Free, open-source tools for researching statutes, court rules, cases, and dockets in Claude
Choose the Claude environment where you want to use the tools:
- Install everything in Claude Code
- Claude Desktop or Cowork: follow the instructions below
The tools use two different installation methods:
| Research source | Tool type | Claude Code | Claude Desktop or Cowork | API key? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases, opinions, and RECAP dockets | CourtListener MCP server | Register with claude mcp add |
Install the .mcpb extension |
Yes—a free CourtListener key |
| Statutes and court rules | Legal-source skills | Install from the plugin marketplace | Install from the plugin marketplace | No |
You can install either category or both. CourtListener is not a marketplace plugin, and the legal-source skills are not MCP servers. If you ask Claude Code to “install everything,” it must complete both installation methods described in the Claude Code instructions.
The instructions below are for Claude Desktop and Cowork. Claude Code users should instead follow the complete Claude Code installation guide; do not install or unpack the .mcpb for Claude Code.
CourtListener by DocketDrafter searches opinions and RECAP dockets, downloads public court materials, and saves the results in a research library on your computer.
- Get a free API key from CourtListener.
- Download
courtlistener.mcpb. - Double-click the downloaded file. If macOS asks which application to use, choose Claude.
- Click Install, paste your API key, and choose where to save your research. The default is
Documents/CourtListener Library. - Save and enable the extension, then start a new conversation.
After updating the extension, quit and reopen Claude before starting a new conversation.
Watch the installation and use tutorial on YouTube →
Before using these plugins, open Claude Settings → Capabilities → Domain allowlist. Then either:
- Add
public-corpora.docketdrafter.comunder Additional allowed domains (recommended); or - Change the dropdown to All domains.
Important
Without one of these settings, Claude Cowork cannot download the legal materials and the plugins will not work. If All domains is already selected, you do not need to add the DocketDrafter domain separately.
- Open Customize in Claude Cowork and select Plugins.
- Add a marketplace from a repository.
- Enter
DocketDrafter/docketdrafter-plugins. - Install and enable the plugins you want.
- Start a new conversation.
The first time you use a plugin, Claude downloads and verifies its legal library. After that, the plugin uses the copy installed in that environment.
Watch the installation and use tutorial on YouTube →
| Plugin | Includes |
|---|---|
| U.S. Code | Federal statutes |
| New York Laws | State statutes, Constitution, NYC Administrative Code, and selected court rules |
| Florida Laws | State statutes, Constitution, and statewide court rules |
| Indiana Laws | State code and Constitution |
| Illinois Laws | Compiled statutes and Illinois Supreme Court Rules |
| Ohio Laws | Revised Code and Constitution |
| Massachusetts Laws | General Laws, Constitution, and Rules of Civil Procedure |
| Federal Court Rules | Federal rules and selected district local and ECF rules |
See Corpus coverage and currency for sources, dates, omissions, and rule-set details.
- Statute and rules plugins download their legal libraries directly from DocketDrafter's public download domain and use the installed copy for later research.
- CourtListener searches go directly from your computer to CourtListener. DocketDrafter does not operate an intermediary research server.
- CourtListener opinions and court documents are saved in the folder you select, so you can open and reuse them outside Claude.
- Your CourtListener API key is stored by Claude using your operating system's secure credential storage; it is not pasted into conversations.
These tools are research aids, not substitutes for checking authoritative sources. The statute libraries generally omit annotations, editorial commentary, and some historical material. Local court-rule coverage is selected rather than comprehensive. Always verify current law, filing requirements, and deadlines against an official source.
- Claude for Lawyers: legal research, drafting, and practical workflows
- How to search CourtListener with Claude
- How to check legal citations with Claude using full-text court opinions
- How to research federal and local court rules with Claude
- How to research the U.S. Code with Claude
- Install everything in Claude Code
- Corpus coverage and currency
- Technical architecture and development
- Version-controlled corpus data and builders
DocketDrafter builds practical tools and playbooks that help attorneys use Claude and other AI systems for legal research, drafting, and document workflows.
Questions, feedback, or ideas for another tool? Email tommy@docketdrafter.com. For tutorials, visit the DocketDrafter YouTube channel.
These tools are available under the BSD 3-Clause License. Copyright © 2026 Avize LLC d/b/a DocketDrafter.