Is minicounsel a replacement for CanLII?

Not exactly — they're complementary. CanLII is a free, comprehensive database covering all of Canada with basic keyword search. minicounsel adds AI-powered research with 99.9% accuracy specifically for Ontario case law, plus judge and lawyer profiles. Many lawyers use CanLII for broad Canadian browsing and minicounsel Plus for focused Ontario research.

Why pay for minicounsel when CanLII is free?

CanLII offers keyword search — you need to know the right terms. minicounsel Plus lets you describe what you're looking for in natural language through ChatGPT or Claude, and returns verified Ontario case law with 99.9% accuracy. You can also upload your own client documents directly in ChatGPT or Claude for analysis — minicounsel never sees your files. It also includes judge decision patterns, lawyer case histories, and opposing counsel research — none of which CanLII offers.

Does CanLII have AI search?

CanLII recently launched Search+, a free AI tool that converts natural language questions into Boolean queries. It's a smarter way to use keyword search, but it's not true semantic search — results still depend on keyword matching. minicounsel Plus provides true AI-powered semantic search through ChatGPT and Claude with 99.9% accuracy. See our detailed CanLII Search+ comparison for more.

Does minicounsel cover all of Canada like CanLII?

No. minicounsel focuses exclusively on Ontario courts (OCJ, SCJ, ODC, OCA) and the Supreme Court of Canada. CanLII covers all Canadian jurisdictions. If you need case law from other provinces, use CanLII for that and minicounsel for Ontario.

Can I use both CanLII and minicounsel?

Yes, and many lawyers do. CanLII for free browsing across all of Canada, and minicounsel Plus for AI-powered Ontario research, judge profiles, and lawyer research. They cover different needs.

minicounsel

Comparison

minicounsel vs CanLII

CanLII is a free, essential resource for Canadian lawyers. minicounsel adds AI-powered research for Ontario. Here's when to use each — and why many lawyers use both.

TL;DR

CanLII is free, covers all of Canada, and is great for browsing case law with keyword search. minicounsel adds AI-powered natural language search with 99.9% accuracy, judge decision patterns, lawyer case histories, and opposing counsel research — focused exclusively on Ontario courts and the SCC. At $99/month, minicounsel Plus is for lawyers who need research speed and accuracy beyond what keyword search can provide. Many lawyers use both.

Different tools, different strengths

CanLII and minicounsel solve different problems. CanLII is a free public database — the foundation of Canadian legal research. minicounsel is an AI research tool built for speed and accuracy on Ontario case law.

CanLII

Free

keyword search · all of Canada

Comprehensive, publicly funded database. Essential for every Canadian lawyer. No AI, no profiles, no natural language search.

minicounsel Plus

$99/mo

AI search · Ontario focused

99.9% accurate AI research via ChatGPT & Claude. Judge and lawyer profiles. Courtroom-ready speed.

Feature comparison

Feature	minicounsel Plus	CanLII
Price	$99/mo	Free
AI-powered natural language search
Works inside ChatGPT & Claude
Ontario case law (OCJ, SCJ, ODC, OCA, SCC)
All Canadian jurisdictions
Judge profiles & decision patterns
Lawyer profiles & case history
Opposing counsel research
Keyword / Boolean search
Legislation & regulations
Tribunal decisions
Courtroom-ready speed

When to use each

Use minicounsel Plus when you:

Need to find Ontario case law for a specific legal issue
Want AI to search using natural language, not just keywords
Need to research a judge's decision patterns before a hearing
Need real-time research during a courtroom appearance
Want to look up opposing counsel's case history

Use CanLII when you:

Need case law from provinces outside Ontario
Looking up a specific citation you already have
Need to browse legislation and regulations
Looking for tribunal decisions
Need a free resource for basic case browsing

Common questions

Is minicounsel a replacement for CanLII?: Not exactly — they're complementary. CanLII is a free, comprehensive database covering all of Canada with basic keyword search. minicounsel adds AI-powered research with 99.9% accuracy specifically for Ontario case law, plus judge and lawyer profiles. Many lawyers use CanLII for broad Canadian browsing and minicounsel Plus for focused Ontario research.
Why pay for minicounsel when CanLII is free?: CanLII offers keyword search — you need to know the right terms. minicounsel Plus lets you describe what you're looking for in natural language through ChatGPT or Claude, and returns verified Ontario case law with 99.9% accuracy. You can also upload your own client documents directly in ChatGPT or Claude for analysis — minicounsel never sees your files. It also includes judge decision patterns, lawyer case histories, and opposing counsel research — none of which CanLII offers.
Does CanLII have AI search?: CanLII recently launched Search+, a free AI tool that converts natural language questions into Boolean queries. It's a smarter way to use keyword search, but it's not true semantic search — results still depend on keyword matching. minicounsel Plus provides true AI-powered semantic search through ChatGPT and Claude with 99.9% accuracy. See our detailed CanLII Search+ comparison for more.
Does minicounsel cover all of Canada like CanLII?: No. minicounsel focuses exclusively on Ontario courts (OCJ, SCJ, ODC, OCA) and the Supreme Court of Canada. CanLII covers all Canadian jurisdictions. If you need case law from other provinces, use CanLII for that and minicounsel for Ontario.
Can I use both CanLII and minicounsel?: Yes, and many lawyers do. CanLII for free browsing across all of Canada, and minicounsel Plus for AI-powered Ontario research, judge profiles, and lawyer research. They cover different needs.

Add AI research to your CanLII workflow

99.9% accuracy. Works inside ChatGPT and Claude. $99/month, cancel anytime.

Start Free Trial

Also comparing: minicounsel vs CanLII Search+ · minicounsel vs Westlaw · minicounsel vs Lexis+ AI · minicounsel vs OpenCase