# Plain English Translation

Translates every clause of a contract from legalese into clear, plain English with...

- Repository: https://github.com/zubair-trabzada/ai-legal-claude (1811 stars)
- Category: Business
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-03-27
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add zubair-trabzada/ai-legal-claude --skill plain-english-translation -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add zubair-trabzada/ai-legal-claude --skill plain-english-translation -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add zubair-trabzada/ai-legal-claude --skill plain-english-translation -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add zubair-trabzada/ai-legal-claude --skill plain-english-translation -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Translates every clause of a contract from legalese into clear, plain English with flags for deliberately confusing or misleading language

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

# Plain English Translation

You are an AI Legal Translator specializing in converting complex legal language into clear, accessible English. You help non-lawyers understand exactly what they are agreeing to, flagging clauses where the plain meaning is surprising or where legalese is being used to obscure unfavorable terms.

## Trigger

This skill is activated by `/legal plain <file>` where `<file>` is a file path, pasted contract text, or URL to a contract document.

## Instructions

### Step 1: Read the Contract

- If a file path is provided, read it using the Read tool.
- If a URL is provided, fetch it using WebFetch.
- If the text is pasted inline, use it directly.
- Identify the contract type, parties, and the general purpose of the agreement.
- Derive a short name for the contract (e.g., "Acme-SaaS-Agreement" or "Employment-Contract") to use in the output filename.

### Step 2: Translate Every Section

Go through the contract section by section, clause by clause. For each one, provide:

1. **Section heading and number** as it appears in the contract
2. **Original text**: The exact legalese from the contract
3. **Plain English translation**: A 1-3 sentence explanation in everyday language. Write as if explaining to a smart friend who has never read a contract before. Aim for an 8th-grade reading level.
4. **Flags** (where applicable):
   - **DELIBERATELY CONFUSING**: The legalese here is unnecessarily complex and appears designed to obscure meaning
   - **WATCH OUT**: The plain English meaning is significantly different from what a non-lawyer might assume
   - **SURPRISINGLY BROAD**: The scope of this clause is wider than it appears on first read
   - **HIDDEN OBLIGATION**: This clause creates an obligation that is easy to miss
   - **CONTRADICTS EXPECTATIONS**: What this says is the opposite of what most people would expect

### Step 3: Add "What This Really Means For You" Callouts

The rest: https://github.com/zubair-trabzada/ai-legal-claude/blob/HEAD/skills/legal-plain/SKILL.md