Generate templated responses for common legal inquiries with escalation detection. Use when drafting legal responses.
Production-ready toolkit for generating templated responses to common legal inquiries with built-in escalation detection. Covers 7 response categories with multiple sub-types each, plus a universal and category-specific escalation trigger system. Designed for legal operations teams handling high volumes of recurring inquiries while ensuring critical matters are routed to counsel.
scripts/response_generator.py)Generate formatted legal responses from templates with variable substitution and escalation detection.
python scripts/response_generator.py \
--category dsr --sub-type acknowledgment \
--var requestor_name="Jane Doe" \
--var request_type="access" \
--var request_date="2026-04-10"
python scripts/response_generator.py \
--category nda --sub-type standard-form \
--var counterparty="Acme Corp" \
--var purpose="due diligence" --json
python scripts/response_generator.py \
--category discovery --sub-type initial-notice \
--var matter_name="Smith v. Corp" \
--var custodians="Engineering,Sales"
scripts/escalation_detector.py)Analyze inquiry text for escalation triggers and recommend routing.
python scripts/escalation_detector.py \
--text "We received a subpoena from the DOJ regarding our pricing practices"
python scripts/escalation_detector.py \
--text "A reporter from the Wall Street Journal is asking about our data practices" --json
python scripts/escalation_detector.py \
--category vendor \
--text "The vendor is threatening litigation over the contract dispute"
| Reference | Purpose |
|---|---|
references/response_templates.md | Complete templates for all 7 categories with sub-types |
references/escalation_triggers.md | Universal and category-specific escalation triggers |
| Category | Sub-Types | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Data Subject Requests (DSR) | acknowledgment, verification, fulfillment, denial, extension | GDPR/CCPA data subject right requests |
| Discovery/Litigation Holds | initial-notice, reminder, modification, release | Litigation hold management |
| Privacy Inquiries | cookies, data-sharing, children, transfers | General privacy questions |
| Vendor Legal Questions | contract-status, amendments, certifications, audit | Vendor/supplier legal matters |
| NDA Requests | standard-form, counterparty-markup, decline, renewal | Non-disclosure agreement lifecycle |
| Subpoena/Legal Process | acknowledgment, objection, extension, compliance | Legal process responses |
| Insurance Notifications | initial-claim, supplemental-info, reservation-of-rights | Insurance claim management |
| Sub-Type | Use When | Key Variables |
|---|---|---|
| acknowledgment | New DSR received | requestor_name, request_type, request_date |
| verification | Identity verification needed | requestor_name, verification_method |
| fulfillment | Request completed | requestor_name, request_type, data_description |
| denial | Request denied with reason | requestor_name, request_type, denial_reason |
| extension | Need more time | requestor_name, request_type, extension_reason, new_deadline |
| Sub-Type | Use When | Key Variables |
|---|---|---|
| initial-notice | New litigation hold issued | matter_name, custodians, data_types |
| reminder | Periodic hold reminder | matter_name, reminder_number |
| modification | Hold scope changed | matter_name, modification_description |
| release | Hold lifted | matter_name, release_date |
| # | Trigger | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potential or active litigation | Legal exposure requires counsel assessment |
| 2 | Regulatory investigation or inquiry | Regulatory response requires strategic approach |
| 3 | Government or law enforcement contact | Constitutional and procedural rights at stake |
| 4 | Binding legal commitment requested | Cannot create legal obligations without counsel |
| 5 | Criminal liability exposure | Requires immediate counsel involvement |
| 6 | Media attention or press inquiry | Reputational risk requires coordinated response |
| 7 | Unprecedented or novel situation | No template exists; bespoke legal analysis needed |
| 8 | Multi-jurisdictional conflict | Cross-border legal complexity requires expert analysis |
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Missing variable in output | Required variable not provided | Check template requirements; provide all required --var parameters |
| Wrong template selected | Category/sub-type mismatch | Review category descriptions; ensure sub-type matches inquiry type |
| False positive escalation | Common words matching trigger patterns | Provide --category to use category-specific triggers; review matched triggers |
| False negative escalation | Inquiry text too vague | Add more context to inquiry text; run both universal and category-specific checks |
| Template too generic | Using default values | Replace all placeholder values with actual organization-specific details |
| Discovery hold sent to wrong custodians | Custodian list outdated | Verify custodian list against current employees and systems |
| Subpoena response not flagged | Missing category context | Always use --category subpoena for legal process; subpoena category always escalates |
| Response tone inappropriate | Wrong audience context | Select appropriate sub-type; customize tone per audience |
This skill covers:
This skill does NOT cover:
| Anti-Pattern | Why It Fails | Better Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Sending templated response without review | May miss context-specific nuances; legal risk | Always review generated response before sending |
| Ignoring escalation triggers | Critical matters mishandled; legal exposure | Run escalation detector on every inquiry; treat all triggers seriously |
| Using templates for novel situations | Templates assume standard scenarios; novel situations need bespoke analysis | Escalate novel situations to counsel; create new template after resolution |
| Hardcoding organization details in templates | Templates become non-portable; updates missed | Use variable substitution; maintain variables in configuration |
| Skipping identity verification for DSRs | GDPR/CCPA require verification before fulfillment | Always send verification sub-type before fulfillment |
scripts/response_generator.pyGenerate formatted legal responses with variable substitution.