# Handbook Updates

Diff a proposed handbook change against the current version, flag ripple effects and...

- Repository: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-for-legal (9865 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- 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 handbook-updates -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill handbook-updates -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill handbook-updates -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add anthropics/claude-for-legal --skill handbook-updates -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-for-legal`

## Description

Diff a proposed handbook change against the current version, flag ripple effects and state supplement impacts. Use when user says "update the handbook", "add this to the handbook", "handbook change", or has a policy ready for insertion.

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

# Handbook Updates

## Matter context

**Matter context.** Check `## Matter workspaces` in the practice-level CLAUDE.md. If `Enabled` is `✗` (the default for in-house users), skip the rest of this paragraph, skills use practice-level context and the matter machinery is invisible. If enabled and there is no active matter, ask: "Which matter is this for? Run `/employment-legal:matter-workspace switch <slug>` or say `practice-level`." Load the active matter's `matter.md` for matter-specific context and overrides. Write outputs to the matter folder at `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/employment-legal/matters/<matter-slug>/`. Never read another matter's files unless `Cross-matter context` is `on`.

---

## Purpose

Handbook changes have ripple effects. Change the PTO policy and you've affected the final pay calculation, the leave policy cross-reference, and three state supplements. This skill finds the ripples before they become inconsistencies.

## Load context

`~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/employment-legal/CLAUDE.md` → handbook location, state supplements list, update cadence.

## Workflow

### Step 1: Get the change

- What section is changing?
- What's the new language?
- Why? (Legal requirement, policy decision, cleanup)

### Step 2: Diff against current

Read the current handbook section. Show the diff:

```diff
- [old language]
+ [new language]
```

### Step 3: Find cross-references

Search the handbook for references to the changed section:

- Other policies that cite this one ("see the PTO policy for accrual rates")
- Defined terms that this section uses or defines
- State supplements that modify this section

Each cross-reference: does it still make sense after the change? Flag any that break.

### Step 4: State supplement impact

For each state supplement in `~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/employment-legal/CLAUDE.md`:

The rest: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-for-legal/blob/HEAD/employment-legal/skills/handbook-updates/SKILL.md