# Welcome Welcome to the CourtAid documentation. CourtAid is an AI-powered legal research platform covering **2 million+ up-to-date judgements and legislation** from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. ## What you can do * **Chat** with millions of documents using semantic contextual search * **Search** through summarised judgements and legislation (free, unlimited) * **Chat PDF** — talk directly to any document with auto-highlighted sections * **Draft documents** — write and edit legal documents with an AI assistant that cites its sources * **Click sources** to jump to original published documents * **Create projects** — upload your own documents and chat across yours and ours * **Compare** two document versions with AI-powered change analysis * **Tabular View** — run custom queries across many documents in a single table * **Chronologies** — auto-build an editable, exportable timeline from your evidence * **Edit chat answers** before copying or downloading * **Filter** by jurisdiction, court, document type, and legal category ## Quick links | I want to… | Start here | | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Create an account and start my trial | [Account & free trial](/getting-started/account-and-trial) | | Understand what CourtAid does | [What is CourtAid?](/getting-started/what-is-courtaid) | | Find my way around the app | [Navigate the workspace](/getting-started/navigating-the-workspace) | | Run my first search | [Your first search](/getting-started/your-first-search) | | See typical workflows | [Common use cases](/getting-started/common-use-cases) | | Ask a legal research question | [Chat mode](/chat-and-documents/chat-mode) | | Browse matching documents | [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) | | Explore citation relationships | [Citation map](/legal-research-and-search/citation-map) | | Compare two document versions | [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison) | | Read AI summaries of cases | [Document summaries](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries) | | Talk to a specific document | [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) | | Draft a legal document | [Document Drafter](/chat-and-documents/document-drafter) | | Verify citations and sources | [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations) | | Narrow results by jurisdiction | [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters) | | Switch between AU, NZ, UK | [Changing countries](/legal-research-and-search/changing-countries) | | Organise matter files | [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) | | Review many documents in a table | [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) | | Build a timeline for court | [Chronologies](/matter-workspaces/chronologies) | | Understand query limits & billing | [Plans & queries](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries) | | Upgrade or manage subscription | [Managing subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription) | | Edit a chat response before export | [Editable answers](/chat-and-documents/editable-answers) | ## Need more help? Inside the app, open the **Help** menu (bottom-right) to start a support chat or take the guided product tour. Visit [courtaid.ai/pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/) for pricing, coverage details, and product updates. # What is CourtAid? CourtAid is an AI-powered legal research platform covering **2 million+ up-to-date judgements and legislation** from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Instead of scrolling through long judgements, you can ask questions in plain English and get answers grounded in real court decisions and legislation — with citations you can verify. ![CourtAid landing page](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a300ab27a50579448b358c1ad28f6e682f48d246%2Flanding-page.png?alt=media) ## Core capabilities ### Chat mode Ask legal research questions in natural language. CourtAid searches across millions of documents using semantic contextual search and responds with structured answers and clickable source citations. See [Chat mode](/chat-and-documents/chat-mode). ### Semantic search Browse a feed of summarised documents matched to your query. Use **Smart** mode for meaning-based search, or **Boolean** mode when you need precise keyword control. See [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search). ### Document summaries Every judgement and Act includes an AI-generated summary — from a quick blurb in search results to a full structured breakdown with Issue, Law, Analysis, and Conclusion. See [Document summaries](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries). ### Chat PDF Talk directly to any document. CourtAid reads the PDF, answers your questions, and automatically highlights the relevant sections. See [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf). ### Sources & citations Every answer links back to the original published source. Click a citation or the **Original** button to jump to the primary document. See [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations). ### Projects Create projects to upload your own documents and chat across both your files and CourtAid's court database. Each project is a workspace with its own AI chat, chronologies, tabular reviews, and chat history. See [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects). ### Tabular View Review and organise multiple documents at once. Run custom queries in parallel across a document set and populate results into a single table. See [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view). ### Chronologies Automatically build a structured timeline of events, dates, parties, and quotes from your project documents. Edit the fact matrix and export it to CSV for court submissions. See [Chronologies](/matter-workspaces/chronologies). ### Editable answers Edit any chat response before copying or downloading — reformat, adjust wording, or restructure into a memo. See [Editable answers](/chat-and-documents/editable-answers). ### PDF enrichment Upload scanned PDFs — CourtAid automatically extracts text so documents become searchable and usable in projects, chat, and tabular reviews. See [PDF enrichment](/chat-and-documents/pdf-enrichment). ### Document comparison Upload two versions of a contract, lease, or filing and see what changed — with a diff view, change list, and AI analysis. See [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison). ### Filters Narrow results by country, jurisdiction, court, document type, and legal category. See [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters). ## Supported countries | Country | Code | Coverage | | -------------- | ---- | --------------------------------------------------- | | Australia | `au` | Federal and state courts, legislation, constitution | | New Zealand | `nz` | NZ courts and legislation | | United Kingdom | `uk` | UK, Scotland, and Northern Ireland | | United States | `us` | Federal and state case law (restricted access) | {% hint style="info" %} United States access is currently limited to authorised users. Most users will see Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. {% endhint %} ## How CourtAid is organised Everything in CourtAid is scoped to a **country**. Your URL reflects this — for example, `/au/chat` is chat for Australia, while `/uk/casenotes` is search for the UK. The main areas of the app are: | Area | What it does | | ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | **New Chat** | Start an AI conversation about judgements and legislation | | **Search** | Browse matched document summaries in a results feed (free) | | **Projects** | Organise files, run project-scoped chat, and build chronologies | | **Compare** | Diff two document versions with AI change analysis | | **Workflows** | Browse tabular workflow templates | | **History** | Return to previous conversations | See [Navigate the workspace](/getting-started/navigating-the-workspace) for a full sidebar tour. ## Getting oriented New to CourtAid? We recommend this order: 1. [Create your account & free trial](/getting-started/account-and-trial) — sign up and understand your 5-day / 30-query trial 2. [Navigate the workspace](/getting-started/navigating-the-workspace) — learn the sidebar and main areas 3. [Your first search](/getting-started/your-first-search) — run a plain-English search 4. [Common use cases](/getting-started/common-use-cases) — pick a workflow that matches your work 5. [Chat mode](/chat-and-documents/chat-mode) — ask your first research question 6. [Changing countries](/legal-research-and-search/changing-countries) — set the right jurisdiction 7. [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) — bring your own documents into the workflow 8. [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) — review multiple documents in a table 9. [Chronologies](/matter-workspaces/chronologies) — build a timeline from your evidence 10. [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison) — compare contract or filing versions You can also take the in-app tour from the **Help** menu on your first visit. # Create your account & free trial CourtAid offers a free trial so you can explore the platform before committing to a paid plan. ## Creating an account 1. Go to [courtaid.ai](https://courtaid.ai) and click **Sign up**, or visit the sign-up page directly 2. Enter your email and create a password (or use a supported social login) 3. Complete the Clerk sign-up flow 4. You'll land on the CourtAid workspace for your selected country {% hint style="info" %} Some features — **Projects**, **Compare**, **Workflows**, and **Chronologies** — require you to be signed in. **Search** is available without using your query allowance. {% endhint %} ## What's included in the trial When your account is created, a welcome modal confirms your trial has started: * **5 days** to explore the platform * **30 free queries** for AI-powered chat and related features Your remaining queries and trial end date are always visible in the **sidebar footer** when you're signed in. ## What uses a query? Queries are used for **AI chat** — including: * Research questions on the landing page (**New Chat**) * [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) conversations * [Project chat](/matter-workspaces/projects) * [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison) AI analysis * Other AI-assisted features that generate answers **Search** (browsing the summary feed) does not consume your query allowance and is marked **Free** in the sidebar. Your query balance updates after each AI response. Check **Queries** in the sidebar footer to see how many you have left. ## Running out of queries during the trial If you use all 30 queries **before** the 5-day trial period ends: * You can still browse **Search** results and access your history * New **chat** messages are blocked — the input shows *"You're out of queries for your trial. Upgrade to continue..."* * Click **Upgrade** in the sidebar to view paid plans — monthly and annual options (see [CourtAid pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/); prices at checkout subject to change) You are **not** locked out of the entire app until the trial period itself expires. ## When the trial ends After **5 days**, if you haven't upgraded: * A full-screen modal appears: *"Your trial has ended"* * You'll see the Stripe pricing table to choose a paid plan * You can sign out to use a different account, but you can't continue using the platform without upgrading {% hint style="info" %} If you're part of an organisation with an active team plan, the trial blocker does not apply — your org's query pool is used instead. {% endhint %} ## After upgrading Once you subscribe: * Your plan name and query allowance appear in the sidebar * Queries reset on a monthly cycle (see **Resets** date in the sidebar) * Manage billing via **Subscription** in your profile menu — see [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription) ## Earn extra queries During your trial (or on an individual plan), you can earn bonus queries by referring colleagues: 1. Open your **profile menu** (bottom of the sidebar) 2. Click **Earn Queries** 3. Share your referral link — successful referrals earn **+10 queries** ## Related * [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries) * [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription) * [Navigate the workspace](/getting-started/navigating-the-workspace) # Navigate the workspace CourtAid's **sidebar** is your main navigation. Everything is scoped to a **country** (Australia, New Zealand, or UK) — your URL reflects this, e.g. `/au` for Australia. ## Sidebar at a glance The annotated diagram below labels every main area of the sidebar. ![Annotated CourtAid sidebar with labelled navigation areas](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d2dcad104c4ce0ab3831b65a7e1edf01bf78bd58%2Fsidebar-annotated.png?alt=media) | # | Item | What it does | | - | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ① | **New Chat** | Start an AI conversation on the landing page | | ② | **Search** | Browse a feed of matching document summaries — **Free** (no query cost) | | ③ | **History** | Return to previous chat conversations and favourited documents | | ④ | **Projects** | Matter workspaces — expand for Chronologies, Tabular, and Chat history | | ⑤ | **Compare** | Upload two document versions and see what changed | | ⑥ | **Workflows** | Browse built-in and custom tabular workflow templates | | — | **Plan card** | Your plan, queries remaining, and **Upgrade** button | | — | **Profile bar** | Your name, country flag, and account menu | *** ## Research ![Research section: New Chat, Search, and History](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-eee764862c079d586c7f481fa35122b796f2f875%2Fsidebar-section-research.png?alt=media) | Item | What it does | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **New Chat** | Opens the landing page where you ask legal research questions in plain English. Toggle to Search on the input bar if you want a results feed instead. Sign-in is not required to open the page; **queries apply** when you're signed in and send AI messages. | | **Search** | Opens the **summary feed** with Smart and Boolean modes, filters, and List/Map views. Marked **Free** — browsing Search does **not** use your query allowance. See [Your first search](/getting-started/your-first-search). | | **History** | Opens your **global chat history** — past conversations and favourited documents. Separate from **Chat history** under Projects, which only shows conversations inside a project workspace. | *** ## Projects ![Projects submenu expanded](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-adf25a8f07ef556960f6c6c7538909144c77d335%2Fsidebar-section-projects.png?alt=media) Click **Projects** to expand the submenu: | Sub-item | What it does | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Projects** | List and manage matter workspaces — upload files, save cases, run project chat | | **Chronologies** | View and create timelines across all projects — see [Chronologies](/matter-workspaces/chronologies) | | **Tabular** | View tabular reviews across all projects — see [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) | | **Chat history** | Browse past conversations scoped to project workspaces | Each sub-item is also available inside an individual [project workspace](/matter-workspaces/projects). Sign-in is required for all Projects features. *** ## Tools ![Tools section: Compare and Workflows](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2b8d671ad51062f297045c7dd1b7abf60f560e50%2Fsidebar-section-tools.png?alt=media) | Item | What it does | | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Compare** | Upload two versions of a contract, lease, affidavit, or any PDF/Word file and see a redline diff with AI analysis. See [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison). | | **Workflows** | Browse **built-in** and **custom** workflow templates for [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view). Click **Use workflow** to start a new tabular review with columns pre-configured. | *** ## Your plan & Upgrade ![Plan card and Upgrade button](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a3f5b905004a22dde81245a0c17d9a9d2a4c952a%2Fsidebar-section-plan.png?alt=media) When signed in, the plan card above your profile shows: * **Plan name** — e.g. Free Trial, Start, Pro (monthly or annual) * **Queries** — remaining AI queries for this billing period * **Trial ends** or **Resets** — when your trial expires or your query allowance refreshes * **Upgrade** — opens the in-app pricing table ### Pricing For full plan details, tiers, and current prices, visit the [CourtAid pricing page](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/). CourtAid offers **monthly and annual** billing. Annual plans include two months free. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time — changes take effect from your next billing period. {% hint style="info" %} Prices shown when you click **Upgrade** in the app are managed through Stripe and may differ from the marketing site. Treat [courtaid.ai/pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/) as the overview; confirm the exact price at checkout. Pricing is subject to change. {% endhint %} For enterprise or group licences (multiple seats), contact the team via the [pricing page](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/) or support chat. See also [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries) and [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription). *** ## Country selector ![Profile bar with country flag](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3fc0591490ff1f53249d332fe2faa31982cc88c6%2Fsidebar-section-profile-bar.png?alt=media) Click the **flag** next to your name to switch between Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. This changes which court database CourtAid searches. See [Changing countries](/legal-research-and-search/changing-countries). *** ## Profile menu Click your **name or avatar** at the bottom of the sidebar to open the account menu: ![Profile menu options](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3025d5525d82be46217c4f54203f3911d51f9fda%2Fsidebar-section-profile-menu.png?alt=media) | Option | Purpose | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Account Settings** | Update your profile and preferences | | **Org Settings** | Manage organisation membership *(only if on a team plan)* | | **Upgrade** | Open the in-app Stripe pricing table — monthly and yearly options | | **Earn Queries** | Share your referral link for bonus queries (+10 per referral) | | **Subscription** | Open the Stripe customer portal — invoices, payment method, cancel | | **Chat** | Talk to the CourtAid support team | | **Tour** | Restart the guided product tour | | **Hide feedback widget** | Toggle the on-screen feedback button | | **Light / Dark / System** | Change the app theme | | **Sign Out** | Log out of your account | *** ## Quick reference ``` Sidebar ├── New Chat → Landing page — ask research questions ├── Search (Free) → Summary feed — browse matching documents ├── History → Global past conversations ├── Projects ▾ │ ├── Projects → Matter workspaces │ ├── Chronologies → Event timelines │ ├── Tabular → Document review tables │ └── Chat history → Per-project conversations ├── Compare → Document version comparison ├── Workflows → Tabular workflow templates ├── Plan card → Queries, reset date, Upgrade └── Profile bar → Name, country flag, account menu ``` ## Guided tour On your first visit, CourtAid offers an in-app tour that walks through filters, Search vs Chat, Projects, Compare, history, and your plan. Restart it anytime from **profile menu → Tour**. ## Mobile On mobile, the sidebar collapses into a hamburger menu. Filters open in a bottom sheet. Core workflows — chat, search, save to project — work the same as on desktop. ## Related * [What is CourtAid?](/getting-started/what-is-courtaid) * [Create your account & free trial](/getting-started/account-and-trial) * [Your first search](/getting-started/your-first-search) * [CourtAid pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/) # Your first search The fastest way to get value from CourtAid is a plain-English search. You don't need Boolean operators or exact citations — describe the legal issue and let semantic search find relevant documents. ## Step 1 — Set your jurisdiction Before searching, make sure you're on the right country: 1. Check the **flag** in the sidebar or header 2. Open **Filters** and confirm **Jurisdiction** and **Court** match your matter See [Changing countries](/legal-research-and-search/changing-countries) and [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters). ## Step 2 — Open Search Click **Search** in the sidebar (marked **Free**). You'll see the search input, mode toggle, and filter panel. ![Search page with Smart mode selected](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5ab64405a917747eb75f1b25f234b7660101eb3e%2Fsearch-page.png?alt=media) ## Step 3 — Write a natural-language query In **Smart** mode, describe what you're looking for as you would to a colleague: ``` employer liability for psychiatric injury from workplace bullying whether silence can amount to misrepresentation in contract recent unfair dismissal cases involving casual employees ``` **Tips:** * Name the **legal issue**, not just a broad topic — *"constructive dismissal due to role change"* beats *"employment"* * Include **jurisdiction context** in the query if you haven't set filters — e.g. *"NSW duty of care in schools"* * Use **Boolean** mode if you know exact words that must appear — see [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) ## Step 4 — Narrow with filters (optional) Open the filter panel to restrict results before or after searching: * **Document Type** — Judgements, Legislation, or both * **Jurisdiction** — e.g. Victoria, Federal * **Court** — e.g. Supreme Court of Victoria * **Categories** — legal topic areas ![Filters panel](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a89cee319c4b209451293704b326c19b40481789%2Ffilters-panel.png?alt=media) ## Step 5 — Review results Each result shows a title, date, jurisdiction, summary blurb, and action buttons: | Action | Use it to… | | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Title** (click) | Open [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) for this document | | **Summary** | Read the full AI-generated case summary | | **Chat PDF** | Ask questions about this specific document | | **Save** | Add the case to a [project](/matter-workspaces/projects) | | **Original** | Open the published source on the court or legislation website | ![Search result card](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bb18196c40ba03f8ae44ca57c6cd9246c6f027ed%2Fsearch-result-card.png?alt=media) ## Step 6 — Explore further Once you have a few promising results: * Switch to **Map** view to see how cases cite each other — see [Citation map](/legal-research-and-search/citation-map) * Click **Cites** or **Cited by** tags on a result to explore precedent relationships * **Save** key authorities to a project as you go * Switch to **Chat** mode if you want a synthesised answer instead of a list ## Search vs Chat — which first? | Start with **Search** if… | Start with **Chat** if… | | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | You want to browse and compare many cases | You want a direct answer to a specific question | | You're building a reading list | You need synthesis across multiple sources | | You don't want to use a query | You're happy to use one of your AI queries | Search is free and unlimited. Chat uses your query allowance — see [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries). ## Related * [Semantic search (Smart & Boolean)](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) * [Document summaries](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries) * [Common use cases](/getting-started/common-use-cases) # Common use cases CourtAid supports a range of legal research workflows. Here are the most common ways practitioners use the platform. ## 1. Quick legal research question **Scenario:** You need to understand how courts have approached a legal issue. **Steps:** 1. Go to **New Chat** (the landing page) 2. Make sure the correct **country** is selected 3. Optionally open **Filters** to narrow jurisdiction or court 4. Type your question — e.g. *"What factors do courts consider when granting interlocutory injunctions in contract disputes?"* 5. Review the AI response and click through to cited sources **Best for:** Exploratory research, understanding legal principles, getting oriented on a new area of law. *** ## 2. Finding relevant cases by topic **Scenario:** You want a list of cases on a specific subject, not a conversational answer. **Steps:** 1. Open **Search** from the sidebar (or click **Case Search** on the landing page) 2. Enter your query in **Search** mode (not Chat mode) 3. Select **Smart** search mode for meaning-based results 4. Apply filters — e.g. NSW jurisdiction, Supreme Court, Judgements only 5. Scroll through the summary feed and open promising results **Best for:** Building a reading list, finding leading authorities, scanning recent decisions. See [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) and [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters) for detail. *** ## 3. Researching a specific jurisdiction **Scenario:** Your matter is in Victoria and you only want Victorian decisions. **Steps:** 1. Confirm your country is set to **Australia** 2. Open filters and set **Jurisdiction** to **Victoria** 3. Set **Document Type** to **Judgements** 4. Optionally select a specific **Court** (e.g. Supreme Court of Victoria) 5. Run your search or chat query **Best for:** State-specific matters, avoiding noise from other jurisdictions. See [Changing countries](/legal-research-and-search/changing-countries) and [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters). *** ## 4. Working on a client matter **Scenario:** You have pleadings, correspondence, and court decisions for one matter and want to research across all of them. **Steps:** 1. Click **New Project** and give it a name (add Client ID / Matter ID if useful) 2. Upload your documents to the project 3. Save relevant court decisions from Search into the project 4. Click **Chat** on the project to ask questions across your files and CourtAid's database 5. Use **Chronologies** or **Tabular** views for deeper analysis **Best for:** Matter-specific research, combining private documents with public court data. See [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects). *** ## 5. Reviewing a specific judgement or Act **Scenario:** You have a citation and want to read, summarise, or discuss a particular document. **Steps:** 1. Search for the case or legislation by name or citation 2. Click the document title to open it, or click **Summary** for an AI-generated overview 3. Click **Chat PDF** to have a conversation focused on that document 4. Use **Save** to add it to a project for later **Best for:** Deep-diving into a single authority, preparing for a hearing, checking legislative provisions. *** ## 6. Boolean / keyword search **Scenario:** You need precise keyword matching — e.g. finding documents that mention specific terms together. **Steps:** 1. Go to **Search** 2. Switch **Search Mode** from **Smart** to **Boolean** 3. Enter a query with operators — e.g. `contract AND breach NOT employment` 4. Apply any relevant filters **Best for:** Finding documents containing specific terms, names, or statutory references. See [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) for when to use Smart vs Boolean. *** ## 7. Cross-jurisdiction comparison **Scenario:** You practise across Australia and New Zealand, or you're comparing UK and Australian approaches. **Steps:** 1. Complete your research in one country (e.g. Australia) 2. Switch country using the sidebar selector or filters panel 3. Re-run the same or similar query in the new jurisdiction 4. Compare results side by side **Best for:** Comparative law research, multi-jurisdiction practices. See [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects). *** ## 8. Bulk document review with Tabular View **Scenario:** You have a bundle of 20+ documents and need the same questions answered for each one — document type, sender, date, key content. **Steps:** 1. Create or open a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects) 2. Upload all documents to the project 3. Open the **Tabular** tab in the project workspace 4. Create a new review — choose **E-Discovery Review** or a custom workflow 5. Select the documents and run the review 6. Review the populated table, click **View more** on any cell for detail **Best for:** E-discovery triage, due diligence, contract portfolio review, correspondence analysis. See [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view). *** ## Choosing the right tool | Goal | Use | | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Conversational answer with citations | **Chat** (New Chat or Search page Chat toggle) | | Browse many matching documents | **Search** (summary feed) | | Precise keyword matching | **Search** → **Boolean** mode | | Meaning-based discovery | **Search** → **Smart** mode | | Matter-specific research | **Projects** → upload docs, chat, run tabular reviews, build chronologies | | Review many documents at once | **Projects** → **Tabular** tab | | One specific document | **Chat PDF** or **Summary** on a result | # Research assistance, not legal advice CourtAid is a legal **research and drafting assistant**. It is not a substitute for professional legal judgment. ## What CourtAid does CourtAid helps you: * **Find** relevant judgements and legislation across 2M+ documents * **Summarise** cases and Acts in plain English * **Chat** with documents and ask follow-up questions * **Extract** structured data, build chronologies, and compare document versions * **Link every answer** back to source documents you can verify Every AI response is grounded in real published sources. Citations are clickable — you can open the original document and check the passage yourself. ## What CourtAid does not do CourtAid does **not**: * Provide legal advice tailored to your client's situation * Replace the judgment of a qualified lawyer * Guarantee that AI-generated summaries or extractions are complete or error-free * Establish a solicitor–client relationship You'll see **"This is not legal advice"** on chat responses, comparison analysis, and other AI-generated content throughout the app. ## Your responsibilities Before relying on any CourtAid output in your work: 1. **Verify against primary sources** — click through to the original judgement or legislation 2. **Check citations** — confirm the AI quoted the right passage and interpreted it correctly 3. **Review AI drafts** — chronologies, tabular extractions, and comparison summaries are starting points, not final work product 4. **Apply professional judgment** — use CourtAid to speed up research, not to skip it {% hint style="warning" %} Always verify important findings against the original source before citing them in a submission, advice, or court document. {% endhint %} ## Privacy CourtAid processes your queries and uploaded documents to provide the service. For details on data handling, hosting, and your rights, see [Data privacy & security](/account-and-billing/privacy-and-security) and the [CourtAid Privacy Policy](https://courtaid.ai/privacy-policy/). ## Related * [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations) * [Chronologies](/matter-workspaces/chronologies) — verify extracted events before court submission * [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison) — review AI analysis of changes # 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](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5ab64405a917747eb75f1b25f234b7660101eb3e%2Fsearch-page.png?alt=media) ## 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). ### Filters Use the filter panel at the top to narrow by jurisdiction, court, and categories. See [Using filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters). ## 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](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bb18196c40ba03f8ae44ca57c6cd9246c6f027ed%2Fsearch-result-card.png?alt=media) Each result shows a summary blurb, topic tags, and action buttons — see [Document summaries](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries) 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) 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. # Using filters Filters let you narrow CourtAid's database before you search or chat, so results focus on the jurisdiction, court, and document types relevant to your matter. ![Filters panel on the landing page](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a89cee319c4b209451293704b326c19b40481789%2Ffilters-panel.png?alt=media) ## Where to find filters Filters appear in several places: | Location | How to open | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Landing page / Chat** | Click the **Filters** button (flag + funnel icon) on the right side of the input bar | | **Search page (desktop)** | The filter panel is shown at the top — click **Hide filters** / **Show filters** to toggle | | **Search page (mobile)** | Tap the **Filters** button in the header | On mobile, filters open in a bottom sheet. On desktop, they appear as a popover or inline panel. ## Available filters The filters you see depend on your selected **country**: ### Document Type Restrict to specific kinds of legal material. | Country | Options | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Australia | Judgements, Legislation, The Constitution | | New Zealand | Judgements, Legislation | | United Kingdom | Judgements, Legislation | | United States | Case Law (Opinions), Legislation | ### Jurisdiction Available for Australia, UK, and US. Narrows results to a specific state, territory, or region. * **Australia:** Federal, NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, ACT, Tasmania * **UK:** UK, Scotland, Northern Ireland * **US:** Federal + all 50 states and DC (searchable dropdown) ### Court Available for Australia, New Zealand, and UK. Only appears when **Document Type** is set to **Judgements**. Courts are grouped by jurisdiction. If you've selected a jurisdiction, the court list narrows to courts in that region. Examples for Australia: * High Court of Australia * Federal Court of Australia * Supreme Court New South Wales * Fair Work Commission ### Categories Available for Australia, New Zealand, and UK. A searchable list of legal topic areas (e.g. Contract Law, Criminal Law, Employment Law) to focus your research. ## How to apply filters 1. Open the **Filters** panel 2. Set your **Country** if needed (see [Changing countries](/legal-research-and-search/changing-countries)) 3. Choose values from each dropdown — the default **All** means no restriction 4. Click **Apply** if the button appears (when you have pending changes) 5. Run your search or send your chat message ### Active filter badges When filters are active, coloured badges appear below the input or search bar showing what's applied — e.g. `Jurisdiction: Victoria`, `Court: Supreme Court Victoria`. * Click the **×** on a badge to remove that filter * Click **Clear All** to reset everything The **Filters** button also shows a count badge when filters are active. ## Filter behaviour ### Court depends on Document Type The **Court** filter only appears when **Document Type** includes **Judgements**. If you select only Legislation, the court filter is hidden. ### Court narrows by Jurisdiction If you select a jurisdiction (e.g. Victoria), the court dropdown only shows courts in that jurisdiction. ### Filters persist in your URL Active filters are saved in the page URL. You can bookmark or share a filtered search link with colleagues. ### Search page auto-refreshes On the Search page, changing a filter automatically re-runs your search (after a short delay). ## Filters on Search vs Chat | Context | Filters available | | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | **Chat** (landing page, chat page) | Country, Document Type, Jurisdiction, Court | | **Search** (casenotes page) | Country, Jurisdiction, Court, Categories | The Search page also has a separate **Content Type** toggle (All / Judgements / Legislation) below the search bar, which works alongside the filter panel. ## Example workflows ### NSW Supreme Court contract cases 1. Country: **Australia** 2. Document Type: **Judgements** 3. Jurisdiction: **New South Wales** 4. Court: **Supreme Court New South Wales** 5. Search for your topic in **Smart** mode ### Federal legislation only 1. Country: **Australia** 2. Document Type: **Legislation** 3. Jurisdiction: **Federal** 4. Chat or search for the provisions you need ### UK employment law 1. Country: **United Kingdom** 2. Document Type: **Judgements** 3. Categories: search for **Employment** or related topics 4. Run your query ## Tips * **Start broad, then narrow** — if you get too few results, remove one filter at a time * **Use Categories on Search** — especially helpful when you don't know which court decided a case * **Check the badge count** — the number on the Filters button tells you how many filters are active without opening the panel # Citation map & precedent relationships CourtAid's citation map shows how cases relate to each other — what a judgment cites, and what later cases cite it. This helps you find related authorities and understand precedent networks quickly. ## Three ways to open the map ### 1. Search — Map view On the [Search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) page, switch the view toggle from **List** to **Map**. CourtAid runs a search and displays the **top results** as an interactive network: * Each node is a case or piece of legislation * Lines show citation relationships between documents * Click a node to see its summary and open Chat PDF, Save, or related actions Use Map view when you want a visual overview of how authorities in your result set connect. ### 2. Search — Cites / Cited by tags On individual search results, look for **Cites** and **Cited by** tags (when citation data is available): * **Cites** — documents this judgment references * **Cited by** — later cases that reference this judgment Click a tag to open a popover listing the related documents. From there you can open summaries, chat with a document, or jump to the original source. ### 3. Chat — Map button In [Chat mode](/chat-and-documents/chat-mode) responses, click **Map** on any citation in the **Documents referenced** section. This opens a **single-document citation map** centred on that authority, showing its cites and cited-by relationships. Useful when a chat answer points you to one key case and you want to explore what it relies on and what has followed it. See [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations) for how citations work in chat. ## Reading the map | Element | Meaning | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Node** | A judgement or piece of legislation | | **Edge / line** | A citation link between two documents | | **Selected node** | The case you're inspecting — shows date, jurisdiction, and summary | | **Expand** | Open the map full-screen for easier navigation | Click any node to: * Read a short summary * Open **Chat PDF** to ask questions about that document * **Save** it to a project * View the **Original** published source ## Cites vs Cited by — which matters? | Tag | Research use | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Cites** | Find the authorities *this* case relied on — useful for tracing the legal basis | | **Cited by** | Find *later* cases that applied or distinguished this authority — useful for checking if it's still good law | CourtAid shows citation counts where data is available. A heavily **cited by** case is often (but not always) more influential — always read the citing cases to understand how the principle was applied. {% hint style="info" %} CourtAid does not currently display a separate "authority score" in the UI. Use citation relationships, your own reading, and jurisdiction-specific research to assess precedential weight. {% endhint %} ## Tips * Start with **Map view** after a broad Smart search to spot clusters of related cases * Use **Cited by** on a key authority to find recent applications * **Save** important nodes to a [project](/matter-workspaces/projects) as you map out the precedent network * Combine with [filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters) to keep the underlying search jurisdiction-specific ## Related * [Semantic search](/legal-research-and-search/semantic-search) — List and Map views * [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations) * [Your first search](/getting-started/your-first-search) # Document summaries Every judgement and Act in CourtAid includes an AI-generated summary, so you can quickly understand what a document is about before reading the full text. ![Search results showing summary blurbs and action buttons](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bb18196c40ba03f8ae44ca57c6cd9246c6f027ed%2Fsearch-result-card.png?alt=media) ## Summaries in search results On the **Search** page, each result card shows: * **Title** — the full case name or legislation title * **Date and jurisdiction** — when it was decided or published, and where * **Topic tags** — legal categories like Contract, Consumer, Equity * **Summary blurb** — a short plain-English description of what the document covers This lets you scan hundreds of results quickly and decide which documents are worth opening. ## Full summary view For a detailed breakdown, click **Summary** on any result. ![AI-generated case summary modal](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-568bd46393fab220bb1ed8f96fa888f176f95d36%2Fdocument-summary.png?alt=media) The full summary includes structured sections: | Section | What it covers | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | **Case Information** | Date, judge, court, parties | | **Issue** | The legal question or dispute | | **Law** | Relevant legislation and legal principles | | **Analysis** | How the court applied the law | | **Significance** | Why the case matters | | **Conclusion** | The outcome | Summaries are generated by AI from the original document. Use them to orient yourself quickly, then read the source for the full detail. ## Other actions on each result Every search result also gives you: | Button | What it does | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Chat PDF** | Open the document and chat with it directly — see [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) | | **Summary** | View the full AI summary | | **Save** | Add to a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects) | | **Download** | Download the PDF | | **Original** | Jump to the original published source — see [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations) | ## Tips * Use summary blurbs to triage a long results list before opening documents * Click **Summary** when you need the structured Issue / Law / Analysis breakdown * Save particularly useful cases to a project as you research # Sources & citations CourtAid is built on real law with real citations. Every answer and summary links back to the original published source, so you can verify any finding. ## Clicking sources in Chat In [Chat mode](/chat-and-documents/chat-mode), responses include a **Documents referenced** section listing the cases and legislation used. Click any citation — e.g. *Robin Raju & Associates Pty Ltd v Kaplan Investments Pty Ltd \[2021] NSWCATCD 90* — to open that document. From there you can read the full text, view the [summary](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries), or start [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf). ![Chat response showing clickable source citations](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-914d33472a89ac717eed03e85b1eba9aa3d41c2b%2Fchat-mode-sources.png?alt=media) ## Original source button On every search result, the **Original** button opens the document at its published source — the court website, legislation repository, or official database where it was originally published. ![Search result with Original button among action options](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bb18196c40ba03f8ae44ca57c6cd9246c6f027ed%2Fsearch-result-card.png?alt=media) Use **Original** when you need to: * Verify CourtAid's copy matches the official version * Cite the primary source in a submission or brief * Access the document on the court's own website ## View Original in summaries The full [summary modal](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries) also includes a **View Original** button at the top, giving you one-click access to the source from the summary view. ![Summary modal with View Original button](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-568bd46393fab220bb1ed8f96fa888f176f95d36%2Fdocument-summary.png?alt=media) ## Citation Map In chat responses, click **Map** to open an interactive citation map showing how the top results cite each other. This helps you find related authorities and understand precedent relationships quickly. You can also open the map from **Search → Map view** or via **Cites / Cited by** tags on search results. See [Citation map & precedent relationships](/legal-research-and-search/citation-map) for a full guide. ## Why citations matter CourtAid is designed for legal professionals who need to rely on their research. Every feature — chat, search, summaries, and projects — maintains a link to the underlying source document so you can: * Verify AI-generated content against primary sources * Build a defensible research trail * Cite authorities accurately in your work {% hint style="info" %} CourtAid provides research assistance, not legal advice. See [Research assistance, not legal advice](/getting-started/legal-disclaimer) and always verify important findings against the original source. {% endhint %} # Changing countries CourtAid organises all research by **country**. When you switch country, you change which court database, legislation, and filters are available. ![Country selector showing available countries](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-05e2e1f3a83686dbc1559d1e7a419c3e57530404%2Fcountry-selector.png?alt=media) ## Supported countries | Country | What's included | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Australia** | Federal and state/territory courts, legislation, and the Constitution | | **New Zealand** | NZ courts, legislation, and legal categories | | **United Kingdom** | UK, Scotland, and Northern Ireland courts and legislation | | **United States** | Federal and state case law via CourtListener (restricted access) | {% hint style="warning" %} **United States** is only available to authorised users. If you don't see it in your country list, contact support. {% endhint %} ## How to change country There are three ways to switch: ### 1. Sidebar (recommended) At the bottom of the left sidebar, next to your name, click the **flag icon**. A searchable list of countries appears — select the one you need. This is the quickest way to switch while navigating the app. ### 2. Filters panel Open **Filters** (from the chat input bar or the Search page) and change the **Country** dropdown at the top of the panel. ![Filters panel with country selector](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a89cee319c4b209451293704b326c19b40481789%2Ffilters-panel.png?alt=media) This is useful when you want to change country and set other filters at the same time. ### 3. Automatic suggestion If CourtAid detects that your browser timezone suggests a different country than the one you're currently using, a dialog will ask: > **Switch country?** Stay on \[current country] · Switch to \[suggested country] This only appears once per session. You can always change manually later. ## What happens when you switch When you select a new country: 1. **The URL updates** — e.g. from `/au/chat` to `/uk/chat` 2. **You stay on the same page type** — if you were on Search, you'll still be on Search 3. **Filters reset to match the new country** — jurisdiction and court options change 4. **Your preference is saved** — if you're signed in, CourtAid remembers your default country ## Country-specific differences Not every country has the same filters or document types: | Feature | AU | NZ | UK | US | | -------------------- | ----------- | -- | -- | -- | | Document Type filter | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Jurisdiction filter | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | | Court filter | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | | Categories filter | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | | Constitution | ✅ (AU only) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ### Australia Full filter set including Federal and all states/territories, grouped courts, and legal categories. ### New Zealand Document Type, Court, and Categories. No separate jurisdiction filter. ### United Kingdom Jurisdiction covers UK, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Courts and categories available. ### United States Document Type shows **Case Law (Opinions)** and **Legislation**. Jurisdiction covers Federal and all 50 states plus DC. Court and Categories filters are not used. ## Tips * **Set country before you start** — switching mid-research means re-running your query against a different database * **Check the flag** — the flag icon in the chat input bar shows which country your current query will use * **Multi-jurisdiction practices** — complete your research in one country, switch, and re-run. See [Common use cases](/getting-started/common-use-cases#7-cross-jurisdiction-comparison) # 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](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-914d33472a89ac717eed03e85b1eba9aa3d41c2b%2Fchat-mode-sources.png?alt=media) ## 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). ## 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) conversation focused on that case * View the [AI summary](/legal-research-and-search/document-summaries) 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) for the Search side of this. ## Combining with filters Apply [filters](/legal-research-and-search/using-filters) 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) for ongoing matter work * Click **Edit** on a response to polish it before exporting to a client memo # Chat PDF Chat PDF lets you talk directly to a specific judgement or piece of legislation. CourtAid reads the document, answers your questions, and highlights the relevant sections in the PDF. ![Chat PDF with document viewer](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f2ea5dc8097f680169b24d1fac401162a5a35c7b%2Fchat-pdf.png?alt=media) ## How to open Chat PDF From any search result, click **Chat PDF**. You can also open a document from chat citations or from a project file list. CourtAid opens a split view: * **Left** — chat panel for your questions * **Right** — the PDF document viewer ## Asking questions Type your question in the chat input. For example: ``` What was the court's finding on unconscionable conduct? Which sections of the Fair Work Act were applied? Summarise the key facts in three bullet points. ``` CourtAid reads the document and responds with an answer grounded in the text. ## Automatic highlighting When CourtAid references a passage from the document, the relevant section is **automatically highlighted in yellow** in the PDF viewer on the right. Citations in the chat appear as clickable links — click one to jump to that passage in the PDF. ![Chat PDF showing citations linked to highlighted sections in the PDF](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-49a5d6406333710473fad91713d3cb398822b7fe%2Fchat-pdf-highlights.png?alt=media) In the example above, citations like *s 67 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW)* and *Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 685* are highlighted in the original document, so you can read the AI's analysis on the left and verify it against the source on the right. You can also click extract snippets in chat responses to jump to and highlight that section in the PDF. ## Focus mode vs Explore mode When chatting with a single document, CourtAid uses **Focus mode** — the conversation is scoped to that document only. Toggle **Explore mode** (via the switch in the chat input) to widen the search to CourtAid's full database of 2M+ documents while keeping the PDF open. | Mode | Scope | | ----------- | ----------------------------------------- | | **Focus** | This document only | | **Explore** | This document + CourtAid's court database | ## PDF viewer controls The document viewer includes standard controls: * Page navigation and zoom * Thumbnail sidebar * Full-screen view * Download and print ## When to use Chat PDF | Scenario | Example question | | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | | Understanding a long judgement | *"What were the key findings?"* | | Finding a specific provision | *"What did the court say about limitation periods?"* | | Checking legislative text | *"What are the requirements under section 12?"* | | Preparing for a hearing | *"What arguments did each party make?"* | ## Tips * Start with a broad question, then follow up on specific paragraphs * Click highlighted sections to read the full context around a citation * Use **Save** to add the document to a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects) if you'll need it again * Switch to **Explore mode** if your question needs cases beyond the current document # Document Drafter The Document Drafter is an AI assistant that writes and edits legal documents with you. You describe what you need, and it drafts it — searching your matter's files and CourtAid's corpus of legislation and case law as it goes — in a two-panel workspace where the document sits on the left and the assistant on the right. ![The Document Drafter workspace — document on the left, drafting assistant on the right](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8fcb4eeb8ad78bbc25cd9d60c0386429fb6b527d%2Fdocument-drafter-workspace.png?alt=media) {% hint style="info" %} The Drafter produces a **first draft for you to review and refine**, not final legal advice. It cites the sources it relies on and never silently changes your document — every AI edit after the first draft is shown as a change you approve or reject. {% endhint %} ## How it works When you start a draft, the assistant: 1. **Thinks first** — it streams a short plan of what it's going to write before it starts. 2. **Searches (when useful)** — it can look through the documents in your matter and search CourtAid's legal corpus, returning clickable citations for anything it relies on. 3. **Writes the document** — the finished draft lands in the editor, formatted with proper clause headings and numbering. 4. **Asks before guessing** — if your brief is ambiguous (for example, which state's law governs), it asks a clarifying question rather than inventing details. You then review, edit, and export the result. ## Creating a new draft From the **Drafts** section (sidebar → your matter → **Drafts**, or the standalone **Document Drafter** page), click **New document**. A short three-step wizard opens. ![The New document wizard](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a267161a0960cc08ae66f7bc61338e95cbcea4a4%2Fdocument-drafter-new-wizard.png?alt=media) ### Step 1 — Details Give the draft a **Name** and write a **Description** — this is your brief. Be specific about what you want and any key terms, for example: > *"Draft a mutual NDA using the attached invoice for the party details, 2-year term, NSW law."* ### Step 2 — Documents Optionally link a **Matter**, then choose what the draft starts from: * **None** — start from a blank document * **Upload** — add a file from your device * **From this matter / My documents** — pin up to **three** existing documents Pinned and uploaded files are used as **reference material** — the assistant reads them for details like parties, dates, and amounts (or reproduces one as the basis of your draft). Supported file types are `.pdf`, `.doc`, `.docx`, and `.txt`. ### Step 3 — Questions CourtAid reads your brief and prepares **two to four clarifying questions** (for example: governing jurisdiction, the parties, the term, or mutual vs. one-way). Answer them by typing — but they're **optional**. Anything you leave blank is filled with a clear placeholder rather than a guessed detail, so you can always **Skip & create draft**. When you continue, the draft is created and the assistant immediately starts writing. ## The drafting workspace The workspace has two panels (they stack vertically on small screens): * **Left — your document.** A full rich-text editor, like a page in a word processor, with a formatting toolbar (headings, bold/italic, lists, tables, colours, and more). A status bar at the bottom shows your **word count** and a live **Saving… / Saved** indicator. * **Right — the Drafting assistant.** A chat panel where you talk to the assistant, attach more reference files, and watch its progress (**Thinking**, search results, and a *"…characters so far"* counter while it writes). The header across the top holds the editable **title**, **Import** and **Export** buttons, and a toggle to **hide the assistant** for a full-width editor. {% hint style="info" %} Writing a document can take **30–90 seconds**, and a few seconds of silence is normal while the assistant works. A live "elapsed" timer confirms it's still going. {% endhint %} ## Editing your draft You can edit in three ways: * **Type directly.** The document is fully editable, and changes **autosave** automatically — there's no Save button. * **Ask the assistant.** Type an instruction in the panel (for example, *"revise clause 3 to add a carve-out"*). The assistant proposes the change **as a coloured diff inside the document** — additions in green, removals struck through in red — with **Accept** and **Reject** controls next to it. Nothing is applied until you accept. * **Inline edit a selection.** Highlight some text and press **⌘K** (or use the **Edit** button in the pop-up menu) to change just that passage — *"make it stricter", "simplify", "add a carve-out"*. The result comes back as the same accept/reject diff. The one exception is the **very first draft**, which is applied for you automatically — you never have to accept a document you haven't seen yet. ## Sources the assistant can use * **Your reference documents** — files pinned or uploaded to the draft (up to three at a time), read for context or reproduced as the draft. * **Your matter** — if the draft is linked to a matter, the assistant can search that matter's documents while drafting. * **CourtAid's legal corpus** — it can search legislation and case law and include **clickable citations**, shown as source cards in the panel. It is instructed never to invent citations. Clarifying questions and the assistant's search filters target the **governing jurisdiction** so the draft is written for the right law. ## Exporting and importing * **Export** (header → Export) to **Word (.docx)**, **PDF**, or **Markdown (.md)**. * **Import** a `.pdf`, `.doc`, `.docx`, or `.txt` file to replace the document body — useful for starting from an existing draft. Word files keep their headings, bold, lists, and tables; PDFs come in as plain text. * Your work **autosaves** continuously (and to the linked matter, if there is one). ## Queries & billing Drafting uses your **query allowance**, but efficiently — one query buys a **block of assistant turns**, not a single message: * Your first draft costs **1 query**, and that same query also covers the next few follow-up messages. The panel shows a live hint, such as *"Next message uses 1 query — it covers 5 follow-ups"* or *"N more messages included in this query."* * **Clarifying questions are free**, and so are runs that **fail or are cancelled** — you're never charged for a draft you didn't get. * **Reading, editing, importing, and exporting are always free** — you can always get your document out, even at a zero balance. If you're part of an organisation, drafting draws on your team's **shared query pool**. See [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries). ## Best practice The Drafter gives you a fast, well-structured **first draft**. Before you rely on it or send it out: * Read the whole document against your instructions and reference files * Check every citation against its source * Confirm the governing law, parties, dates, and figures are correct * Fill in any placeholders the assistant left where details were missing {% hint style="warning" %} CourtAid provides research and drafting assistance, not legal advice. Every draft is a starting point for a qualified lawyer to review — always check it before relying on it or sending it to a client or court. {% endhint %} ## Related * [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) — link a draft to a matter so the assistant can use its documents * [Sources & citations](/legal-research-and-search/sources-and-citations) — how CourtAid cites the law it relies on * [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) — talk to a single document * [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries) — how queries are counted # Editable answers Chat responses in CourtAid are now editable. You can reformat or adjust any AI answer before copying or downloading it. ![Edit button on a chat response](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6275a2318cb62cec9813dc139b7e131f9a4e316c%2Feditable-answer-button.png?alt=media) ## How to edit a response 1. After CourtAid generates a chat response, click **Edit** in the top-right corner of the answer 2. The response opens in an editor with a formatting toolbar 3. Make your changes — adjust wording, reformat headings, fix names, or restructure the content 4. Click **Save** to keep your edits, or **Cancel** to discard them ![Editing a chat response with the formatting toolbar](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-83ef8c1b94fb9668f14080f94c87920eda11e1c8%2Feditable-answer-editor.png?alt=media) ## Formatting options The editor toolbar includes: | Tool | Use for | | ------------------------------------------ | ----------------- | | **Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikethrough** | Text emphasis | | **H1, H2, H3** | Section headings | | **Bulleted / numbered lists** | Structured points | | **Blockquote** | Quoted passages | | **Undo** | Revert changes | ## When to use editable answers | Scenario | What to edit | | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | Drafting a client letter | Change salutation, adjust tone, add your firm's formatting | | Preparing a memo | Restructure sections, add headings, refine language | | Exporting research | Clean up the response before copying or downloading | | Fixing details | Correct names, dates, or jurisdiction references | ## After editing Once saved, your edited version replaces the original in the conversation. You can then: * **Copy** the response to your clipboard * **Export** to download the formatted answer * Continue the conversation with follow-up questions {% hint style="info" %} Edited answers are for your working copy. The underlying sources and citations remain linked — click any citation to verify against the original document. {% endhint %} ## Tips * Edit before exporting — it's faster than reformatting in Word * Use headings (H2/H3) to structure longer research answers into memo sections * The *"This is not legal advice"* disclaimer stays visible at the top of each response # PDF enrichment (scanned documents) CourtAid now accepts scanned PDFs. When you upload a document that doesn't have a searchable text layer, CourtAid automatically detects it and runs an enrichment process to extract the text. ## What happens when you upload a scanned PDF 1. You upload a PDF to a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects) or via the chat attach menu 2. CourtAid detects that the PDF is scanned (image-based, no text layer) 3. An **enrichment process** runs automatically to extract text from the document 4. Once complete, the document becomes fully searchable and usable across CourtAid You'll see a processing indicator while enrichment is in progress. Chat and tabular features become available once enrichment finishes. ## What you can do after enrichment An enriched scanned document works the same as any other uploaded PDF: | Feature | Available after enrichment | | ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | **Project chat** | Ask questions across your scanned documents and court data | | **Chat PDF** | Talk directly to the document with highlighted citations | | [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) | Run extraction queries across scanned documents in a table | | **Chronologies** | Build timelines from dates and events in scanned documents | | **Search within project** | Find content across all project files | ## Tips * Upload scanned documents directly to a project — no need to OCR them first * Wait for enrichment to complete before starting Chat PDF or tabular reviews on scanned files * Enrichment works alongside CourtAid's existing support for native (text-based) PDFs — both are handled automatically ## Related * [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) — upload documents to a matter workspace * [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) — talk to individual documents * [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) — extract structured data across many documents # Projects Projects let you organise legal documents, combine your own files with CourtAid's court database, and run matter-specific AI chat across everything in one place. ![Projects list page](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a06f6f878b5157ed8111505097044e1362426092%2Fprojects-page.png?alt=media) ## What is a project? A project is a workspace for a matter, client, or research topic. Each project can contain: * **Your uploaded documents** — pleadings, correspondence, contracts, evidence * **Saved court decisions** — cases you save from Search results * **Project chat** — AI conversations scoped to the project's documents plus CourtAid's database * **Chronologies** — timelines built from project documents * **Tabular reviews** — structured data extraction across documents Think of a project as a folder that also lets you chat with its contents. ## Creating a project ### From the Projects page 1. Go to **Projects** in the sidebar 2. Click **New Project** 3. Fill in the details: * **Project Name** (required) — e.g. *"Smith v Jones – Contract Dispute"* * **Description** (optional) — brief summary of the matter * **Client ID** (optional) — your internal client reference * **Matter ID** (optional) — matter or case number 4. Click **Create Project** ### From the landing page Click the **New Project** button below the main chat input. ### From chat Click the **+** button (upload/attach) on the chat input and choose to create or select a project. ## Managing projects The **My Projects** page shows all your projects in a table. ### Finding projects * **Search** — type in the search bar to filter by project name * **Sort** — sort by name or date * **Columns** — show or hide Client ID and Matter ID columns ### Per-project actions Each project row has quick-action buttons: | Button | Action | | -------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | **Upload** | Add files to this project | | **Chat** | Start a project-scoped chat conversation | | **Chronology** | Generate or view a chronology for this project | | **⋮** (menu) | Rename, delete, view files, and more | Click the project name or expand the row (▸) to see files inside. ### Loose Files **Loose Files** is a default project for documents uploaded without a specific project. You can't delete it, but you can move files from Loose Files into named projects. ## Project workspace Click a project name to open its **Project workspace**. Each project is a self-contained matter hub — everything relating to that project lives in one place. ![Project workspace tabs: AI Assistant, Chronologies, Tabular, Chat history](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0c63162edae37657423a5ef9310fc31e8d4d6e0a%2Fproject-workspace-tabs.png?alt=media) ### Workspace tabs Every project has its own set of tabs: | Tab | Purpose | | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **AI Assistant** | Chat scoped to this project's documents plus CourtAid's court database | | **Chronologies** | Build and view event timelines from project documents | | **Tabular** | Run [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) reviews across project files | | **Chat history** | Browse past conversations for this project only | This means each project maintains its own chat, chat history, tabular reviews, and chronologies — separate from other projects. {% hint style="info" %} Projects are private to your account. CourtAid does not currently support sharing a project with teammates — each user maintains their own project workspaces. See [Data privacy & security](/account-and-billing/privacy-and-security). {% endhint %} Use the **+ Chat** button to start a new conversation within the project. ### What's in a project workspace | Feature | Scoped to this project | | --------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | Uploaded files | Yes — shown in the project files panel | | AI chat | Yes — searches your files + CourtAid's 2M+ database | | Chat history | Yes — only conversations for this project | | Tabular reviews | Yes — tables built from this project's documents | | Chronologies | Yes — timelines from this project's documents | ### Navigating between tabs Switch tabs at the top of the workspace without losing your place. For example: 1. **Upload** documents on the AI Assistant tab 2. Switch to **Tabular** to extract key fields across all files — see [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) 3. Switch to **Chronologies** to build a timeline of events 4. Return to **Chat history** to pick up a previous conversation ## Project chat Project chat is one of CourtAid's most powerful features. It lets you ask questions across **your documents and the court database together**. ![Project workspace with uploaded files and chat](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d700a6bb70047a0ab2ec49b30f7bb9df644f7c09%2Fproject-chat.png?alt=media) The project workspace shows your uploaded files on the right and a chat panel on the left. CourtAid searches both your project documents and its 2M+ court database to answer your questions. ### Starting project chat **Option 1 — From the Projects page:** Click the **Chat** button on any project row. **Option 2 — From chat input:** 1. Click the **+** or paperclip icon on the chat input 2. Choose **Select Project** and pick your project 3. Start typing your question **Option 3 — From the project workspace:** Open the **AI Assistant** tab or click **+ Chat**. ### What you can ask Once a project is attached, the chat input shows: > *Ask about your project "{name}"...* Example questions: ``` Summarise the key facts from the uploaded pleadings What cases support our argument on limitation periods? Compare the indemnity clause in our contract with standard NSW precedents What dates are mentioned across all documents in this project? ``` ### Project chat sidebar During project chat, a sidebar shows the project's files. From here you can: * Upload new documents * View or delete existing files * Move or copy documents between projects ## Saving documents to projects When you find a useful case in Search, click **Save** on the result and choose which project to add it to. This builds a curated collection of authorities alongside your own files. ## Related features Projects connect to other CourtAid tools: | Feature | How it links to projects | | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Chronologies** | Build event timelines from project documents — workspace **Chronologies** tab. See [Chronologies](/matter-workspaces/chronologies) | | **Tabular View** | Extract structured data across project files — workspace **Tabular** tab. See [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) | | **Chat history** | Review past project conversations — workspace **Chat history** tab | | **PDF enrichment** | Scanned PDFs are automatically processed when uploaded — see [PDF enrichment](/chat-and-documents/pdf-enrichment) | | **Compare** | Compare two document versions — see [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison) | ## Example workflow A typical matter workflow: 1. **Create** a project with the matter name and client/matter IDs 2. **Upload** key documents — pleadings, correspondence, expert reports (scanned PDFs are enriched automatically) 3. **Search** for relevant cases and **Save** the best ones to the project 4. **Chat** with the project to synthesise findings 5. Run a **Tabular review** to extract key fields across all documents at once 6. **Generate a chronology** from the uploaded documents 7. Return to **Chat history** later to pick up where you left off ## Tips * **Name projects clearly** — include client or matter identifiers for easy searching later * **Save cases as you go** — don't rely on memory; save authorities to the project during research * **Use Client ID / Matter ID** — these fields help if you integrate with practice management systems * **Move files out of Loose Files** — keep Loose Files as an inbox; organise into named projects regularly # Chronologies Chronologies automatically extract a structured timeline of events from the documents in a project. CourtAid scans all your uploaded evidence and builds a fact matrix — events, dates, parties, quotes, and source links — that you can review, edit, and export. ![Chronology table with events, parties, evidence, and sources](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b5eab45c4ea9f39c0eb06d162b8927b70f331974%2Fchronology-table.png?alt=media) {% hint style="info" %} Chronologies are vital to court hearings and a requirement for most court appearances. CourtAid's chronology tool gives you an accurate first draft from your evidence documents in about a minute. {% endhint %} ## How it works When you generate a chronology, CourtAid reads every document in the project and extracts: * **Events** — what happened, described in a short factual statement * **Dates** (and times where available) * **Parties** — the people and organisations involved in each event * **Evidence / quotes** — the exact text from the source document supporting each event * **Source** — a link back to the document the fact came from * **Relevance** — an AI estimate of how important each extracted fact is The result is a sortable table, ordered by date, that forms a first-draft fact matrix for your matter. ## Generating a chronology ### Step 1 — Create a project and upload documents Chronologies are built from a project's documents, so first [create a project](/matter-workspaces/projects) and upload your relevant evidence — pleadings, correspondence, emails, contracts, transcripts. Scanned PDFs are processed automatically (see [PDF enrichment](/chat-and-documents/pdf-enrichment)). ### Step 2 — Generate Click **Generate Chronology** — either from the **Chronologies** page (sidebar → Projects → Chronologies) or from a project. ![Generate Chronology modal](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-756d687e1ae296a28257d034fa296e727929736f%2Fchronology-generate-modal.png?alt=media) In the dialog: 1. Select the **Project** to build the chronology from (or upload new documents) 2. Optionally give it a **Name** — e.g. *"Smith v Jones – Liability Timeline"* 3. Click **Generate** Processing takes around a minute, depending on how many files are in the project. ### Step 3 — Review the fact matrix Once complete, CourtAid presents the extracted events in a table with columns for Date, Event Description, Parties, Evidence / Quote, Relevance, and Source. ## Relevance scores Each event has a **relevance** indicator — the AI's estimate of how important that extracted fact is. It's shown as a coloured signal: | Tier | Meaning | | ------------------ | ------------------- | | **Green (high)** | Likely a key fact | | **Amber (medium)** | Moderately relevant | | **Red (low)** | Lower importance | Use relevance to quickly focus on the most significant events, but always apply your own judgement. ## Editing events The chronology is fully editable. Click any event to open the **Event Inspector**, where you can adjust the extracted details. ![Event Inspector for editing a chronology entry](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a57fb0b4b7af953d61a1ea1657ed30469276a039%2Fchronology-event-inspector.png?alt=media) You can edit: * **Description** — refine or correct the event summary * **Date and time** — fix or add precise dates * **Parties** — add or remove the people and organisations involved * **Quote / evidence** — adjust the supporting text You can also add new events manually with **Add Event**, and remove events that aren't relevant. ## Exporting When you're happy with the chronology, click **Export** and download it as a **CSV** file (also available as JSON). The exported fact matrix is ready for court submissions or document review. ## Best practice The chronology tool is a quick way to get an accurate **first draft** based on your evidence documents. Before submitting to court, it is highly recommended that you: * Review every extracted event against the source document * Adjust dates, parties, and facts for accuracy * Correlate entries to the correct document page references * Remove or merge duplicate or low-relevance events {% hint style="warning" %} CourtAid provides research and drafting assistance, not legal advice. Always verify the chronology against your source documents before relying on it or submitting it to a court. {% endhint %} ## Related * [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) — chronologies are built from project documents * [PDF enrichment](/chat-and-documents/pdf-enrichment) — scanned documents are made searchable automatically * [Tabular View](/matter-workspaces/tabular-view) — extract structured data across documents in a table # Tabular View & workflows Tabular View lets you review and organise multiple documents at once. Build custom queries that run automatically across many documents in parallel, with results populated into a single table. ![Tabular review showing extracted data across multiple documents](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0846ec524540d4a46ddaad69667106bf031c2434%2Ftabular-view.png?alt=media) ## What Tabular View does Each row in the table is a document. Each column is a question you ask CourtAid to answer about that document — for example *"What type of document is this?"*, *"Who is the sender?"*, or *"What is the effective date?"* CourtAid reads every document in parallel and fills in the cells. Click **View more** on any cell to see the full extracted answer. ## Where to find it Tabular View lives inside a [Project workspace](/matter-workspaces/projects): 1. Open a project from **Projects** in the sidebar 2. Click the **Tabular** tab You can also reach tabular reviews from **Projects → Tabular** in the sidebar, which shows reviews across all projects. ## Workflows page The **Workflows** item in the sidebar opens a global library of workflow templates: * **Built-in workflows** — pre-configured column sets for common practice areas (SPA review, E-Discovery, NDA, etc.) * **Custom workflows** — templates you've saved from previous tabular reviews From the Workflows page you can: 1. Browse or search all available templates 2. Click a workflow to view its columns and description 3. Click **Use workflow** to start a new tabular review with that template pre-loaded This is the fastest way to reuse a workflow across different projects without recreating columns each time. ## Creating a tabular review 1. Open a project and go to the **Tabular** tab 2. Click to create a new review 3. Give it a **Title** (optional) — e.g. *"Reviewing litigation docs"* 4. Choose a **Workflow template** or start with custom columns 5. Select the documents to include (from the project, or upload new ones) 6. Run the review ![New Tabular Review with workflow template picker](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-71113e4e8e4cc9382a93fa9c0eee0871455551ad%2Ftabular-workflow-templates.png?alt=media) ## Built-in workflow templates CourtAid includes **10+ built-in tabular workflows**, each pre-configured with columns tailored to a practice area: | Workflow | Practice area | | ------------------------------------ | -------------------- | | Change of Control Review | Corporate | | Commercial Agreement Review | General Transactions | | Credit Agreement Review | Finance | | E-Discovery Review | Litigation | | Supply Agreement Review | General Transactions | | SPA Review | Corporate | | NDA Review | General Transactions | | Commercial Lease Review | Real Estate | | Limited Partnership Agreement Review | Private Equity | | Shareholder Agreement Review | Corporate | | Employment Agreement Review | Employment | The **E-Discovery Review** workflow is a good starting point for general litigation document review — it extracts date, document type, sender, recipients, summary, persons mentioned, and privilege assessment. ## Custom columns Workflows are fully customisable. You can: * Start from a built-in template and edit the columns * Add your own columns with a custom prompt — e.g. *"What type of document is this? (e.g. email, memorandum, letter, contract, report, meeting minutes, text message…)"* * Save your column setup as a **custom workflow template** to reuse on future reviews Each column has a **name** and a **prompt** that tells CourtAid what to extract from each document. ## Editing columns Click any column header in the table to edit its name or prompt. CourtAid will re-run extraction for that column across all documents. ## Re-running after new documents When you add files to a project: 1. Open the existing tabular review (from the project **Tabular** tab or **Projects → Tabular**) 2. Add the new documents to the review 3. Re-run the workflow — CourtAid extracts data for the new rows while keeping existing results You can also edit a column prompt and re-run just that column across all documents. ## Exporting Export a completed tabular review from the review list or detail view: | Format | Best for | | -------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | **XLSX** | Excel, further analysis, sharing with colleagues | | **CSV** | Import into other tools, simple data exchange | Click the **Export** menu on a review and choose your format. The download includes all rows and columns from the table. ## Example: litigation document review In the screenshot above, a review titled *"Review (4 docs)"* runs across four project documents with columns for: * **Document** — filename * **Date** — extracted date * **Type of Document** — AI classification (email, application form, etc.) * **Sender** — identified author or sender This is useful for quickly triaging a large document set at the start of a matter. ## Tips * Use **E-Discovery Review** for general litigation bundles * Create custom columns for matter-specific questions you need answered across every document * Save frequently used column setups as workflow templates * Run tabular reviews inside a [Project](/matter-workspaces/projects) so documents, chat, and chronologies stay together # Document comparison Compare two versions of a document side by side. Upload version 1 and version 2, see every **added**, **deleted**, and **replaced** passage highlighted, then **chat about the changes** to understand what they mean. ## When to use Compare * **Contract redlines** — see what changed between draft versions * **Lease amendments** — identify new clauses and deleted terms * **Affidavit revisions** — spot factual changes between filings * **Legislation or policy updates** — compare an old and new version you've exported as PDF * **Any two document versions** — upload the before and after files {% hint style="info" %} Compare works on **two uploaded files**, not on built-in legislation version history from CourtAid's database. Export both versions as PDF or Word and upload them here. {% endhint %} ## Step 1 — Upload version 1 and version 2 1. Click **Compare** in the sidebar (sign-in required) 2. Upload your two files: * **Original Document** — version 1 (the earlier version) * **Revised Document** — version 2 (the later version) 3. Click **Compare Documents** ![Compare upload screen with Original and Revised document drop zones](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1e5b4a242862b5c7d98acba04b6ea09bc3dc4045%2Fcompare-upload.png?alt=media) Drag and drop or click **Choose file** for each side. Supported formats: **PDF**, **Word** (`.doc`, `.docx`). Maximum file size depends on your plan (typically 10 MB on trial). *** ## Step 2 — Review highlighted changes CourtAid diffs both documents and opens a side-by-side comparison view. ![Comparison results with highlighted changes, changes list, and chat panel](https://1143104512-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoFACnrJdsxVDAKioc81%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b64fa5fd8a0a3c07d50bb781ab197e0395419d3d%2Fcompare-results.png?alt=media) ### Summary statistics At the top of the comparison, badges show: | Badge | Meaning | | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | **X% similar** | How much of the text is unchanged between versions | | **+N added** | Lines or blocks of new content in version 2 | | **-N removed** | Lines or blocks deleted from version 1 | ### PDF View vs Text View Toggle between **PDF View** and **Text View** at the top right: * **PDF View** — both documents rendered as PDFs with inline colour highlighting (default) * **Text View** — a text-based diff for quick scanning ### Colour highlighting In the side-by-side panels: | Change type | Original (left) | Revised (right) | | ------------ | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | **Added** | — | New text highlighted in **green** | | **Deleted** | Removed text highlighted in **red** | — | | **Replaced** | Old text in **red** | New text in **green** | Hover over a highlighted passage to see a tooltip — **Added**, **Deleted**, or **Replaced**. ### Changes list The right-hand panel lists every change, numbered and labelled: | Label | Meaning | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **ADDED** | New text that appears only in version 2 | | **DELETED** | Text removed from version 1 | | **REPLACED** | Text changed between versions — shows the old text struck through and the new text alongside | Click any change in the list to jump to that passage in both PDF viewers. The list shows line counts (e.g. `-38 | +46`) so you can gauge the size of each change. *** ## Step 3 — Chat about the changes Use the chat panel at the bottom right to ask questions about what the changes mean. CourtAid reads both documents and the full diff, then explains the legal significance in plain English. Example questions: ``` What are the most significant changes between these two versions? Summarise what changed in the indemnity clause. Does version 2 expand the landlord's termination rights? Explain change #231 — what does the replacement mean in practice? Which changes would matter most for a tenant? ``` CourtAid also generates an initial **AI Legal Analysis** when the comparison finishes — a starting summary of the key differences before you ask follow-up questions. {% hint style="warning" %} Responses include **"This is not legal advice"**. Use the chat to orient yourself quickly, then verify important changes against both source documents. {% endhint %} You can export individual chat responses as **PDF** or **Word**. *** ## Saved comparisons Past comparisons are listed on the Compare page. Click any saved comparison to reopen the diff, PDFs, changes list, and chat history. ## What Compare does not do * **Pull legislation versions from the database** — upload both files yourself * **Three-way merge** — only two documents at a time * **Replace your review** — AI commentary is a starting point, not a final legal opinion ## Tips * Name your files clearly before uploading — filenames appear in the comparison header * Work through the **Changes list** top to bottom for a systematic review * Click into the largest **REPLACED** items first — they usually carry the most legal weight * Ask the chat about specific clauses — *"Explain changes to clause 12"* beats *"What changed?"* * For court filings, cross-check every change against both PDFs before relying on the AI summary ## Related * [Navigate the workspace](/getting-started/navigating-the-workspace) — find Compare in the sidebar * [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf) — deep-dive on a single document * [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) — store both versions in a project for context * [Research assistance, not legal advice](/getting-started/legal-disclaimer) # Plans, trials & query limits CourtAid uses a **query allowance** for AI-powered features. Understanding what counts helps you plan your research. ## Free trial New accounts receive: | Limit | Value | | ------------ | ---------- | | Trial period | **5 days** | | AI queries | **30** | Both are shown in the **sidebar footer** when you're signed in: * **Queries: X** — remaining AI queries * **Trial ends: \[date]** — when the trial period expires See [Create your account & free trial](/getting-started/account-and-trial) for the full signup flow. ## What uses a query? AI queries are consumed when you use features that generate AI responses: | Feature | Uses a query? | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | **New Chat** (landing page) | Yes | | **Chat PDF** | Yes | | **Project chat** | Yes | | **Document comparison** AI chat | Yes | | **Tabular View** column extraction | Yes | | **Chronology** generation | Yes | | **Search** (summary feed) | **No** — marked Free in sidebar | | Browsing history, opening summaries | No | {% hint style="info" %} If you run out of queries during the 5-day trial, you can still use **Search** and browse your history. Only new AI chat messages are blocked until you upgrade or earn bonus queries. {% endhint %} ## Paid plans After upgrading, your plan determines: * **Monthly query allowance** — shown as **Queries** in the sidebar * **Reset date** — when your allowance refreshes each billing cycle * **File upload limits** — maximum file size for uploads and comparisons Plan names and pricing are shown in the **Upgrade** modal (Stripe pricing table). Visit [courtaid.ai/pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/) for an overview of monthly and annual tiers — prices at checkout may differ and are subject to change. ## Organisation plans If your firm has an **organisation** subscription: * The sidebar shows your **organisation name** and shared plan * **Queries** reflect the org's shared pool (`organisation.searches_left`) * Individual **Upgrade** prompts are hidden — billing is managed at org level * **Org Settings** appears in your profile menu for organisation admins ## Checking your balance Three places to check: 1. **Sidebar footer** — plan name, queries remaining, trial/resets date 2. **Chat input** — shows an upgrade prompt when queries are exhausted 3. **Welcome trial modal** — reminds you of limits on first sign-in ## When queries run out ### During trial (before 5 days) * Chat input is disabled with *"You're out of queries for your trial"* * Click **Upgrade** to subscribe, or **Earn Queries** to refer colleagues (+10 queries per successful referral) * Search and history remain accessible ### After trial expires (after 5 days) * Full app blocker appears — you must upgrade to continue * See [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription) ### On a paid plan * Paid subscribers who exhaust their monthly allowance are **not** locked out of the app * You can still access Search and history; new AI chat may be limited until the reset date ## Related * [Create your account & free trial](/getting-started/account-and-trial) * [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription) # Managing your subscription Upgrade, manage billing, and cancel your CourtAid subscription through Stripe. ## Upgrading from trial ### Option 1 — Sidebar Upgrade button 1. Sign in to CourtAid 2. In the **sidebar footer**, click **Upgrade** 3. The Stripe pricing table opens — choose a monthly or annual plan and complete checkout For plan tiers and overview pricing, see [courtaid.ai/pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/). Prices at checkout are subject to change. ### Option 2 — Profile menu 1. Click your **name/avatar** at the bottom of the sidebar 2. Click **Upgrade** ### Option 3 — Trial ended When your 5-day trial expires, a full-screen modal appears with the pricing table. Select a plan to restore access. {% hint style="info" %} Stripe checkout is handled securely by Stripe. CourtAid does not store your card details. {% endhint %} ## Managing an existing subscription For billing changes — update payment method, view invoices, change plan, or cancel: 1. Click your **profile menu** (bottom of sidebar) 2. Click **Subscription** 3. You'll be taken to the **Stripe customer portal** (opens in a new tab) 4. Sign in with the email address on your CourtAid account From the portal you can: * View past invoices and payment history * Update your payment method * Change your plan (upgrade or downgrade, depending on available options) * Cancel your subscription ## Cancellation CourtAid subscriptions are **monthly with no lock-in**. When you cancel through the Stripe portal: * You keep access until the end of your current billing period * Your query allowance remains active until the period ends * After cancellation, your account may revert to limited access Exact behaviour depends on your plan — check the Stripe portal confirmation message when cancelling. > **Cancelling is not the same as deleting your account.** Cancelling through the Stripe portal stops future billing but keeps your account and data, with access until the end of the current period. **Deleting your account** cancels your subscription *immediately* (with no refund for the remainder of the period) and permanently removes your data — see [Deleting your account](https://github.com/CourtAid/courtaid-be/tree/develop/docs/account/deleting-your-account.md). ## Organisation billing If you're on an **organisation plan**: * The sidebar shows your organisation name instead of an individual upgrade button * Use **Org Settings** in the profile menu to manage organisation membership (via Clerk) * Billing for the org plan is managed by your organisation administrator through Stripe Contact your firm's admin if you need plan changes or additional seats. ## Earn bonus queries (individual plans) Before or after upgrading, you can earn extra queries: 1. Profile menu → **Earn Queries** 2. Share your referral link with colleagues 3. Each successful referral earns **+10 queries** ## Troubleshooting | Issue | What to try | | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Upgrade button doesn't appear | Refresh the page; confirm you're signed in | | Stripe portal won't load | Use the same email as your CourtAid account | | Plan not updating after payment | Wait a minute and refresh; contact support if it persists | | Wrong plan shown | Open **Subscription** in Stripe portal to verify active subscription | For help, use **Support Chat** in the profile menu or visit [courtaid.ai](https://courtaid.ai). ## Related * [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries) * [Create your account & free trial](/getting-started/account-and-trial) # Data privacy & security CourtAid is built for legal professionals who handle sensitive matter information. This page summarises how your data is handled. For the full legal terms, see the [CourtAid Privacy Policy](https://courtaid.ai/privacy-policy/). ## Where your data is stored CourtAid is hosted on **Microsoft Azure**, with infrastructure deployed in **Australia** (Australia East region). This keeps data close to our primary user base in AU, NZ, and UK. Your account is managed through **Clerk** (authentication). Billing is processed through **Stripe**. ## What data CourtAid processes | Data type | Examples | | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Account data** | Email, name, profile preferences | | **Research queries** | Chat messages, search terms | | **Uploaded documents** | PDFs, Word files you add to projects or comparisons | | **Generated content** | AI summaries, chronologies, tabular extractions, comparison analysis | ## Data isolation ### Between users Your account data is tied to your Clerk identity. You cannot access another user's projects, uploads, or chat history. ### Between projects Each [project](/matter-workspaces/projects) is a separate workspace: * Uploaded files belong to that project * Project chat history is scoped to the project * Chronologies and tabular reviews are built from that project's documents only * Saved cases in a project are not visible in other projects This per-matter separation helps you keep client work organised and isolated within your account. {% hint style="warning" %} CourtAid does not currently support **sharing a project with teammates**. Each project is private to your account. Organisation plans share a query pool but not project access. Team collaboration features are planned for the future. {% endhint %} ### Between countries CourtAid scopes research to a **country** (AU, NZ, UK). Your country selection determines which court database is searched. Uploaded documents in projects are not country-restricted, but search results follow your active country. ## Uploaded documents When you upload files to a project or comparison: * Files are stored securely as part of your account * CourtAid processes them to extract text (including OCR for scanned PDFs — see [PDF enrichment](/chat-and-documents/pdf-enrichment)) * Extracted text enables search, chat, tabular review, and chronology features within your account Do not upload documents you are not authorised to process. You are responsible for complying with your professional obligations and client confidentiality requirements. ## AI processing CourtAid uses AI models to generate summaries, chat responses, extractions, and comparisons. When you send a query or upload a document: * The relevant content is sent to AI services for processing * Responses are grounded in your documents and/or CourtAid's published legal database * AI output should always be verified — see [Research assistance, not legal advice](/getting-started/legal-disclaimer) ## Encryption & security CourtAid uses industry-standard practices for a cloud-hosted SaaS application: * **HTTPS** for all web traffic * **Authenticated access** — sign-in required for projects, uploads, and sensitive features * **Azure-hosted** application and data infrastructure ## Deleting your data You can permanently delete your account and everything you created — matters, documents, chats, comparisons, chronologies, tabular reviews and drafts — from Account Settings at any time. Your data is removed from our database, file storage and search index within 30 days; invoices and anonymous usage totals are retained for legal and accounting reasons. See [Deleting your account](https://github.com/CourtAid/courtaid-be/tree/develop/docs/account/deleting-your-account.md) for the full details. For specific commitments on retention, subprocessors, and your rights (access, deletion, etc.), refer to the [Privacy Policy](https://courtaid.ai/privacy-policy/). ## Your responsibilities * Use CourtAid in line with your firm's IT and confidentiality policies * Verify AI-generated content before relying on it professionally * Keep your account credentials secure * Choose appropriate projects to separate client matters ## Related * [Research assistance, not legal advice](/getting-started/legal-disclaimer) * [Projects](/matter-workspaces/projects) — per-matter workspaces * [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription)