Canadian Legal Research Query Builder
Turn your own research concepts into structured CanLII search queries.
This tool builds a query string using operators from the current official CanLII search help. It does not perform a search, retrieve decisions, rank authorities, add legal synonyms, or judge whether your research is complete. Coverage and syntax on CanLII can change, so confirm operators against the official CanLII search help.
How to use this tool
- Enter your concepts, exact phrases, and alternative terms. The tool never invents synonyms or legal concepts.
- Add operators (proximity, same-sentence, same-paragraph, wildcards) only if you need them.
- Note the jurisdiction, court, and date filters you plan to apply on CanLII. The tool records these as planning notes, not query filters.
- Copy a query variant, then open CanLII search and paste it in. Copy Query copies the text; Open CanLII search opens the CanLII search page in a new tab.
This tool builds text queries. It does not run searches, judge relevance, or note up authorities.
Used only as a heading in the research plan and log. Not parsed as a legal question.
Combined with AND. Multi-word entries are quoted automatically.
Rendered as quoted phrases. Also wrapped in EXACT() in the narrower query.
Each line becomes an OR group. The tool never invents synonyms.
Rendered with NOT.
Enter your stem exactly, including any * you want. The tool does not add stems.
Built as a separate title/citation query.
Used for the legislation-focused variant. Combine with jurisdiction filters on CanLII.
Used verbatim for the case citation / name variant.
Proximity pairs
Rendered as term /n term where n is 1 to 100.
Same-sentence pairs
Rendered as term /s term.
Same-paragraph pairs
Rendered as term /p term.
Preserved exactly. The tool does not run the note-up for you.
Apply on CanLII with its jurisdiction filters.
Apply on CanLII with its court/tribunal filters.
Apply on CanLII with its date filters.
Query variants
Six deterministic variants built from your inputs. Nothing is invented. Confirm operator behaviour against the official CanLII search help.
Broad query
Concepts, alternative-term OR groups, and wildcards. Drops exact phrases, proximity operators, and exclusions.
(not applicable - add the required inputs above)
Balanced query
Concepts, exact phrases, alternative-term OR groups, and wildcards, joined with AND.
(not applicable - add the required inputs above)
Narrow (exact-phrase) query
Wraps every exact phrase in EXACT() so CanLII disables stemming and inflection for those phrases.
(not applicable - add the required inputs above)
Exclusion query
Balanced query with NOT clauses appended for every excluded term.
(not applicable - add the required inputs above)
Legislation-focused query
Uses only the legislation titles or citations you entered. Combine with jurisdiction filters on CanLII.
(not applicable - add the required inputs above)
Case citation / name query
Uses only the case name or citation you entered, ready for a title/citation search on CanLII.
(not applicable - add the required inputs above)
Legacy primary query (document text)
(nothing to build yet)
Legacy broader alternative
(nothing to build yet)
Legacy narrower alternative (uses EXACT for phrases)
(nothing to build yet)
How the primary query was built
Enter concepts or phrases above.
Research log template
User-fillable and browser-only. Nothing is stored, uploaded, or searched. Missing search results do not prove no authority exists. Coverage varies by court, tribunal, jurisdiction, and time period.
Research log Prepared: 2026-07-29 | Date | Database | Query used | Filters applied | Useful results | Follow-up terms | |------|----------|------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------| | 2026-07-29 | CanLII | | | | | Reminder: missing results do not prove no authority exists. Coverage varies by court, tribunal, jurisdiction, and time period. Read, evaluate, note up, and check currency before you rely on anything you find.
Related guides
Related student tools
Open source attribution
Operator behaviour is modelled on CanLII search help. Independent tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by CanLII.
Independent educational tool. Not affiliated with or endorsed by McGill University, the McGill Law Journal, Thomson Reuters/Carswell, Zotero, CSL, or CanLII. Verify every citation against the current guide and any court, journal, professor, or faculty instructions.