Composing Queries

The quality of your research results depends heavily on how you frame your query. This guide covers how to write effective queries, use the jurisdiction picker, attach context files, and apply research options to get the most relevant, actionable results.

Anatomy of a good query

An effective legal research query has three components:

1. The legal issue -- The specific question of law you are investigating.
2. Relevant facts -- Key facts that may affect the legal analysis.
3. Desired output -- What type of answer or analysis you need.

Example: weak vs. strong queries

Weak query	Strong query
"Non-compete clauses"	"Is a 24-month non-compete clause with a 50km radius enforceable for a senior sales executive in Ontario, and what factors do courts consider when assessing reasonableness?"
"Landlord obligations"	"Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (UK), what are a landlord's repairing obligations for common areas in a multi-tenant commercial building, and what remedies does a tenant have if the landlord breaches these obligations?"
"Contract damages"	"In Delaware, what is the standard for recovering consequential damages for breach of a software licensing agreement where the contract contains a limitation of liability clause?"

Write like you are briefing a colleague

Imagine you are asking a junior associate to research an issue. You would give them the facts, the specific legal question, and tell them what you need the research for. Do the same with Judicio.

Query options

Below the query text box, several options let you refine your search.

Jurisdiction picker

The jurisdiction picker controls which legal databases and sources Judicio searches. You can:

• Select specific countries -- Click a country name to include all courts and tribunals in that jurisdiction.
• Select specific courts -- Expand a country to choose particular courts (e.g., Supreme Court of Canada, Ontario Court of Appeal).
• Multi-select -- Choose multiple jurisdictions for comparative research.
• Search -- Type in the search box to quickly find a jurisdiction by name.

Jurisdiction affects source selection

Selecting "Canada" searches CanLII. Selecting "United States" searches CourtListener. Selecting "India" searches Indian Kanoon. The jurisdiction picker maps to the appropriate source database automatically. See Jurisdictions for the complete mapping.

Source type filter

Choose what types of legal authority to search:

• Case law -- Judgments, rulings, decisions, and precedents.
• Legislation -- Statutes, acts, regulations, and statutory instruments.
• Both -- Search all source types (default).

Date range filter

Limit results to a specific time period:

• All time -- No date restriction (default).
• Last 5 years -- Focus on recent authority.
• Last 10 years -- Balance recency with broader coverage.
• Custom range -- Set a specific start and end date.

Use date filters for evolving areas of law

In rapidly changing areas like data protection, employment law, or AI regulation, filtering to the last 5 years helps ensure your research reflects current legal standards rather than outdated precedent.

Court level filter

Filter by court hierarchy:

• All courts -- Include all levels (default).
• Supreme/Apex courts only -- Restrict to highest courts for binding authority.
• Appellate courts and above -- Exclude first-instance decisions.

Attaching context files

Context files give the AI information about your specific matter, dramatically improving relevance.

What to attach

• The contract or agreement at issue -- So the AI can reference specific clauses and provisions.
• A case brief or statement of facts -- So the AI understands the factual matrix.
• Opposing counsel's submissions -- So the AI can identify the arguments you need to counter.
• A draft memo or brief -- So the AI can find authority for propositions you have already identified.

How context files affect results

When you attach context files, the AI:

1. Reads the documents and identifies the key legal issues, facts, and arguments.
2. Tailors the search to focus on the specific questions raised by your documents.
3. Cross-references findings against your documents, noting where case law supports or contradicts the positions taken.
4. Highlights relevant clauses in your documents that are addressed by the research findings.

Attaching files

1. Select Add Context below the jurisdiction picker.
2. Choose from three options:
   • File Library -- Select documents already uploaded to your project.
   • Upload -- Drag and drop new files or browse your machine.
   • Paste text -- Paste a text snippet directly if you do not have a file.
3. You can attach up to 10 context files per query.

Large files use more credits

Each context file is processed as part of the research query. Larger files increase credit consumption. If you only need the AI to consider specific sections, consider extracting those sections into a shorter document.

Advanced query techniques

Comparative research

To compare the law across jurisdictions, frame your query explicitly as a comparison:

"Compare the enforceability of non-compete clauses for senior executives in Ontario (Canada), New York (US), and England (UK). What are the key differences in the legal tests applied?"

Select all relevant jurisdictions in the picker. Judicio structures the results as a comparative analysis.

Statutory interpretation

When researching how a specific statutory provision has been interpreted:

"How have Canadian courts interpreted section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the context of age-based discrimination in employment since 2015?"

Include the specific statutory reference so the AI can target its search precisely.

Finding authority for a specific proposition

When you already know the legal principle and need supporting authority:

"Find Canadian appellate decisions holding that an employer's failure to provide reasonable notice of termination entitles the employee to damages in lieu of notice, even where the employment contract contains a termination clause, if the clause does not comply with the Employment Standards Act."

Be as specific as possible about the proposition you need supported.

Negative research

To find authority against a position (useful for anticipating opposing arguments):

"Find UK case law where courts have refused to enforce restrictive covenants in share purchase agreements on the grounds that the restraints were unreasonable in scope or duration."

Explicitly state that you are looking for cases going against the position.

Query history

All your queries are saved in the research workspace. You can:

• Review past queries -- Scroll through your research history to revisit earlier queries and results.
• Reuse a query -- Select a past query to re-run it, optionally modifying the question or jurisdictions.
• Continue a conversation -- Select a past query to resume the multi-turn conversation from where you left off.

Next steps

• Understanding Results -- Learn how to read and evaluate research findings.
• Research Templates -- Use pre-built templates for common query types.