Questlaw Library vs Docket Alarm
A side-by-side look at the Questlaw Library and Docket Alarm MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Questlaw Library for legal work as a local process; choose Docket Alarm for legal as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Questlaw Library when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
QUESTLAW_VAULT_FILE, QUESTLAW_RECOVERY_CODE, QUESTLAW_ALLOW_ENV_KEY. - You want tools like
library_overview, list_cases, search_library.
Choose Docket Alarm when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
docketalarm_search, docketalarm_get_docket, docketalarm_search_pacer.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Legal | Legal |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 59/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | QUESTLAW_VAULT_FILEQUESTLAW_RECOVERY_CODEQUESTLAW_ALLOW_ENV_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 10 | 3 |
| Full listing | View Questlaw Library | View Docket Alarm |
Tools & capabilities
Questlaw Library tools 10
library_overviewWhat the library holds, its projects, courts, and tags, and the export datelist_casesEvery authority, or a filtered subset, in pagessearch_libraryOne ranked search across everythingsearch_casesSaved authorities that matchget_caseOne authority in full, with notes, quotations, and related casessearch_quotesSaved quotations that matchlist_project_casesEverything filed under one projectget_source_textCaptured text of a statute, regulation, rule, or opinionfind_citation_mentionsEvery place a draft cites an authority already in the libraryreload_snapshotRead the newest export from disk again
Docket Alarm tools 3
docketalarm_searchSearch court dockets (state + federal) for `<query>` — full-text search across 675M+ US state, county, and federal court dockets (deeper state coverage than CourtListener). Returns matching cases with court, docket number, title, filing date, and link. Example: docketalarm_search({ q: "patent infringement Apple", limit: 20, _apiKey: "user@example.com:yourpassword" })docketalarm_get_docketGet full docket detail for a case — returns case title, parties, filing date, and docket entries for a specific court + docket number. Cached documents are free. Example: docketalarm_get_docket({ court: "U.S. District Court, N.D. California", docket: "5:11-cv-01846", _apiKey: "user@example.com:yourpassword" })docketalarm_search_pacerSearch federal PACER dockets by party — live party-name search across federal PACER (Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, Criminal, MDL). Note: this passes live PACER search fees at cost. Returns matching federal cases with court, docket, title, and filing date. Example: docketalarm_search_pacer({ party_name: "Microsoft Corporation", _apiKey: "user@example.com:yourpassword" })
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Questlaw Library
{
"mcpServers": {
"questlaw-library": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"questlaw-mcp@0.5.1"
],
"env": {
"QUESTLAW_VAULT_FILE": "YOUR_QUESTLAW_VAULT_FILE_HERE",
"QUESTLAW_RECOVERY_CODE": "YOUR_QUESTLAW_RECOVERY_CODE_HERE",
"QUESTLAW_ALLOW_ENV_KEY": "YOUR_QUESTLAW_ALLOW_ENV_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Docket Alarm
{
"mcpServers": {
"docket-alarm": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-docket-alarm"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Questlaw Library is categorized under Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Docket Alarm belongs to Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Questlaw Library for legal work and Docket Alarm for legal.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Questlaw Library has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Docket Alarm has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add questlaw-library and docket-alarm as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Questlaw Library has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Docket Alarm has 59/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.