Search legal documents across jurisdictions (DE federal, EU, Bavaria, Saxony) using hybrid semantic + keyword search. Returns ranked results with content snippets, not full text.
Always use this tool first before legal_lookup. Do not rely on training data to identify the correct provision — similar rules often exist across multiple laws. Rephrase colloquial language into legal terminology for best results. Formuliere Suchanfragen als natürliche Sätze, nicht als Keyword-Listen (z.B. 'Wann verjährt ein Schadensersatzanspruch?' statt 'Verjährung Schadensersatz Frist BGB'). Das System durchsucht Gesetzestexte — verwende die Sprache des Gesetzes, nicht Doktrin-Begriffe (z.B. 'Auslegung mehrdeutiger Klauseln' statt 'contra proferentem'). Set document_kind to match what the question needs: 'statute' (German law) or 'regulation'/'directive' (EU law) when it asks for the rule itself — its requirements, definitions or deadlines; 'decision' when it asks how courts apply a rule — case law, the level of a claim such as damages, or a concrete fact-pattern. This keeps the irrelevant document class from crowding out the results. Leave document_kind empty when the question genuinely needs both, or when German-vs-EU law is unclear — then consider running two searches. Set law_abbreviation, jurisdiction and source_type only when the user explicitly names a specific law or jurisdiction. When results span multiple laws or versions, check the legal://rechtsrahmen resource to pick the correct jurisdiction (e.g. EU vs national, substantive vs procedural).
COMMON PITFALLS — choose the correct law:
- Procedural law by jurisdiction: ZPO (zivilrecht), STPO (strafrecht), VWGO (verwaltungsrecht), ARBGG (arbeitsrecht), SGG (sozialrecht), BVERFGG (verfassungsrecht), FAMFG (familienrecht)
- AO, ESTG, KSTG, USTG, FGO: AO=procedure, EStG/KStG/UStG=substantive
- VVG, BGB: Insurance rescission → BGB §§ 812ff, not VVG
- VERSAUSGLG, FAMFG: VersAusglG=substantive, FamFG=procedure
- APOG, AMG: ApoG=operation, AMG=drug approval
- WEHRPFLG, SG: WPflG=conscription, SG=soldiers
- AGG, BETRVG: AGG=anti-discrimination, BetrVG=works council