> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.courtaid.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.courtaid.ai/chat-and-documents/chat-mode.md).

# Chat mode

Chat mode lets you ask legal research questions in plain English and get answers drawn from CourtAid's database of **2 million+ up-to-date judgements and legislation** across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

![Chat response with source citations](/files/mwdJNTKfqLGxEOLRhkld)

## How Chat mode works

Unlike traditional keyword search, Chat mode uses **semantic contextual search** — it understands the meaning of your question and searches across the entire database to find relevant authorities.

1. Type your question in natural language
2. CourtAid searches judgements, decisions, and legislation
3. You receive a structured answer with **clickable source citations**
4. Click any source to open the original document

## Thinking Agents

For complex or multi-part questions, CourtAid's **Thinking Agents** handle your query with greater depth. Instead of a single search, the agent automatically:

1. Breaks your question down into up to **8 targeted searches**
2. Applies the relevant filters for each search
3. Runs the searches in sequence
4. Synthesises the results into a single, comprehensive answer

This significantly improves answer reliability for nuanced or multi-part legal questions — you don't need to do anything differently, just ask your full question.

## Where to use Chat

| Entry point                 | How                                             |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **New Chat** (landing page) | Type your question and press Send               |
| **Search page**             | Toggle to **Chat** mode at the top of the input |
| **History**                 | Reopen a previous conversation from the sidebar |

## What you get in a response

Each chat response includes:

* **Structured answer** — a clear explanation of the legal issue with references
* **Documents referenced** — clickable links to the cases and legislation used
* **Follow-up questions** — suggested questions to explore the topic further
* **Action buttons** — Export, Retry, Citation Map, Copy, and feedback

## Editable answers

Click **Edit** in the top-right of any response to reformat or adjust the text before copying or downloading. See [Editable answers](/chat-and-documents/editable-answers.md).

## Click sources to verify

Every citation in a chat response links to the original source document. Click a case name to:

* Open the full document
* Start a [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf.md) conversation focused on that case
* View the [AI summary](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries.md)

This gives you a verifiable paper trail — you can always check the primary source behind every answer.

## Chat vs Search

|                 | Chat mode                                 | Search mode                                      |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Output**      | Conversational answer with citations      | Scrollable list of matching summaries            |
| **Best for**    | Getting an answer, synthesis, exploration | Browsing many documents, building a reading list |
| **Search type** | Semantic contextual chat                  | Smart or Boolean summary feed                    |

See [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search.md) for the Search side of this.

## Combining with filters

Apply [filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters.md) before or during chat to narrow the database:

* Set **Jurisdiction** to NSW only
* Restrict to **Judgements** or **Legislation**
* Select a specific **Court**

Filters apply to your chat query so answers focus on the relevant jurisdiction and document types.

## Example questions

```
What factors do NSW courts consider when granting interlocutory injunctions?
Show me NCAT cases about retail leases under the Retail Leases Act 1994.
What is the test for unconscionable conduct under the ASIC Act?
How have Australian courts interpreted "casual employee" for unfair dismissal?
```

## Tips

* Ask follow-up questions to drill deeper — chat maintains conversation context
* Click **Documents referenced** to verify every citation
* Use the **Citation Map** button to see how cited cases relate to each other
* Apply filters when you need jurisdiction-specific answers
* Save key cases to a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects.md) for ongoing matter work
* Click **Edit** on a response to polish it before exporting to a client memo


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.courtaid.ai/chat-and-documents/chat-mode.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.