
What do I need to run privilege-log-review?
You need the Claude for Legal config files at ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/, a matter already intaken with /litigation-legal:matter-intake, and access to a legal research tool such as Westlaw, CourtListener, Trellis, Descrybe, or a firm platform.
Does the skill make final privilege calls?
No. It is a first-pass reviewer that marks entries as obviously privileged, obviously not privileged, or needing attorney review. The skill says an attorney must review every flag before anything is produced.
Why does the skill refuse to review my log?
The skill checks matters/_log.yaml for your matter slug. If the matter has not been intaken, it refuses and asks you to run /litigation-legal:matter-intake so the conflicts check runs first.
Can I use it for a case in another jurisdiction?
The skill applies the rules for the forum in your config. If the matter involves a different forum, a transferred case, multi-jurisdictional production, or a choice-of-law question, the source says its calls may not transfer and should be re-run against the controlling forum.
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Our verdict
This skill suits lawyers, paralegals, and legal ops staff who already use the Claude for Legal matter-intake workflow and want a structured first sort of a privilege log. It is not a substitute for attorney judgement on final privilege calls, production decisions, or matters outside the configured forum, and it should not be relied on as legal advice by non-lawyers.
Download the skill