• DATA
  • TEXT
  • SUMMARY
  • HUMAN

How to conduct 50 state statute surveys with your AI

Connect OpenLaws to your AI client to run multi-state legal research. Once connected, your agent handles the heavy lifting of searching and reading through state codes.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use AI to survey statutes across all 50 states?

You tell your AI what legal topic to look for, and it uses OpenLaws to find relevant statutes in every state. It then pulls the specific text and summarizes the findings. You'll get a structured comparison of how different states handle the same issue.

The survey outcomes.

Where your research lands.

The AI processes the raw legal data into these specific formats.

DATA

State-by-state lists

The AI uses search_statutes to find relevant laws in every jurisdiction. You get a clean list of where your topic is addressed.

TEXT

Direct statute excerpts

The agent uses get_statute to pull the exact wording from the code. This ensures you aren't relying on a hallucination of the law.

SUMMARY

Comparative analysis

The AI compares the findings to highlight differences in how states regulate the same subject. You get a high-level view of the legal landscape.

HUMAN

Final legal review

The AI provides the raw text and summaries, but you must perform the final verification. You are responsible for the legal accuracy of the work.

The workflow

What your AI does when the topic arrives.

The AI moves from broad searching to specific reading to final synthesis.

  1. Broad search

    The agent scans the statute databases across all 50 states for your specific keywords or legal topics.

    search_statutes

  2. Targeted retrieval

    Once it finds a relevant match, the AI pulls the full, specific text of that statute to ensure accuracy.

    get_statute

  3. Pattern recognition

    The AI looks for commonalities and outliers in the language used across different state jurisdictions.

    search_statutesget_statute

  4. Synthesis

    The agent organizes the gathered text into a structured summary or a comparison table for your review.

    get_statute

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off your research.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with your specific legal topic or jurisdiction.

OpenLaws Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_9lJiAbUmMMfe0J30gi6K1hWuX9NA2fO2s1RmCda0/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — OpenLaws capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openlaws-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_9lJiAbUmMMfe0J30gi6K1hWuX9NA2fO2s1RmCda0/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Search all 50 states for statutes regarding [legal topic].

  • Find the specific statute in [State] that covers [legal topic] and summarize it.

  • Compare how [State A] and [State B] define [legal term] in their statutes.

  • List all statutes in [State] related to [topic] and provide the full text for the most relevant one.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect OpenLaws once, then ask.

Click the link to connect the OpenLaws MCP to your AI client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start searching immediately.

Connect OpenLaws to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI update or change the statutes it finds?

    No. The AI can only read and retrieve existing statutes. It cannot modify legal text.

  • 02

    Does the AI provide legal advice?

    No. The AI is a research tool that retrieves and summarizes text. All legal interpretations must be done by you.

  • 03

    Can I ask it to search for federal laws too?

    No. This specific connector is designed for state statute searches.

  • 04

    Will the AI remember the statutes from my last session?

    The AI's memory depends on your specific AI client's context window and history, not the connector itself.

  • 05

    Can the AI draft a legal brief based on these findings?

    The AI can draft text based on the statutes it retrieves, but you must review it for accuracy and compliance.

  • More questions about OpenLaws? The Connector page answers them. See everything the OpenLaws Connector can do

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