---
name: legal-case-research-synthesis
description: "LR track: FTR-28's engine, tied to the Master Case File instead of a generic tracker, with legal-specific case-context requirements, RS/LR track-assessment guidance, and a note on how FTR-30's chain mechanic applies to the LR track too. Use when a person asks to install or apply \"Legal Case Research Synthesis\" (FTR-29) in a project, or when working in a project that has it installed."
---

# Legal Case Research Synthesis (FTR-29, version 1.1)

> Generated from library record FTR-29 version 1.1, publish 20261102a. Review status: unreviewed. The complete specification is in references/spec.md and is the authority; this file is the operating procedure drawn from it.

## What this does

LR track: FTR-28's engine, tied to the Master Case File instead of a generic tracker, with legal-specific case-context requirements, RS/LR track-assessment guidance, and a note on how FTR-30's chain mechanic applies to the LR track too

## When to use this skill

- A person asks to install, apply or update "Legal Case Research Synthesis" (FTR-29) in a project.
- A project's agent instructions list legal-case-research-synthesis as installed and the task touches what it covers.
- Requires first: FTR-28 (skill multi-ai-research-synthesis).
- Works better with, if installed: FTR-04 (skill agent-role-and-project-identity), FTR-27 (skill legal-citation-management), FTR-30 (skill cascading-research-pipeline).

## Install procedure

Steps run in order. Assess comes first, every question in the Ask step is answered by the person before anything is written, and every write merges additively into the existing project files (read the file first, update an existing section in place, never overwrite).

### Assess first
- Confirm FTR-28 (Multi-AI Research Synthesis System) is installed — this feature has no independent prompt-write/submit/polish engine of its own; it uses FTR-28's entirely.
- Confirm the project type is Legal (see Agent Role & Project Identity, FTR-04). If not, this feature doesn't apply.
- Check whether a Master Case File already exists for this project. If yes, `LR` items log there. If not, note that the Research Register (FTR-28's tracker) serves as an interim home until one exists.
- Check whether FTR-27 (Legal Citation Management System) is also installed — if so, note the division of labor explicitly to the user (research synthesis here; citation vetting before filing there) rather than letting the two blur together.
- Check whether FTR-30 (Cascading Research Pipeline) is also installed — if so, a sequence of dependent LR items can run as one chain rather than individually.

### Ask, only if needed
- If no Master Case File exists yet: "Legal research on the LR track will log to the Research Register for now, since there's no Master Case File yet — want to set one up, or is that fine as an interim home?"
- When a new research need comes up and the track isn't obvious: "Is this specifically about strengthening an argument or filing position, or is it more general background for the case?" (LR vs. RS — see Track assessment above)
- Jurisdiction, court, division, and current procedural posture, if not already established elsewhere in the project (these populate every LR prompt's CONTEXT section).
- For a triangulation-preferred LR item: whether deep research mode is active for the Claude leg, per the guidance above.

### Write

The full Write payload is in references/write-payload.md. It is applied exactly as written, with the merge rule above.

### Confirm
Confirm: the LR track is ready — tied to [the Master Case File / the Research Register as an interim home], with the legal-specific CONTEXT requirements and fabrication-check emphasis in place, and the RS/LR track-assessment rule active for future research needs. Want to install another, or is that everything for now?

## Other sections in the specification

- Why this exists
- The LR track
- Master Case File integration
- Track assessment — deciding LR vs. RS
- Legal-specific prompt requirements
- Fabrication check, legal-specific note
- Deep-research-mode awareness for LR items
- If FTR-30 (Cascading Research Pipeline) is also installed

These are in references/spec.md.

## Files in this skill

- references/spec.md: the complete specification, unabridged.
- references/write-payload.md: the Write step on its own.