Getting Started with Legal Search
A step-by-step guide to performing your first legal search on Lawis.
Running a legal search takes just a few seconds. Here's how to go from question to results.
Step-by-step
- Navigate to Search
From the sidebar, click the Search icon or navigate to /search. You'll land on the search home screen with a prominent search bar.
- Enter your query
Type your legal question or search term in the search bar. You can use natural language — for example, "conditions for dismissal for serious misconduct" — or enter a specific citation like "Article 39 Labor Code".
- Select a search mode
Before pressing Enter, choose the search mode that matches what you're looking for: Law, Regulation, or Case Law.
- Press Enter or click Search
Results appear as cards showing the document title, jurisdiction, date, and a relevant excerpt. Results are ranked by AI relevance scoring.
- Open a document
Click any result card to open the full document in a side panel. You'll see the complete text, article references, and highlighted matches for your query.
- Refine if needed
Use the filter panel on the left to narrow by document type, date range, or country. You can also toggle off abrogated (repealed) documents.
Your search is automatically saved to your history. Access recent searches from the search screen at any time — this is useful for returning to previous research sessions.
What to expect in results
Each result card shows:
- Document title and official reference number
- Jurisdiction and issuing authority
- Publication date and current status (in force / abrogated)
- A relevant excerpt showing why this document matches your query
When you open a document, citations within the text are clickable — following a citation takes you directly to the referenced article or law.