Agent skill · writing content · jeremylongshore
plain-english
Translates every clause of a contract into plain language at an 8th-grade
Why this skill is useful
Provides a structured method to translate complex legal language into accessible plain English, which the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
About 6k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 2,604 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Plain English — Legalese to Plain Language Translator Translates every material clause in a contract into clear, jargon-free language that a non-lawyer can understand, while flagging clauses that appear to be deliberately confusing or that hide significant obligations behind complex wording. Overview Legal language exists for precision, but it is also routinely weaponized. Dense legalese discourages the other party from reading carefully, hides unfavorable terms behind jargon, and creates information asymmetry that favors the drafter. This skill neutralizes that advantage by producing a clause-by-clause translation at an 8th-grade reading level (Flesch-Kincaid grade 8 or below), accompanied by flags that highlight where the original language is not just complex but strategically confusing. The goal is not to replace legal review but to ensure the signer actually understands what they are agreeing to before deciding whether to consult an attorney. Prerequisites A contract must be provided as a file path or pasted text. No special knowledge from the user is required — the entire point of this skill is to make the contract accessible to anyone. Instructions 1. Read the full contract. Use the Read tool if a file path is provided. 2. Identify all material clauses. Break the contract into individual sections and clauses. Skip boilerplate headers, signature blocks, and formatting-only content. 3. Translate each clause to plain English. For every material clause: Rewrite in short, direct sentences (target: 8th-grade reading level). …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills jeremylongshore/plain-english--8a4fe4