search
Searches the web, legal databases, case law, patents, and case.dev knowledge base via the casedev CLI. Use when the user mentions "search", "legal research", "find cases", "case law", "patent search", "web search", "fetch URL", "webfetch", "legal skills", or needs to research legal topics, find similar cases, or retrieve web content.
Best use case
search is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Searches the web, legal databases, case law, patents, and case.dev knowledge base via the casedev CLI. Use when the user mentions "search", "legal research", "find cases", "case law", "patent search", "web search", "fetch URL", "webfetch", "legal skills", or needs to research legal topics, find similar cases, or retrieve web content.
Teams using search should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/search/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How search Compares
| Feature / Agent | search | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Searches the web, legal databases, case law, patents, and case.dev knowledge base via the casedev CLI. Use when the user mentions "search", "legal research", "find cases", "case law", "patent search", "web search", "fetch URL", "webfetch", "legal skills", or needs to research legal topics, find similar cases, or retrieve web content.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# case.dev Search Unified search across web, legal databases, case law, patents, vault contents, and the case.dev skills knowledge base. Requires the `casedev` CLI. See `setup` skill for installation and auth. ## Web Search ```bash casedev search web "employment discrimination California" --json casedev search web "SEC enforcement actions 2024" --limit 20 --json ``` Flags: `--limit` (default: 10), `--news`, `--type` (search|news), `--include-domain`, `--exclude-domain`. ## Web Fetch ```bash casedev search webfetch "https://example.com/ruling.html" --json ``` Flags: `--livecrawl`, `--subpages`, `--subpage-target N`, `--max-chars N`, `--timeout N`, `--context`, `--no-summary`, `--fallback`. Multiple URLs: `casedev search webfetch URL1 URL2 --json` ## Legal Search ```bash casedev search legal "breach of fiduciary duty" --json casedev search legal "ERISA preemption" --jurisdiction "federal" --json ``` Flags: `--jurisdiction`, `--limit` (default: 10), `--deep`, `--alt-query` (repeatable, for deep mode). Deep mode example: ```bash casedev search legal "force majeure pandemic" --deep \ --alt-query "impossibility of performance COVID" \ --alt-query "frustration of purpose" --json ``` ## Case Search ### By query ```bash casedev search cases "wrongful termination retaliation" --json ``` ### By similarity ```bash casedev search cases --url "https://casetext.com/case/example-v-example" --json casedev search cases --url "https://example.com/case" --after "2020-01-01" --json ``` Flags: `--jurisdiction`, `--limit` (default: 10), `--url` (similarity mode), `--after` (date filter). ## Patent Search ```bash casedev search patent "machine learning NLP" --json ``` Flags: `--assignee`, `--inventor`, `--status`, `--type`, `--filing-from`, `--filing-to`, `--offset`, `--limit` (default: 25). ## Vault Semantic Search ```bash casedev search vault "indemnification clause" --vault VAULT_ID --json ``` See `vaults` skill for full vault search documentation. ## Skills Knowledge Base ```bash casedev skills search "contract review" --json casedev skills read SKILL_SLUG --json casedev skills read SKILL_SLUG --content-only ``` ## Troubleshooting **No legal results**: Try broader terms, remove jurisdiction filter, or use `--deep` mode with `--alt-query` variations. **Web fetch unavailable**: Use `--fallback` to fall back to web search.