| name | legal-article-summary |
| title | Legal Article Summary |
| description | Produces structured summaries of legal scholarship capturing thesis, methodology, key authorities, arguments, and significance. Use when summarizing law review articles, journal articles, case notes, or scholarship for research triage, case preparation, literature reviews, or CLE. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/legal-article-summary |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | general |
| practice | general |
| language | en |
Legal Article Summary
Structured summary of legal scholarship preserving the article's analytical spine and practical significance. Default 500–800 words unless specified.
Quick Start
Gather before writing:
- Full article text or excerpts with page/section markers
- Citation data: author, title, journal, year, volume/issue, pages, DOI/URL
- Reader goal, length target, jurisdiction or doctrinal focus
Core Workflow
1. Extract
- Identify thesis and list article section headings
- Capture methodology (doctrinal, empirical, comparative, theoretical, policy critique); note dataset/sample/timeframe if empirical
- Extract foundational authorities (not mere examples)
- Flag modal language (may/might/could/suggests) and preserve it
- Note explicit limitations or boundary conditions
- Record proposed reforms or practice changes
2. Structure
Include only sections that exist in the article:
| Section | Content |
|---|
| Citation | Author, title, journal, year, vol/issue, pages; DOI/URL if provided |
| Thesis / Question | One-sentence central claim or research question |
| Methodology / Approach | Type and key details |
| Major Arguments | 3–6 points in author's sequence, 1–3 sentences each |
| Key Authorities | Statutes, cases, regulations, doctrines relied upon |
| Counterarguments / Limits | Acknowledged limitations, caveats, counterpoints |
| Conclusions / Recommendations | Findings separated from normative proposals |
| Significance / Implications | Contribution to scholarship and practical impact |
| Future Research | Only if author explicitly flags open questions |
3. Write
**Citation:** {Author}, "{Title}," {Journal} {Year}, {Vol}({Issue}) {Pages}. {DOI/URL}
**Thesis / Question:** {One sentence}
**Methodology / Approach:** {Type; key details}
**Major Arguments / Findings:**
1. {Point}
2. {Point}
3. {Point}
**Key Authorities:** {Cases/statutes/regulations/doctrines}
**Counterarguments / Limitations:** {If any}
**Conclusions / Recommendations:** {Findings vs. proposals}
**Significance / Implications:** {Why it matters}
**Future Research:** {If stated}
Pitfalls and Checks
