ESQ Matching Engine

What will representation cost?

estimate_legal_cost

Read-onlyIdempotent

Use when the person asks what a lawyer or a type of legal issue will cost. Returns only published fees, confirmed quotes or sourced market figures, each labeled; says plainly when there is not enough data instead of guessing. Not a quote. This is a listing service, not a lawyer referral service. No lawyer pays for placement or ranking of any kind.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`scope`	No
`state`	No	US state, two-letter code or name, e.g. CA or California
`budget_max`	No	Total budget the user mentioned, in US dollars
`attorney_id`	No
`description`	No	Short description of the legal need in the user's words. Used only to pick a practice area and to notice a cost concern (then free and low-cost options are shown); not stored.
`practice_area`	No
`billing_preference`	No

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`scope`	Yes
`state`	Yes
`attorney`	No
`estimate`	Yes
`disclaimer`	Yes
`api_version`	Yes
`practice_area`	Yes
`sources_checked`	Yes
`confirmed_quote_available`	Yes
`additional_cost_categories`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed1 schema field changedNov 6, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / description / description

Previous value: -"Short description of the legal need in the user's words. Used only to pick a practice area; not stored."New value: +"Short description of the legal need in the user's words. Used only to pick a practice area and to notice a cost concern (then free and low-cost options are shown); not stored."

Changed16 schema fields changedOct 25, 2026

changedOutput schema / properties / additional_cost_categories / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "items": {
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "type": "array"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "x-observed-types": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedOutput schema / properties / api_version / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```
addedOutput schema / properties / api_version / x-observed-types
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

changedOutput schema / properties / attorney / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": {},
-    "properties": {
-      "attorney_id": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      },
-      "fees": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "additionalProperties": {},
-            "properties": {
-              "items": {
-                "anyOf": [
-                  {
-                    "items": {
-                      "anyOf": [
-                        {
-                          "additionalProperties": {},
-                          "properties": {
-                            "basis": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "string",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "billing_model": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "string",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "free_consultation": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "null",
-                                "boolean"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "high": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "number",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "low": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "number",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "observed_at": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "string",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "payment_plans": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "boolean",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "practice_area": {
-                              "type": "null"
-                            },
-                            "source_url": {
-                              "type": "null"
-                            },
-                            "stale": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "boolean",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            },
-                            "unit": {
-                              "type": [
-                                "string",
-                                "null"
-                              ]
-                            }
-                          },
-                          "type": "object"
-                        },
-                        {
-                          "type": "null"
-                        }
-                      ]
-                    },
-                    "type": "array"
-                  },
-                  {
-                    "type": "null"
-                  }
-                ]
-              },
-              "note": {
-                "type": [
-                  "string",
-                  "null"
-                ]
-              },
-              "status": {
-                "type": [
-                  "string",
-                  "null"
-                ]
-              }
-            },
-            "type": "object"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ]
-      },
-      "name": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      }
-    },
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": {},
+    "properties": {
+      "attorney_id": {
+        "x-observed-types": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "fees": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": {},
+            "properties": {
+              "items": {
+                "anyOf": [
+                  {
+                    "items": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "additionalProperties": {},
+                          "properties": {
+                            "basis": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "string",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "billing_model": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "string",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "free_consultation": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "null",
+                                "boolean"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "high": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "number",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "low": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "number",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "observed_at": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "string",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "payment_plans": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "boolean",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "practice_area": {
+                              "x-observed-types": "null"
+                            },
+                            "source_url": {
+                              "x-observed-types": "null"
+                            },
+                            "stale": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "boolean",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            },
+                            "unit": {
+                              "x-observed-types": [
+                                "string",
+                                "null"
+                              ]
+                            }
+                          },
+                          "type": "object"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ]
+                    },
+                    "type": "array"
+                  },
+                  {
+                    "type": "null"
+                  }
+                ]
+              },
+              "note": {
+                "x-observed-types": [
+                  "string",
+                  "null"
+                ]
+              },
+              "status": {
+                "x-observed-types": [
+                  "string",
+                  "null"
+                ]
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "name": {
+        "x-observed-types": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedOutput schema / properties / confirmed_quote_available / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "boolean",
-  "null"
-]
```
addedOutput schema / properties / confirmed_quote_available / x-observed-types
```
Added value: +[
+  "boolean",
+  "null"
+]
```
removedOutput schema / properties / disclaimer / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```
addedOutput schema / properties / disclaimer / x-observed-types
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

changedOutput schema / properties / estimate / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": {},
-    "properties": {
-      "freshness": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "items": {
-              "type": [
-                "string",
-                "null"
-              ]
-            },
-            "type": "array"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ]
-      },
-      "message": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      },
-      "method": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      },
-      "next_step": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      },
-      "range": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "additionalProperties": {},
-            "properties": {
-              "high": {
-                "type": [
-                  "number",
-                  "null"
-                ]
-              },
-              "low": {
-                "type": [
-                  "number",
-                  "null"
-                ]
-              },
-              "units": {
-                "anyOf": [
-                  {
-                    "items": {
-                      "type": [
-                        "string",
-                        "null"
-                      ]
-                    },
-                    "type": "array"
-                  },
-                  {
-                    "type": "null"
-                  }
-                ]
-              }
-            },
-            "type": "object"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ]
-      },
-      "status": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      }
-    },
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": {},
+    "properties": {
+      "freshness": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "items": {
+              "x-observed-types": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "type": "array"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "message": {
+        "x-observed-types": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "method": {
+        "x-observed-types": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "next_step": {
+        "x-observed-types": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "range": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": {},
+            "properties": {
+              "high": {
+                "x-observed-types": [
+                  "number",
+                  "null"
+                ]
+              },
+              "low": {
+                "x-observed-types": [
+                  "number",
+                  "null"
+                ]
+              },
+              "units": {
+                "anyOf": [
+                  {
+                    "items": {
+                      "x-observed-types": [
+                        "string",
+                        "null"
+                      ]
+                    },
+                    "type": "array"
+                  },
+                  {
+                    "type": "null"
+                  }
+                ]
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "status": {
+        "x-observed-types": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedOutput schema / properties / practice_area / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```
addedOutput schema / properties / practice_area / x-observed-types
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```
removedOutput schema / properties / scope / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```
addedOutput schema / properties / scope / x-observed-types
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

changedOutput schema / properties / sources_checked / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "items": {
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "type": "array"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "x-observed-types": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedOutput schema / properties / state / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```
addedOutput schema / properties / state / x-observed-types
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

Changed1 schema field changedOct 24, 2026

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
+  "additionalProperties": {},
+  "properties": {
+    "additional_cost_categories": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "items": {
+            "type": [
+              "string",
+              "null"
+            ]
+          },
+          "type": "array"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "api_version": {
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "attorney": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "additionalProperties": {},
+          "properties": {
+            "attorney_id": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "fees": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "additionalProperties": {},
+                  "properties": {
+                    "items": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "items": {
+                            "anyOf": [
+                              {
+                                "additionalProperties": {},
+                                "properties": {
+                                  "basis": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "string",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "billing_model": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "string",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "free_consultation": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "null",
+                                      "boolean"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "high": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "number",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "low": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "number",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "observed_at": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "string",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "payment_plans": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "boolean",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "practice_area": {
+                                    "type": "null"
+                                  },
+                                  "source_url": {
+                                    "type": "null"
+                                  },
+                                  "stale": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "boolean",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  },
+                                  "unit": {
+                                    "type": [
+                                      "string",
+                                      "null"
+                                    ]
+                                  }
+                                },
+                                "type": "object"
+                              },
+                              {
+                                "type": "null"
+                              }
+                            ]
+                          },
+                          "type": "array"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ]
+                    },
+                    "note": {
+                      "type": [
+                        "string",
+                        "null"
+                      ]
+                    },
+                    "status": {
+                      "type": [
+                        "string",
+                        "null"
+                      ]
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "null"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "name": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "confirmed_quote_available": {
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "disclaimer": {
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "estimate": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "additionalProperties": {},
+          "properties": {
+            "freshness": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "items": {
+                    "type": [
+                      "string",
+                      "null"
+                    ]
+                  },
+                  "type": "array"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "null"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "message": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "method": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "next_step": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "range": {
+              "anyOf": [
+                {
+                  "additionalProperties": {},
+                  "properties": {
+                    "high": {
+                      "type": [
+                        "number",
+                        "null"
+                      ]
+                    },
+                    "low": {
+                      "type": [
+                        "number",
+                        "null"
+                      ]
+                    },
+                    "units": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "items": {
+                            "type": [
+                              "string",
+                              "null"
+                            ]
+                          },
+                          "type": "array"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ]
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "null"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "status": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "practice_area": {
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "scope": {
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "sources_checked": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "items": {
+            "type": [
+              "string",
+              "null"
+            ]
+          },
+          "type": "array"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "state": {
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "api_version",
+    "practice_area",
+    "state",
+    "scope",
+    "sources_checked",
+    "additional_cost_categories",
+    "confirmed_quote_available",
+    "disclaimer",
+    "estimate"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedOct 17, 2026

TDQS

A4.1/5.0

Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already establish readOnly/idempotent/non-destructive, so the bar is met easily; the description goes further by disclosing what the result contains, that every figure is labeled by source, that it will state when data is insufficient rather than guess, and that it is not a quote. The editorial-independence claim ("no lawyer pays for placement or ranking") is genuine behavioral context an agent needs to present results honestly.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loaded with the usage trigger, then the output guarantee. "Not a quote" and the two listing-service sentences are slightly redundant with the "does not guess" promise, but each is short and the total stays well under a paragraph.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With an output schema present, return values need no explanation, and the trust framing is well covered. But for a 7-parameter tool the definition never indicates that all inputs are optional or which inputs (state, scope, billing preference) sharpen the estimate, so an agent must read the schema cold.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Seven parameters at 43% schema coverage, and the description names none of them. Only a loose implication exists — "a lawyer" (attorney_id) and "a type of legal issue" (practice_area) — while scope, state, budget_max, billing_preference and description go entirely unaddressed in prose. With sub-50% coverage the description should have compensated and does not.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific trigger condition ("the person asks what a lawyer or a type of legal issue will cost") plus a precise output contract ("published fees, confirmed quotes or sourced market figures, each labeled"). No sibling tool covers cost estimation, and the description makes that distinct role unmistakable.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

"Use when the person asks what a lawyer or a type of legal issue will cost" is an explicit, actionable trigger. It also sets the fallback behavior when data is insufficient. It does not name a specific alternative sibling (e.g., find_attorneys for actually engaging a lawyer), which keeps it short of a 5.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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