LexFinder, a free legal search engine (2009

LexFinder let users choose which legal sources to search. It was built on Google Custom Search, Google’s platform for specialist search engines, with its own filters for UK, EU and international law and for sources such as journals, blogs, law firm updates and advice for the public. It ran at lexfinder.com and lexfinder.co.uk as a free, non-commercial service for lawyers and non-lawyers alike.

Screenshots of the original site

Choose a search

jackson v agUK Law & Materials competition law vertical agreementsFirm Updates eu unitary patent systemBlogs european contract lawJournals depositCitizen & Consumer advice

LexFinder results for “jackson v ag” with the UK Law & Materials filter: about 7 results, led by the House of Lords judgment in Jackson v Attorney General. — An abbreviated case name brings up the House of Lords judgment first.

LexFinder results for “competition law vertical agreements” with the Firm Updates filter: about 10 results, briefings from Slaughter and May, Linklaters and Clifford Chance. — Law firm briefings on the EU rules for vertical agreements.

LexFinder results for “eu unitary patent system” with the Blogs filter: posts from the EPLAW Patent Blog and The IPKat. — Commentary on the EU’s unitary patent, led by specialist patent blogs.

LexFinder results for “european contract law” with the Journals filter: papers on SSRN. — Academic papers, from SSRN.

LexFinder results for “deposit” with the Citizen & Consumer advice filter: GOV.UK guidance on tenancy deposit protection. — A one-word search with the public-advice filter brings up GOV.UK’s guidance on tenancy deposits.