# Messaging Surface Rule In App Non Lawyer Fork > Use when writing or reviewing in-app copy, onboarding messages, tooltips, upsell prompts, or notifications displayed to non-lawyer consumer users of a legal AI assistant. The non-lawyer fork uses empowering plain-language framing, situational prompts, and "legal understanding" positioning — always distinct from legal advice. Applied by messaging-compliance-checker for any in-app asset tagged to a consumer or non-professional persona. - Skill: `sboghossian-mini-claude-for-legal/messaging-surface-rule-in-app-non-lawyer-fork` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add sboghossian-mini-claude-for-legal/messaging-surface-rule-in-app-non-lawyer-fork` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/sboghossian-mini-claude-for-legal/messaging-surface-rule-in-app-non-lawyer-fork/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - License: MIT - Author: sboghossian (https://skillmd.com/u/sboghossian-mini-claude-for-legal) - Updated: 2026-09-10 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/sboghossian-mini-claude-for-legal/messaging-surface-rule-in-app-non-lawyer-fork --- # Messaging — Surface Rule: In-App Non-Lawyer Fork ## When this applies Once a user has been classified as a **non-lawyer consumer** (via persona quiz default, email domain, or explicit self-identification — see [[onboarding-b2c-vs-b2b-fork]]), all in-app copy shown to that user follows the consumer-fork rules defined here. This covers: - Welcome and onboarding screens - Feature discovery tooltips - Empty-state prompts across all product areas - Upsell and plan-upgrade prompts - In-product notifications and status messages - Error messages and escalation copy - Help text and guidance overlays Consumer users are private individuals, SME founders, students, and anyone who is not a licensed legal practitioner. The in-app experience must be empowering, plain-language, and never imply the product provides legal advice. --- ## Behavior — The Consumer Voice In-app copy in the consumer fork assumes the user: - Has no formal legal training - Is dealing with a real situation that feels confusing or stressful (a contract to sign, a landlord dispute, a job loss, a business to start) - Needs orientation, plain-language explanation, and process guidance - Is not looking for a lawyer replacement but for enough understanding to feel in control Copy must reflect these assumptions. Use plain English. Ground every message in the user's situation. Avoid jargon — if legal terminology is essential, always explain it. End complex-situation guidance with a "talk to a lawyer" prompt. --- ## Copy Rules by In-App Location ### Onboarding / Welcome Screen | Element | Consumer fork rule | |---------|------------------| | Welcome headline | Warm, empowering: "Welcome. Let's make sense of your legal situation." | | Sub-copy | State what the tool does: "Louis explains your rights, translates legal jargon, and helps you prepare for any legal situation." | | Disclaimer | Prominent and plain: "Louis provides legal information, not legal advice. For complex situations, we'll tell you when to speak to a lawyer." | | First action | Situational prompt chips: "I got a contract to sign", "I have a landlord issue", "I'm starting a business" | ### Feature Tooltips and Discovery - Lead with what the user gets, in their language - "Upload your lease and Louis will explain every clause in plain English." (not "AI-powered document analysis") - Use empathy phrases at the start of complex features: "Contracts can be confusing. Here's what Louis will check for you." - Always end document-generation tooltips with: "Your draft is a starting point — a lawyer can review it before you use it." ### Empty-State Prompts - Situational and inviting: "What are you trying to figure out today?" - Persona-aware chips: for consumer users, offer: "Explain this contract", "Know my rights", "Start a business", "Write a basic agreement" - Never: "No documents yet — upload one." (not actionable enough for a non-technical consumer) ### Upsell / Plan Upgrade Prompts - Frame around access to more help, not capability metrics - "For deeper analysis and longer documents, upgrade to Louis Pro — from $[X]/month." - Value anchor allowed: "That's less than an hour of lawyer time — for a whole month of legal clarity." - Never: "Save thousands on lawyer fees" — banned under [[messaging-banned-claims-consumer]] ### Error and Escalation Copy - Empathetic: "We couldn't analyse that document. Make sure it's a standard contract or agreement — and try again." - Escalation prompt: "This situation sounds complex. For matters involving [court proceedings / criminal issues / children], please speak to a qualified lawyer." - Use warm language; do not leave the user feeling abandoned: "Louis can help with a lot — but for this situation, a lawyer's guidance is essential." ### "Talk to a Lawyer" Trigger In-app copy for consumer users must always include a "talk to a lawyer" trigger when: - The user's described situation involves urgent risk (eviction, employment termination, debt enforcement) - The document is high-stakes and finalising a legal position (not just exploring) - The user asks about criminal, family law, or court proceedings The trigger copy: "For this situation, speaking to a qualified lawyer is important. Louis can help you prepare — but your lawyer should make the final call." --- ## Banned Patterns in Consumer Fork These patterns are blocked on the consumer fork: - "No lawyer needed" — [[messaging-banned-claims-consumer]] absolute ban - "Legal advice" used to describe what Louis provides — UPL trigger - "You'll win" or any outcome framing - Technical legal jargon without explanation (not banned but fails accessibility bar) - Cold transactional language ("Your session has expired. Log in to continue.") — consumer fork uses warmer language --- ## Examples **Strong consumer-fork in-app copy:** > "Your lease looks like a standard residential rental. Louis spotted 2 clauses that could be negotiated — here's what they mean and how to approach it. Before you sign, it's worth a 30-minute lawyer check if anything worries you." **Weak (avoid in consumer fork):** > "Contract analysis complete. 2 flags identified. Review report." **Strong upgrade prompt:** > "You've asked 5 questions this month. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited questions, document analysis, and multi-jurisdiction coverage — for less than the cost of one lawyer consultation." **Weak upgrade prompt (avoid):** > "Free tier limit reached. Upgrade to continue." --- ## Related skills - [[messaging-compliance-checker]] - [[messaging-allowed-claims-consumer]] - [[messaging-banned-claims-consumer]] - [[messaging-surface-rule-in-app-lawyer-fork]] - [[onboarding-b2c-vs-b2b-fork]] - [[onboarding-empty-state-prompts]]