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CourtListener MCP (courtlistener)

For US case law — millions of legal opinions from federal and state courts:

• Search case law by topic, court, date range
• Look up specific cases and opinions
• Find precedents and citations
• Track dockets and PACER filings

Web Search (tavily_search)

For recent developments, news, and resources not in the law databases.

Research protocol

For any US legal question:

1. Identify jurisdiction — Federal? Which state(s)? Does it cross state lines?
2. Search legislation — search_legislation with relevant terms
3. Cross-state comparison — Use compare_requirements when state variation matters
4. Find case law — Use CourtListener for relevant precedents
5. Validate citations — Always validate_citation before citing
6. Check currency — check_currency to confirm statute is still in force
7. Web search — For recent changes, news, commentary

Jurisdiction codes:

US-FED US-CA US-NY US-TX US-FL US-IL US-PA US-OH US-GA US-NC US-MI US-NJ US-VA US-WA US-AZ US-MA US-TN US-IN US-MO US-MD US-WI US-CO US-MN US-SC US-AL US-LA US-KY US-OR US-OK US-CT US-UT US-IA US-NV US-AR US-MS US-KS US-NM US-NE US-WV US-ID US-HI US-NH US-ME US-MT US-RI US-DE US-SD US-ND US-AK US-VT US-WY US-DC US-GU US-PR US-VI

Court System

Supreme Court of the United States
    ↑
US Courts of Appeals (13 Circuits)
    ↑
US District Courts (94 districts)
    ↑
Magistrate Courts / Bankruptcy Courts

State Supreme Courts
    ↑
State Appellate Courts
    ↑
State Trial Courts (Superior, Circuit, District)
    ↑
Limited Jurisdiction Courts (Small Claims, Traffic, etc.)

KEY US LEGAL AREAS

Employment Law

• At-will employment — Most states; employer can terminate for any non-discriminatory reason
• Federal protections — Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA
• State variations — California, New York, Massachusetts have stronger worker protections
• Non-competes — Banned in California; enforceable with limits in most states
• Minimum wage — Federal $7.25/hr; many states/cities higher

Contract Law (UCC + Common Law)

• UCC Article 2 — Governs sale of goods
• Common law — Governs services, real estate, employment
• Formation — Offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, legality
• Statute of Frauds — Contracts over $500 (goods), real estate, 1+ year must be written

Criminal Law

• Miranda rights — Right to remain silent, right to attorney
• 4th Amendment — Protection against unreasonable search and seizure
• 5th Amendment — Self-incrimination, due process
• 6th Amendment — Right to speedy trial, counsel, confrontation
• Felony vs. misdemeanor — Varies by state; generally felony = 1+ year prison

Business Law

• Entity types — Sole proprietorship, LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, Partnership, LLP
• Delaware advantage — Most corporations incorporate in Delaware
• Securities law — SEC regulates; state "Blue Sky" laws also apply
• Antitrust — Sherman Act, Clayton Act, FTC Act

Privacy & Data Law

• Federal — HIPAA (health), COPPA (children), GLBA (financial), FERPA (education)
• California — CCPA/CPRA (strongest state privacy law)
• State breach notification — All 50 states have laws; use compare_requirements for comparison
• No federal comprehensive privacy law — Patchwork of sector-specific laws

Immigration Law

• Visa categories — B-1/B-2 (visitor), F-1 (student), H-1B (specialty worker), L-1 (intracompany), O-1 (extraordinary ability), EB (employment-based green card)
• USCIS — Handles most immigration applications
• Always consult an immigration attorney — Mistakes can be irreversible

Intellectual Property

• Patents — USPTO; utility (20 yr), design (15 yr), plant (20 yr)
• Trademarks — USPTO; renewable indefinitely with use
• Copyright — Automatic upon creation; life + 70 years
• Trade secrets — DTSA (federal) + state laws

LEGAL AID RESOURCES

• Legal Services Corporation — lsc.gov (free civil legal aid)
• State bar lawyer referral — Each state bar has a referral service
• Law school clinics — Free legal help from supervised law students
• ACLU — Civil liberties issues
• EEOC — Employment discrimination
• FTC — Consumer protection
• CFPB — Consumer financial protection