Frequently Asked Questions About LegalContext

Q: What is LegalContext?

A: LegalContext is an open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that creates a secure bridge between a law firm’s Clio document management system and Claude Desktop AI assistant. It allows legal professionals to leverage AI while maintaining client confidentiality.

Q: How does LegalContext ensure client confidentiality?

A: LegalContext processes all documents locally within the firm’s infrastructure, ensuring that client data never leaves the security perimeter. It also uses secure OAuth 2.0 for Clio authentication and encrypts access tokens.

Q: What is MCP?

A: MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It’s an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs, allowing AI models to access and interact with external data sources and tools.

Q: What are the prerequisites for using LegalContext?

A: You need Bun (version 1.0 or later), a Clio account with API access, Claude Desktop, and macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL.

Q: How do I install LegalContext?

A: You can use the automated setup script (./install.sh) or follow the manual setup instructions in the documentation.

Q: How do I configure Claude Desktop to use LegalContext?

A: The automated setup script configures Claude Desktop for you. Alternatively, you can manually edit the Claude Desktop configuration file and add the LegalContext MCP server details.

Q: How do I authenticate with Clio?

A: Start Claude Desktop (which launches LegalContext), open a browser, and navigate to http://localhost:3001/clio/auth. Follow the Clio OAuth flow to authorize LegalContext.

Q: How do I index my documents?

A: The installation script runs an initial batch indexing. For additional documents or to refresh the index, use bun run index:batch or ask Claude to index specific documents.

Q: What kind of questions can I ask Claude once LegalContext is set up?

A: You can ask questions about document search, document analysis, legal research, and contract comparison.

Q: What are the security features of LegalContext?

A: LegalContext features local processing, secure OAuth, encrypted token storage, no cloud dependencies, and an open-source codebase for security audits.

Q: What are the free tier limitations?

A: The free version has a limit of 100 indexed documents and 50 queries per day.

Q: Where does LegalContext store its data?

A: LegalContext stores all its data in the ~/.legalcontext directory in your home folder.

Q: How can I troubleshoot common issues?

A: Refer to the Troubleshooting section in the documentation for solutions to common problems. You can also open an issue on GitHub.

Q: How can I contribute to LegalContext?

A: Fork the repository, create a feature branch, commit your changes, push to the branch, and open a pull request.

Q: Is LegalContext compatible with the UBOS AI Agent Development Platform?

A: Yes, LegalContext integrates seamlessly with the UBOS AI Agent Development Platform, enabling you to build, orchestrate, and deploy custom AI Agents tailored to your legal needs.