# Cold Start Interview

Run the cold-start interview to learn your commercial contracts practice and write your...

- Repository: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-for-legal (9865 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-10-29
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill cold-start-interview -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill cold-start-interview -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill cold-start-interview -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill cold-start-interview -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-for-legal`

## Description

Run the cold-start interview to learn your commercial contracts practice and write your team practice profile. Use on first use of the plugin, when `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/CLAUDE.md` is missing or still contains template placeholders, or when the user says "set up the plugin", "configure commercial contracts", "onboard me", or "let's get started". This is the only skill that should run on a fresh install.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# /cold-start-interview

Runs the cold-start interview. First run writes `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/CLAUDE.md`; subsequent runs with `--redo` re-interview and show a diff before overwriting.

## Instructions

1. **Check current state:** Read `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/CLAUDE.md`. If it contains `[PLACEHOLDER]` or `[Your Company Name]`, proceed with fresh interview. If populated and `--redo` not passed, ask: "Looks like you're already set up. Want to re-run the interview? This will overwrite `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/CLAUDE.md` (I'll show you a diff first)."

2. **Follow the interview script below.**

3. **Ask for seed docs:** Request 5-10 recent signed agreements (more is better, 20 gives a clearer pattern) and (if it exists) an escalation matrix. Accept file paths, Google Drive links, or [CLM] record IDs.

4. **Read the seed docs** and extract actual playbook positions. Note deltas between stated positions and what was signed.

5. **Migration:** If a populated CLAUDE.md (no `[PLACEHOLDER]` markers) exists at `~/.claude/plugins/cache/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/*/CLAUDE.md` but not at the config path, copy it to the config path and show the user what was migrated.

6. **Write `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/CLAUDE.md`** (create parent directories as needed) per the structure below. Use the lawyer's own words where possible.

7. **Show summary + propose next steps:**
   - "Here's what I heard, `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/commercial-legal/CLAUDE.md` is written. What did I get wrong?"
   - Offer a test review: "Want to throw a contract at me?"
   - If a [CLM] is connected: offer to bulk-load the renewal register

## `--check-integrations`

The rest: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-for-legal/blob/HEAD/commercial-legal/skills/cold-start-interview/SKILL.md