search_cases

Finds Federal Court decisions by words in the judgment, its citation, the judge, the National Practice Area, catchwords or the Commonwealth legislation it cites. Each result is a decision with a short snippet, never a passage to quote.

A judgment is not legislation. Where a response names a Commonwealth title, the title carries a status block saying whether the Federal Register records it as in force today; a title not in force has no Advisor link, only its Federal Register link.

Note: case law has its own scope, terms and limits, and your service must keep them.

Federal Court only. Advisor holds decisions of the Federal Court of Australia, cited FCA and FCAFC. It holds no other court's judgments, and no state or territory law.

What is held, and the gap. Decisions to 4 March 2025, from the Open Australian Legal Corpus, and decisions from 23 October 2026, from the Court's own published pages. Decisions between those dates are not held yet. A citation to one resolves to unresolved_in_corpus: the judgment is not held, which says nothing about whether it exists.

Reproduced unaltered, and attributed. Each answer carries attribution: "© Federal Court of Australia (Commonwealth of Australia). Reproduced unaltered under the Federal Court of Australia copyright licence." Keep it with any passage you show, and do not edit a quotation.

Not the official report. Each decision carries source_url, the Court's page. Where an authorised report exists, it governs.

How a passage was checked. anchor.label says how many independent sources a judgment's text comes from. Most decisions say "single source (OALC bootstrap; awaiting FCA Court HTML dual-source check)": no second source has been compared yet.

What a paragraph number rests on. paragraph_structure and paragraph_structure_note say it: the Court's own page (court_html), the judgment's own certificate of how many numbered paragraphs it has (certified), numbering found with no certificate to check it (numbering), a numbered list such as orders that is not paragraph numbering (unnumbered: the judgment is held as one block, 0), or no numbering at all (unsplit, disputed). Where Advisor cannot confirm that a judgment's last numbered paragraph is one paragraph, paragraph_not_confirmed says so.

Fact	Value
Tool	`search_cases`
Partner scope required	`caselaw:read`
Subscriber tier required	AI Pro
Accepts `as_at`	no

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Default
`query`	string	yes
`court`	string	no	`null`
`date_from`	string	no	`null`
`date_to`	string	no	`null`
`judge`	string	no	`null`
`npa`	string	no	`null`
`legislation_cited`	string	no	`null`
`catchwords`	string	no	`null`
`limit`	integer	no	`10`
`offset`	integer	no	`0`
`cursor`	string	no	`null`

Request (search_cases with {"query":"derivative action","court":"FCA","limit":2})

Python SDK

import asyncio, os
from mcp import ClientSession
from mcp.client.streamable_http import streamablehttp_client

async def main():
    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['LAWATLAS_API_KEY']}"}
    async with streamablehttp_client("https://advisor.lawatlas.ai/api/mcp", headers=headers) as (read, write, _):
        async with ClientSession(read, write) as session:
            await session.initialize()
            result = await session.call_tool("search_cases", {
                "query": "derivative action",
                "court": "FCA",
                "limit": 2
            })
            print(result.content[0].text)

asyncio.run(main())

curl

curl -s https://advisor.lawatlas.ai/api/mcp \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LAWATLAS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"search_cases","arguments":{"query":"derivative action","court":"FCA","limit":2}}}'

Response, as Advisor returned it on 8 November 2026. The tool's result is the JSON text of result.content[0].text; lists and long text are trimmed where marked "...".

{
  "schema_version": "3.10",
  "result": [
    {
      "case_id": "9daa1972-4998-446c-b096-dcad5b4a7025",
      "court": "FCA",
      "year": 2010,
      "number": 570,
      "neutral_citation": "[2010] FCA 570",
      "citation_aglc": "*Wood v Links Golf Tasmania Pty Ltd* [2010] FCA 570",
      "case_name": "Wood v Links Golf Tasmania Pty Ltd",
      "judges": [
        "Finkelstein J"
      ],
      "bench_size": 1,
      "is_full_court": false,
      "full_court_basis": null,
      "decision_date": "2010-06-08",
      "registry": null,
      "division": "GENERAL DIVISION",
      "npa": null,
      "sub_npa": null,
      "catchwords": "CORPORATIONS – derivate action – whether company to pay the costs – principles to be applied",
      "catchword_phrases": [
        "CORPORATIONS",
        "derivate action",
        "whether company to pay the costs",
        "... 1 more"
      ],
      "parallel_citations": [],
      "paragraph_count": 12,
      "word_count": 2004,
      "text_quality": "oalc",
      "verification_state": "single_source_oalc",
      "anchor": {
        "state": "single_source_oalc",
        "text_quality": "oalc",
        "metadata_source": "oalc",
        "source_html_sha256": null,
        "verification_note": null,
        "label": "single source (OALC bootstrap; awaiting FCA Court HTML dual-source check)"
      },
      "source_url": "https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2010/2010fca0570",
      "advisor_url": "/c/FCA/2010/570",
      "match_kind": "full_text",
      "score": 0.0514,
      "matched_paragraphs": [
        {
          "para_num": 4,
          "para_id": "para-4",
          "heading_path": [],
          "content_hash": "1eb451174ea6db0fb78c74827780d632af2f506bb12028174fd5820614f0b4e2",
          "snippet_html": "clear that leave to bring a so-called <mark>derivative</mark> <mark>action</mark> requires a substantial showing: Swansson v R A Pratt Properties Pty Ltd (2002) 42 ACSR 313, 318. This follows from the evident",
          "snippet_text": "clear that leave to bring a so-called derivative action requires a substantial showing: Swansson v R A Pratt Properties Pty Ltd (2002) 42 ACSR 313, 318. This follows from the evident"
        },
        {
          "para_num": 0,
          "para_id": "para-0",
          "heading_path": [],
          "content_hash": "2aac253b9e3f328d1b44732a93658713786fff11c75e8d8fc2d53a534ee34b40",
          "snippet_html": "Judge: FINKELSTEIN J\n\nDate of judgment: 8 June 2010\n\nCatchwords: CORPORATIONS – <mark>derivate</mark> <mark>action</mark> – whether company to pay the costs – principles to be applied\n\nLegislation: Corporations",
          "snippet_text": "Judge: FINKELSTEIN J\n\nDate of judgment: 8 June 2010\n\nCatchwords: CORPORATIONS – derivate action – whether company to pay the costs – principles to be applied\n\nLegislation: Corporations"
        }
      ],
      "legislation_cited": [
        {
          "canonical_aglc": "*Corporations Act 2001* (Cth)",
          "title": "Corporations Act 2001",
          "short_title": "Corporations Act",
          "pinpoint": null,
          "legislation_id": "8d10b297-598e-4127-88ae-d7411655afe1",
          "frl_title_id": "C2004A00818",
          "component": null,
          "eid": null,
          "provision_id": null,
          "resolution_status": "resolved",
          "advisor_url": "/l/C2004A00818/compilation_149/main/root",
          "status": {
            "in_force": true,
            "frl_status": "InForce",
            "since": null,
            "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-11-02T17:26:23.541914Z",
            "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2026C00432",
            "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown.",
            "compilation": {
              "register_id": "C2026C00432",
              "compilation_no": 149,
              "check_date": "2026-11-07T17:25:09.705759Z",
              "state": "current",
              "notice": "The Federal Register listed this compilation as the current one on the check date."
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "cases_cited_count": 9
    },
    {
      "case_id": "103c1f36-5169-4d65-9e20-d3b3f409d99f",
      "court": "FCA",
      "year": 2013,
      "number": 143,
      "neutral_citation": "[2013] FCA 143",
      "citation_aglc": "*Wood v Links Golf Tasmania Pty Ltd (No 2)* [2013] FCA 143",
      "case_name": "Wood v Links Golf Tasmania Pty Ltd (No 2)",
      "judges": [
        "Gordon J"
      ],
      "bench_size": 1,
      "is_full_court": false,
      "full_court_basis": null,
      "decision_date": "2013-02-27",
      "registry": null,
      "division": "GENERAL DIVISION",
      "npa": null,
      "sub_npa": null,
      "catchwords": "CORPORATIONS – derivate action – proposed derivative action an appeal – requirements in s 437(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) – where applicant to provide an undertaking to meet the costs of the company and any adverse costs orders – means of the applicant to meet the undertaking – Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 437",
      "catchword_phrases": [
        "CORPORATIONS",
        "derivate action",
        "proposed derivative action an appeal",
        "... 4 more"
      ],
      "parallel_citations": [],
      "paragraph_count": 59,
      "word_count": 8552,
      "text_quality": "oalc",
      "verification_state": "single_source_oalc",
      "anchor": {
        "state": "single_source_oalc",
        "text_quality": "oalc",
        "metadata_source": "oalc",
        "source_html_sha256": null,
        "verification_note": null,
        "label": "single source (OALC bootstrap; awaiting FCA Court HTML dual-source check)"
      },
      "source_url": "https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2013/2013fca0143",
      "advisor_url": "/c/FCA/2013/143",
      "match_kind": "full_text",
      "score": 0.045,
      "matched_paragraphs": [
        {
          "para_num": 57,
          "para_id": "para-57",
          "heading_path": [],
          "content_hash": "ff1ad6d07551a7c5a019db330794213d729b911e3225b5b6ac55d3f86a451ffe",
          "snippet_html": "Links referred to Swansson at [39] as authority for the proposition that where a <mark>derivative</mark> <mark>action</mark> is to be brought by a former shareholder or officer, the Court will scrutinise with particular … scrutiny \"where the applicant … [has] nothing obvious to gain directly by the success of the <mark>derivative</mark> <mark>action</mark>\": Swansson at [39]. Further, in Swansson, Palmer J went on to give two examples which",
          "snippet_text": "Links referred to Swansson at [39] as authority for the proposition that where a derivative action is to be brought by a former shareholder or officer, the Court will scrutinise with particular … scrutiny \"where the applicant … [has] nothing obvious to gain directly by the success of the derivative action\": Swansson at [39]. Further, in Swansson, Palmer J went on to give two examples which"
        },
        {
          "para_num": 55,
          "para_id": "para-55",
          "heading_path": [],
          "content_hash": "6c87fb0494be15a8f3100646960a95dd351f42c7c21cb90094198c5a3b59b4a6",
          "snippet_html": "demonstrate good faith where the application is made by a current shareholder and the <mark>derivative</mark> <mark>action</mark> seeks recovery of property so that the value of the applicant's shares would be increased … consider the applicant's offer to indemnify the company for its costs of the <mark>derivative</mark> <mark>action</mark>: South Johnstone Mill",
          "snippet_text": "demonstrate good faith where the application is made by a current shareholder and the derivative action seeks recovery of property so that the value of the applicant's shares would be increased … consider the applicant's offer to indemnify the company for its costs of the derivative action: South Johnstone Mill"
        }
      ],
      "legislation_cited": [
        {
          "canonical_aglc": "*Corporations Act 2001* (Cth)",
          "title": "Corporations Act 2001",
          "short_title": "Corporations Act",
          "pinpoint": null,
          "legislation_id": "8d10b297-598e-4127-88ae-d7411655afe1",
          "frl_title_id": "C2004A00818",
          "component": null,
          "eid": null,
          "provision_id": null,
          "resolution_status": "resolved",
          "advisor_url": "/l/C2004A00818/compilation_149/main/root",
          "status": {
            "in_force": true,
            "frl_status": "InForce",
            "since": null,
            "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-11-02T17:26:23.541914Z",
            "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2026C00432",
            "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown.",
            "compilation": {
              "register_id": "C2026C00432",
              "compilation_no": 149,
              "check_date": "2026-11-07T17:25:09.705759Z",
              "state": "current",
              "notice": "The Federal Register listed this compilation as the current one on the check date."
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "canonical_aglc": "*Corporations Act 2001* (Cth) s 237",
          "title": "Corporations Act 2001",
          "short_title": "Corporations Act",
          "pinpoint": "s 237",
          "legislation_id": "8d10b297-598e-4127-88ae-d7411655afe1",
          "frl_title_id": "C2004A00818",
          "component": "main",
          "eid": "sec_237",
          "provision_id": "5c0b4c19-6d86-47cc-9f5a-bb62ef910f77",
          "resolution_status": "resolved",
          "advisor_url": "/l/C2004A00818/compilation_149/main/sec_237",
          "status": {
            "in_force": true,
            "frl_status": "InForce",
            "since": null,
            "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-11-02T17:26:23.541914Z",
            "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2026C00432",
            "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown.",
            "compilation": {
              "register_id": "C2026C00432",
              "compilation_no": 149,
              "check_date": "2026-11-07T17:25:09.705759Z",
              "state": "current",
              "notice": "The Federal Register listed this compilation as the current one on the check date."
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "canonical_aglc": "*Corporations Act 2001* (Cth) s 437(2)",
          "title": "Corporations Act 2001",
          "short_title": "Corporations Act",
          "pinpoint": "s 437(2)",
          "legislation_id": "8d10b297-598e-4127-88ae-d7411655afe1",
          "frl_title_id": "C2004A00818",
          "component": "main",
          "eid": "sec_437",
          "provision_id": null,
          "resolution_status": "not_in_current",
          "advisor_url": "/l/C2004A00818/compilation_149/main/sec_437",
          "status": {
            "in_force": true,
            "frl_status": "InForce",
            "since": null,
            "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-11-02T17:26:23.541914Z",
            "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2026C00432",
            "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown.",
            "compilation": {
              "register_id": "C2026C00432",
              "compilation_no": 149,
              "check_date": "2026-11-07T17:25:09.705759Z",
              "state": "current",
              "notice": "The Federal Register listed this compilation as the current one on the check date."
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "cases_cited_count": 18
    }
  ],
  "page": {
    "returned": 2,
    "total": 2572,
    "next_cursor": "eyJvIjogMn0=",
    "truncated": false,
    "limit_requested": 2,
    "limit_applied": 2
  },
  "query": "derivative action",
  "attribution": "© Federal Court of Australia (Commonwealth of Australia). Reproduced unaltered under the Federal Court of Australia copyright licence.",
  "usage": "Search snippets only. Call get_judgment_paragraphs before quoting any passage from a judgment, and cite the AGLC4 citation, advisor_url (/c/...), and authoritative source_url."
}

Notes

A snippet is a locator. Fetch the paragraph with get_judgment_paragraphs before quoting anything.
Filters: court (FCA or FCAFC), date_from and date_to (YYYY-MM-DD), judge (a surname), npa, catchwords and legislation_cited. A judge or practice-area filter can only find a decision whose cover sheet names them: the judge is held for about 86% of decisions, catchwords for about 41% and the practice area for about 29%.
Paging. limit is capped at 46. Pass page.next_cursor back as cursor, or use offset.
Full Court. is_full_court says whether the decision is a Full Court's, and full_court_basis what that rests on: the citation (FCAFC), or, before 2002, when a Full Court was cited FCA, three or more judges named on its cover sheet.