Questlaw Library vs Hudoc
A side-by-side look at the Questlaw Library and Hudoc 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 Hudoc 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 Hudoc when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
echr_search, echr_judgment.
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 | 2 |
| Full listing | View Questlaw Library | View Hudoc |
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
Hudoc tools 2
echr_searchSearch European Court of Human Rights (ECHR / Strasbourg) case law by free text, Convention Article, respondent state and/or date. Returns case name, application number(s), Article(s) engaged, the conclusion (violation/no violation), importance level and the itemid to read the full judgment with echr_judgment. Use for "what has Strasbourg ruled on Article 8 against France", "recent Article 10 freedom-of-expression judgments", etc. Covers judgments by default; pass collection to search decisions, advisory opinions, resolutions, communicated cases or reports instead.echr_judgmentFetch the full text of one ECHR document by its itemid (from echr_search, e.g. "001-249132"). Returns the judgment/decision body converted to plain text, paged. Very recently published items (within a few days) sometimes have no converted text yet — the tool says so rather than returning nothing silently; echr_search's `conclusion` field is available immediately even then.
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"
}
}
}
}
Hudoc
{
"mcpServers": {
"hudoc": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-hudoc"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Questlaw Library is categorized under Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Hudoc belongs to Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Questlaw Library for legal work and Hudoc 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. Hudoc 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 hudoc 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. Hudoc has 59/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.