---
summary: Describes the Research section for searching a database of legal documents, case law, and court decisions. Explains how to search, view document details, and copy research documents to projects.
keywords: research, legal documents, case law, court decisions, search, document database, project, legal research, citations, references, case research, matter research, document search, case law search
---

# Research

## What is Research?

The Research section helps you search for and organize legal documents, case law, court decisions, and other reference materials. You can search a database of documents, view detailed information, and copy research documents directly to your projects for easy access and reference during case work.

## Accessing Research

1. From the main navigation, click **Research**.
2. You'll see the research search interface with a searchable database of documents.

![Research list page showing search interface and document table](../screenshots/research-list-page.png)

## Searching for Documents

To find a research document:

1. Click in the **Search** field
2. Enter a keyword, case number, party name, or other relevant search terms
3. Click **Search** or press Enter
4. Results will display in the table below, showing the Document name and Summary

![Search results showing multiple documents matching search criteria](../screenshots/research-search-results.png)

For advanced search features, click **Click here for search engine instructions** to access the full search documentation.

## Viewing Document Details

To read a complete document:

1. Click the document name or case number in the search results (e.g., "E-1036/2017").
2. A detail modal will open showing the full text of the document.
3. Scroll through the document to read the complete ruling, decision, or legal text.

![Document detail modal showing case number and full text with project selection dropdown](../screenshots/research-detail-modal.png)

## Copying Documents to a Project

To add a research document to your project:

1. Open a document detail view by clicking on the document name
2. In the **Choose a project** dropdown at the top of the modal, select the project where you want to save this reference
3. Click **Copy to project**
4. The document is now attached to your selected project for easy reference

## Best Practices

- **Use specific search terms** - Include case numbers, party names, or key legal concepts to find relevant documents quickly
- **Review the summary** - The summary column gives you a quick overview before opening the full document
- **Link to active projects** - Copy important research documents directly to the projects they relate to, keeping all relevant reference material together
- **Keep organized** - Only copy documents to projects where they're genuinely relevant to avoid cluttering project information

## Understanding Document References

Research documents include:
- **Case numbers** - Used for legal citations (e.g., "E-1036/2017", "S-63/2018")
- **Summaries** - Brief descriptions of the decision or ruling
- **Full text** - Complete court decisions, legal rulings, and detailed case information