Chat mode is powerful for interactive legal analysis. But the real transformation comes from Cowork — the autonomous mode where Claude reads your files, creates documents, and delivers finished work product. Today you'll set up your legal workspace and run your first autonomous document task.
If you haven't already, download the Claude Desktop app from Anthropic's website. Cowork is available on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. It runs on macOS and Windows.
Once installed, you'll see three tabs in the sidebar:
- Chat — the conversational interface you used yesterday
- Cowork — the autonomous agent mode
- Code — the development mode with terminal access
Click the Cowork tab. You'll be prompted to select a working folder — the directory where Claude can read and write files.
Before pointing Claude at a folder, create a clean workspace structure. Here's a recommended layout:
Your working folder structure:
```
Claude-Legal/
├── active-matters/
│ ├── client-a-acquisition/
│ ├── client-b-series-a/
│ └── client-c-services-agreement/
├── templates/
│ ├── engagement-letters/
│ ├── nda-templates/
│ └── standard-forms/
├── research/
│ └── memos/
└── output/
├── redlines/
└── correspondence/
```
Why this structure matters: When you give Claude a task in Cowork mode, it can navigate your file system. A clean structure means Claude can find the right documents, create output in the right place, and keep your work organized.
Point Cowork at your top-level `Claude-Legal` folder. This gives Claude access to everything inside it while keeping your other files separate.
Let's run a real task. Place any contract you have into your `active-matters` folder (use a non-confidential document for practice, or a sample agreement you can find online).
Open Cowork and try this:
"I've placed a services agreement in the active-matters folder. Read the agreement and produce two deliverables: (1) A markdown summary that lists every key commercial term — parties, term, fees, payment terms, SLAs, limitation of liability cap, indemnification scope, IP ownership, termination rights, and governing law. (2) A separate markdown file listing every provision that's missing from a standard enterprise services agreement. Save both files in the output folder."
Watch what happens. Claude will:
1. Navigate to the active-matters folder
2. Read the agreement
3. Analyze every provision
4. Create the summary document
5. Create the missing-provisions checklist
6. Save both files in the output folder
You didn't open the document. You didn't copy-paste anything. You described the outcome and Claude produced it.
Now that your workspace is set up, here are the tasks you'll be running in Cowork over the coming days:
Contract redlining — Read an agreement, analyze every provision, and produce a Word document with tracked changes attributed to your name. Opposing counsel opens it in Word and sees a normal redline.
Research memos — Take a question, research it across multiple angles in parallel, produce a structured memo with citations and recommendations.
Document generation — Take a term sheet and produce a complete set of closing documents — stock purchase agreement, investor rights agreement, voting agreement, right of first refusal agreement.
Comparison matrices — Read multiple agreements and produce a side-by-side comparison of key terms across all of them.
Correspondence — Draft client advisories, cover letters, and response packages based on the documents in a matter folder.
Each of these will be covered in detail in Week 2. For now, experiment with your workspace. Try uploading different documents and asking Cowork to analyze, summarize, and organize them.