How do I install the Precedent skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add bytesagain/precedent in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Precedent safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: executes scripts. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Precedent?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Precedent free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Precedent?

bytesagain (@bytesagain) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Precedent by bytesagain — Agent Skill

Name: Precedent
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: bytesagain

File contents

Precedent — Legal Precedent Reference

Quick-reference skill for the doctrine of precedent, case law analysis, and stare decisis.

When to Use

Determining which court decisions are binding in your jurisdiction
Distinguishing or analogizing prior cases
Understanding ratio decidendi vs obiter dicta
Researching whether a precedent has been overruled or modified
Building persuasive legal arguments from case law

Commands

`intro`

scripts/script.sh intro

Overview of legal precedent — stare decisis, common law tradition, purpose.

`hierarchy`

scripts/script.sh hierarchy

Court hierarchy — binding vs persuasive authority, federal/state systems.

`analysis`

scripts/script.sh analysis

Case analysis — ratio decidendi, obiter dicta, material facts, holdings.

`distinguishing`

scripts/script.sh distinguishing

Distinguishing precedent — factual differences, legal distinctions, narrow/broad readings.

`overruling`

scripts/script.sh overruling

Overruling and modifying precedent — when courts reverse themselves.

`research`

scripts/script.sh research

Case law research — citation formats, Shepardizing, KeyCite, databases.

`writing`

scripts/script.sh writing

Using precedent in legal writing — IRAC, analogical reasoning, synthesis.

`checklist`

scripts/script.sh checklist

Case law analysis and application checklist.

`help`

scripts/script.sh help

`version`

scripts/script.sh version

Configuration

Variable	Description
`PRECEDENT_DIR`	Data directory (default: ~/.precedent/)

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---name: precedentdescription: Legal precedent reference — stare decisis, case law hierarchy, distinguishing, overruling, persuasive authority. Use when researching binding case law, analyzing judicial reasoning, or building legal arguments.--- # Precedent — Legal Precedent Reference Quick-reference skill for the doctrine of precedent, case law analysis, and stare decisis. ## When to Use - Determining which court decisions are binding in your jurisdiction - Distinguishing or analogizing prior cases - Understanding ratio decidendi vs obiter dicta - Researching whether a precedent has been overruled or modified - Building persuasive legal arguments from case law ## Commands ### `intro` ```bash scripts/script.sh intro ``` Overview of legal precedent — stare decisis, common law tradition, purpose. ### `hierarchy` ```bash scripts/script.sh hierarchy ``` Court hierarchy — binding vs persuasive authority, federal/state systems. ### `analysis` ```bash scripts/script.sh analysis ``` Case analysis — ratio decidendi, obiter dicta, material facts, holdings. ### `distinguishing` ```bash scripts/script.sh distinguishing ``` Distinguishing precedent — factual differences, legal distinctions, narrow/broad readings. ### `overruling` ```bash scripts/script.sh overruling ``` Overruling and modifying precedent — when courts reverse themselves. ### `research` ```bash scripts/script.sh research ``` Case law research — citation formats, Shepardizing, KeyCite, databases. ### `writing` ```bash scripts/script.sh writing ``` Using precedent in legal writing — IRAC, analogical reasoning, synthesis. ### `checklist` ```bash scripts/script.sh checklist ``` Case law analysis and application checklist. ### `help` ```bash scripts/script.sh help ``` ### `version` ```bash scripts/script.sh version ``` ## Configuration | Variable | Description | |----------|-------------| | `PRECEDENT_DIR` | Data directory (default: ~/.precedent/) | --- *Powered by BytesAgain | bytesagain.com | hello@bytesagain.com*

Frequently asked questions

Precedent

File contents

Precedent — Legal Precedent Reference

When to Use

Commands

intro

hierarchy

analysis

distinguishing

overruling

research

writing

checklist

help

version