> 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/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search.md).

# Semantic search (Smart & Boolean)

CourtAid's **Search** feature lets you find relevant judgements and legislation through a summary feed. The default **Smart** mode uses semantic (meaning-based) search — it understands the *intent* behind your query, not just the exact words.

![Search page with Smart mode selected](/files/BKjN9kGpJP7rREHheKG2)

## Search vs Chat

CourtAid offers two ways to research:

| Mode       | What it does                                             | Best for                                                       |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Search** | Returns a scrollable feed of matching document summaries | Browsing results, building a reading list, scanning many cases |
| **Chat**   | Returns a conversational AI answer with cited sources    | Getting a direct answer, exploratory questions, synthesis      |

On the Search page, toggle between **Chat** and **Search** at the top of the input area:

* **Chat** — *"Find and chat to sources"*
* **Search** — *"Quick search through a summary feed"*

You can also reach Search from the sidebar (**Search**, marked Free) or the **Case Search** button on the landing page.

## Smart search (semantic)

**Smart** is CourtAid's semantic search mode. Instead of matching exact keywords, it understands meaning and context.

### How it works

1. You type a natural language query — e.g. *"employer liability for psychiatric injury from workplace bullying"*
2. CourtAid searches its database of document summaries using AI embeddings
3. Results are ranked by **relevance to your query's meaning**, not just word overlap
4. Each result shows a title, date, jurisdiction, and a short summary blurb

### When to use Smart

* You know the **concept** but not the exact legal terms
* You want to **discover** related cases you might not have thought of
* Your query is a **question or description** rather than specific keywords
* You're researching a **topic area** broadly

### Example queries for Smart mode

```
duty of care owed by school to students during excursions
whether silence can amount to misrepresentation in contract
recent developments in unfair dismissal for casual employees
```

## Boolean search (keyword)

Switch to **Boolean** mode when you need precise keyword control.

**Boolean** uses traditional text search with operators:

| Operator | Meaning                | Example                  |
| -------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------ |
| `AND`    | Both terms must appear | `negligence AND duty`    |
| `OR`     | Either term can appear | `contract OR agreement`  |
| `NOT`    | Exclude a term         | `defamation NOT privacy` |

### When to use Boolean

* You're searching for a **specific phrase, name, or citation**
* You need to **include or exclude** particular words
* Smart mode returns too many loosely related results

## Search page controls

Beyond the query and search mode, the Search page offers additional controls:

### Content Type

Quick toggle below the search bar:

* **All** — judgements and legislation
* **Judgements** — court decisions only
* **Legislation** — Acts and regulations only

(US users see **Case Law (Opinions)** instead of Judgements.)

### View

* **List** — traditional scrollable results feed (default)
* **Map** — citation map of the top results, showing how cases cite each other. Useful for finding related authorities quickly. See [Citation map](/legal-research-and-search/citation-map.md).

### Filters

Use the filter panel at the top to narrow by jurisdiction, court, and categories. See [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters.md).

## Working with results

Each result in the feed includes:

| Action            | What it does                                     |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Title** (click) | Open the document or start a chat focused on it  |
| **Summary**       | View an AI-generated summary of the document     |
| **Chat PDF**      | Have a conversation about this specific document |
| **Save**          | Save the document to a project                   |
| **Download**      | Download the document                            |
| **Original**      | Open the original source                         |

Results load automatically as you scroll (infinite scroll). The page shows approximately how many total results match your query.

![Search results with summary blurbs](/files/p3IuYs2gX5dvS3v1guQY)

Each result shows a summary blurb, topic tags, and action buttons — see [Document summaries](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries.md) for detail.

## Smart vs Boolean — quick decision guide

```
Do you know the exact words that must appear?
├── Yes → Boolean
└── No
    ├── Are you exploring a legal concept or topic?
    │   └── Yes → Smart
    └── Do you need a specific case name or citation?
        └── Boolean (or search by name in Smart)
```

## Tips for better results

1. **Be specific about the legal issue** — *"constructive dismissal due to role change"* beats *"employment"*
2. **Combine with filters** — narrow jurisdiction and court before searching
3. **Try Smart first** — switch to Boolean if results are too broad
4. **Use Chat for synthesis** — if you want an answer rather than a list, switch to Chat mode
5. **Save promising results** — add key cases to a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects.md) as you go

## Sign-in required

Search requires a CourtAid account. If you're not signed in, you'll see a **Sign in to search** prompt on the Search page. Chat on the landing page may have different access depending on your plan.


---

# 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/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search.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.