Skill: agistack/defense (version 1.0.0)

--- name: Defense description: A comprehensive AI agent skill for anyone facing criminal charges, civil lawsuits, or regulatory investigations. Helps you understand what you are facing, protect your rights from the first moment of contact, work effectively with defense counsel, evaluate your options at every stage, and make informed decisions when the stakes are highest. --- # Defense ## When the System Is Pointed at You Being on the receiving end of legal action changes everything about how the legal system feels. When you are pursuing a claim, the pace is frustrating but the initiative is yours. When you are defending one, the initiative belongs to someone else and the system's power is applied in a direction that is not yours. The people who navigate this position most effectively are not necessarily the ones with the most resources or the best attorneys — though both matter. They are the ones who understood their rights from the first moment of contact, who did not inadvertently damage their own position before counsel was involved, who worked with their attorney as an informed participant rather than a passive subject, and who made decisions at each stage with clear understanding of what they were choosing between. This skill builds that capacity. --- ## The First Moment Matters Most In both criminal and civil defense, the decisions made in the first hours and days of a legal matter have consequences that persist throughout. The statement made to law enforcement before an attorney is present. The email sent to opposing counsel acknowledging facts that should have been disputed. The documents deleted after a preservation obligation attached. The social media post that contradicts a position the case depends on. None of these mistakes are made with bad intent. They are made because the person did not yet understand their situation, their rights, or the implications of ordinary actions that take on legal significance once a matter has begun. The skill covers the immediate steps in any defense situation. What to say and what not to say to law enforcement. What to preserve and what not to delete once litigation or investigation begins. Who to notify and who not to discuss the matter with. What actions are safe and what actions create legal risk before counsel is engaged. --- ## Criminal Defense A criminal charge — whether a misdemeanor or a felony, whether the conduct occurred or not — is a matter that requires an attorney. The stakes include liberty, a permanent criminal record, employment consequences, immigration consequences, and professional licensing consequences that can follow a person for decades. The procedural complexity of criminal proceedings, the investigative resources of the prosecution, and the consequences of error make self-representation in serious criminal matters genuinely dangerous. The skill covers the criminal process from arrest through resolution. The right to remain silent and why exercising it is almost always the right decision regardless of innocence. The right to counsel and how to invoke it. The arraignment and what happens there. Bail and the factors that determine it. Discovery in criminal cases and what the prosecution is required to disclose. Plea negotiations and how to evaluate a plea offer honestly. Trial preparation and what the defense must establish. Sentencing and the factors that influence it. For each stage it explains what is happening, what the defense options are, and what the decision points look like. --- ## Civil Defense Being sued is disorienting. A complaint arrives containing allegations that may be false, exaggerated, or legally insufficient, written in the language of legal claims rather than ordinary description, accompanied by a deadline to respond that is shorter than most people expect. The skill helps you respond to a civil lawsuit effectively from the first document. Understanding what the complaint alleges and whether the allegations state a valid legal claim. The response deadline and what happens if it is missed. The answer and what it should contain. The affirmative defenses that may apply to your situation. The counterclaims that may be available if the plaintiff's conduct contributed to the dispute. Discovery obligations and how to fulfill them without overproducing. For each stage of civil litigation it explains your obligations, your options, and the strategic considerations that should inform how you respond. --- ## Regulatory and Administrative Defense Not all legal threats come from courts. Regulatory agencies, licensing boards, tax authorities, and administrative tribunals pursue investigations and enforcement actions through processes that look different from civil litigation but carry consequences that can be equally significant — license revocation, substantial fines, debarment from industries, and referrals for criminal prosecution. The skill covers regulatory defense across common contexts. Responding to agency investigations and the difference between voluntary cooperation and compelled production. Administrative hearings and how they differ from court proceedings. The importance of legal counsel specialized in the relevant regulatory area. The settlement options that most regulatory matters offer and how to evaluate them. --- ## Working With Defense Counsel The attorney-client relationship in a defense context has a specific dynamic. The attorney's job is to provide the most effective defense of your legal position, not to evaluate the underlying conduct or render a verdict on your character. Understanding this — and understanding the confidentiality protections that make complete honesty with your attorney both safe and essential — is the foundation of an effective defense relationship. The skill helps you work with defense counsel effectively. The absolute importance of full disclosure to your attorney regardless of what that disclosure contains. How to organize and present information in ways that help your attorney build the strongest defense. How to evaluate strategic recommendations that may feel counterintuitive — taking a plea, not testifying, not calling a witness who feels important to you. How to ask questions that produce useful answers without undermining your attorney's confidence in you. What to do if the representation is not meeting your needs. --- ## Evaluating Plea and Settlement Options Most criminal matters resolve through plea agreements. Most civil matters resolve through settlement. Evaluating these offers requires understanding what the realistic alternative is — not the best-case trial outcome, but the probability-weighted outcome across all trial scenarios — and comparing it honestly to the certainty of the negotiated resolution. The skill helps you evaluate any offer in a defense context. The factors that affect plea offer value in criminal matters — strength of the prosecution's evidence, the sentencing guidelines if convicted at trial, the collateral consequences of conviction versus plea. The factors that affect settlement value in civil matters — the strength of the plaintiff's claim, the likely damages if the case goes to trial, the cost of continued defense. The questions to ask your attorney that surface the information you need to make this decision rather than defer it.

path: examples.md
content: # Defense — Real Usage Examples

*Copy these prompts directly into your AI agent to get started.*

---

## Quick Start Prompts

### Criminal Charge

"I was arrested last night for [charge]. I have never been in trouble before. What do I do right now?"

### Civil Lawsuit

"I was just served with a lawsuit. The plaintiff is claiming $85,000 in damages. I have 21 days to respond. What do I do?"

### Regulatory Investigation

"I received a letter from [agency] saying I am under investigation for [issue]. Should I respond and do I need a lawyer?"

### Evaluating a Plea

"My attorney says I should take a plea deal for 18 months probation. I want to understand whether this is good advice before I decide."

---

## Conversation Examples

### Example 1: First Contact With Law Enforcement

User: Police showed up at my door this morning asking questions about my former business partner. They said I am not under arrest and they just want to talk. Should I talk to them?

Agent: Do not talk to them without an attorney present. This is true regardless of whether you did anything wrong. Voluntary interviews with law enforcement without counsel present are almost never in the interviewee's interest. Investigators are trained to ask questions in sequences designed to produce information that is useful to their investigation, and innocent people regularly make statements that are later used against them because they misunderstood a question, misspoke, or provided context that implicated them in something they did not intend to discuss. The right response is polite and brief: you want to cooperate but you would like to have an attorney present. Give them nothing else. Then call a criminal defense attorney today — not tomorrow — and describe exactly what happened and what they asked.

---

### Example 2: Being Sued for the First Time

User: I am a small business owner and a former customer is suing me for $45,000 claiming my service caused them business losses. I just got the complaint. What do I do first?

Agent: First, note the date you were served — your response deadline runs from that date, typically 20 to 30 days depending on your state. Missing this deadline means the plaintiff can request a default judgment against you for the full amount without you having any say. Second, read the complaint carefully and identify what specifically they are alleging — what contract or duty they claim existed, how they claim you breached it, and how they are calculating the $45,000. Third, check whether you have any insurance that might cover this claim — general liability, professional liability, or errors and omissions policies sometimes cover business disputes and your insurer may be required to defend you. Fourth, contact a business litigation attorney this week. Tell me your state and what type of service your business provides and I will help you think through the insurance question and what kind of attorney to look for.

---

### Example 3: Evaluating a Plea Offer

User: I was charged with a DUI. My attorney says I should take a plea to a reduced charge of reckless driving with a $1,500 fine and no jail time. My BAC was 0.09 and I do not have a prior record. Is this a good deal?

Agent: A reckless driving plea to a first-offense DUI with a BAC just above the legal limit and no prior record is generally considered a favorable outcome in most jurisdictions. Here is why: a DUI conviction carries consequences beyond the sentence — it typically appears on your driving record for years, can affect insurance rates significantly, creates complications for professional licenses in some fields, and in some states cannot be expunged. Reckless driving is a lesser offense with fewer of these collateral consequences. The questions worth asking your attorney: whether reckless driving is expungeable in your state, how this affects your insurance, whether the plea affects any professional license you hold, and whether there are any grounds to challenge the stop or the BAC test that would make a better outcome at trial realistic. If your attorney has evaluated the evidence and believes this is the best available outcome, and the collateral consequences are acceptable, this is likely sound advice.

---

## Power User Prompts

"What does invoking my Fifth Amendment right actually mean and when should I do it?"

"The plaintiff in my civil case has sent me a discovery request asking for documents. What are my obligations and what can I object to?"

"My attorney wants to hire an expert witness. What does an expert witness do in a civil case and how does it affect costs?"

"I am being investigated by my state licensing board. Is this criminal and what are the potential consequences?"

"I received a target letter from a federal grand jury. What does this mean?"

---

*When the legal system is directed at you, what you know and when you know it determines how much damage is done before the defense can begin. Know it early.*


path: heartbeat.md
content: # Defense Skill — Heartbeat

*In defense situations, delay costs rights. Act early, act carefully.*

---

## When Legal Action Begins

Run immediately when any legal threat or action begins:

"I am facing [criminal charge / civil lawsuit / regulatory investigation]. Here is what happened: [summary]. What do I need to do in the next 24 hours?"

First 24 hours checklist:
- Do not make statements to law enforcement or opposing parties without counsel
- Do not delete any documents, communications, or records
- Do not post anything on social media about the matter
- Notify your insurance carrier if you have coverage that might apply
- Contact a defense attorney in the relevant practice area today

---

## Active Defense — Weekly Check

While a matter is active:

"Here is the current status of my defense: [stage]. My next deadline is [date]. My last communication with my attorney was about [topic]. What should I be tracking this week?"

Weekly defense checklist:
- Any deadlines for responses, filings, or discovery
- Any new developments in the matter your attorney should know
- Any contact from opposing parties or investigators to report
- Your compliance with any existing court orders or conditions

---

## Before Every Key Decision

Before any significant decision in a defense matter:

"My attorney is recommending [action or decision]. Help me understand what I am choosing between and what questions I should ask before deciding."

Key decisions in defense matters:
- Whether to accept a plea offer or settlement
- Whether to testify in your own defense
- Whether to waive a jury trial
- Whether to change attorneys mid-matter
- Whether to appeal a verdict or ruling

---

## Document Preservation

When a legal matter begins, immediately:

"I need to preserve documents related to [matter]. Help me understand what I should preserve and how."

Preservation checklist:
- All emails and text messages with relevant parties
- All contracts, invoices, receipts related to the matter
- All social media content that could be relevant
- All financial records that might be requested
- Physical evidence if applicable
- Your own contemporaneous notes of events

Do not destroy anything once you know or reasonably anticipate legal action. Destruction of evidence after a preservation obligation attaches is spoliation and can result in severe legal consequences independent of the underlying matter.

---

## Post-Resolution

After a matter resolves:

"My [case / charge / investigation] has been resolved with [outcome]. What do I need to do now and what are the ongoing obligations?"

Post-resolution checklist:
- Comply with all terms of plea, settlement, or court order
- Calendar any probation reporting requirements or payment schedules
- Understand expungement eligibility and timeline if applicable
- Address any collateral consequences — license, employment, immigration
- Evaluate appeal options if resolution was unfavorable

---

*Defense situations do not improve with delay. The rights you protect in the first hours are the rights your attorney has to work with. Protect them.*


path: skill.json
content: {
  "name": "defense",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "A comprehensive AI agent skill for anyone facing criminal charges, civil lawsuits, or regulatory investigations. Covers rights protection, defense process, working with counsel, and evaluating plea and settlement options.",
  "author": "AGIstack",
  "license": "MIT-0",
  "homepage": "https://clawhub.ai",
  "keywords": [
    "defense", "criminal defense", "civil defense", "lawsuit", "charges",
    "attorney", "rights", "plea", "settlement", "investigation",
    "regulatory", "defendant", "counsel", "legal defense"
  ],
  "files": {
    "skill.md": "skill.md",
    "heartbeat.md": "heartbeat.md",
    "examples.md": "examples.md"
  },
  "capabilities": {
    "rights_protection": "Identifies critical rights to exercise in the first hours of any legal matter",
    "process_guidance": "Explains criminal, civil, and regulatory defense processes at each stage",
    "counsel_effectiveness": "Helps defendants work productively with defense attorneys",
    "plea_evaluation": "Analyzes plea and settlement offers against realistic trial alternatives",
    "evidence_preservation": "Guides document preservation obligations from the moment a matter begins",
    "decision_support": "Frames key defense decisions with the information needed to make them"
  },
  "triggers": [
    "defense", "criminal charges", "arrested", "sued", "lawsuit defendant",
    "investigation", "plea deal", "plea offer", "criminal defense",
    "civil defense", "regulatory investigation", "right to remain silent",
    "fifth amendment", "miranda", "search warrant", "subpoena",
    "grand jury", "indictment", "arraignment", "bail"
  ],
  "heartbeat": {
    "immediate": "Protect rights and preserve evidence in the first 24 hours",
    "weekly": "Active matter deadline and development tracking",
    "pre_decision": "Frame any major defense decision with full information",
    "post_resolution": "Comply with resolution terms and address collateral consequences"
  },
  "audience": [
    "Anyone facing criminal charges at any level",
    "Business owners or individuals who have been sued",
    "People under regulatory or administrative investigation",
    "Anyone who has had contact with law enforcement and is uncertain of their situation",
    "Defendants wanting to work more effectively with their defense attorneys"
  ],
  "openclaw": {
    "primaryEnv": null,
    "requires": {}
  }
}


Security scan verdicts — ClawScan: clean | static analysis: clean | VirusTotal: clean | SkillSpector: clean (LOW)