Questlaw Library vs Canlii MCP
A side-by-side look at the Questlaw Library and Canlii MCP 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 Canlii MCP 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 Canlii MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
CANLII_API, PORT, MCP_AUTH_TOKEN. - You want tools like
list_case_databases, list_cases, get_case.
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 | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | QUESTLAW_VAULT_FILEQUESTLAW_RECOVERY_CODEQUESTLAW_ALLOW_ENV_KEY | CANLII_APIPORTMCP_AUTH_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 7 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 10 | 7 |
| Full listing | View Questlaw Library | View Canlii MCP |
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
Canlii MCP tools 7
list_case_databasesList all courts and tribunals in the CanLII collectionlist_casesBrowse decisions from a specific court/tribunal databaseget_caseGet metadata for a specific case (title, citation, date, keywords)get_case_citationsGet cases cited by a case, cases citing it, or legislation it referenceslist_legislation_databasesList all statute and regulation databaseslist_legislationBrowse statutes or regulations from a specific databaseget_legislationGet metadata for a specific piece of legislation
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"
}
}
}
}
Canlii MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"vaquill-ai-canlii-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@tomilashy/canlii-mcp"
],
"env": {
"CANLII_API": "YOUR_CANLII_API_HERE",
"PORT": "YOUR_PORT_HERE",
"MCP_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Questlaw Library is categorized under Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Canlii MCP belongs to Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Questlaw Library for legal work and Canlii MCP 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. Canlii MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. 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 vaquill-ai-canlii-mcp 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. Canlii MCP has 59/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 7 GitHub stars.