SmartSearch Explained: How Semantic Search Finds Better Cases

Every lawyer has experienced this frustration: you know the case exists, you remember the principle, but no matter what keywords you try, the search results miss the mark. You end up scrolling through hundreds of irrelevant judgments or giving up entirely.

SmartSearch changes how you find cases. Instead of matching keywords, it understands what you mean.

The Problem with Keyword Search

Traditional legal databases work by matching exact words. Search for “wrongful termination” and you get cases containing those exact words. But what about cases discussing:

• “Illegal dismissal”
• “Arbitrary removal from service”
• “Termination without following procedure”
• “Violation of natural justice in service matters”

All of these discuss the same legal concept, but keyword search misses them if your exact phrase does not appear.

A Real Example

Suppose you are researching this issue:

“Can a landlord evict a tenant for subletting without written permission?”

With keyword search, you might try:

• “subletting without permission eviction”
• “unauthorized sublease landlord”
• “tenant subletting consent”

You will get results where these exact words appear. But you will miss cases discussing:

• “Parting with possession to third party”
• “Transfer of tenancy rights without consent”
• “Breach of covenant against sublease”

With SmartSearch, you simply describe your problem:

“tenant sublet commercial property without landlord’s written consent”

SmartSearch understands you are looking for cases about unauthorized subletting and finds relevant judgments regardless of the specific terminology used.

What is Semantic Search?

Semantic search is powered by AI that understands meaning, not just words.

Here is how it works:

1. Understanding Your Query

When you type a search query, SmartSearch converts it into a mathematical representation (called an “embedding”) that captures its legal meaning. Similar concepts have similar representations.

2. Matching Against the Database

Every judgment in LexGyan has already been processed the same way. The legal issues, holdings, and reasoning have all been converted into these mathematical representations.

3. Finding Conceptual Matches

Instead of looking for word matches, SmartSearch finds cases whose legal concepts are closest to your query, even if different words are used.

How SmartSearch Understands Legal Concepts

SmartSearch is not just generic AI. It has been fine-tuned to understand:

Legal terminology variations

• “Fundamental rights” = “Part III rights” = “constitutional guarantees”
• “Natural justice” = “audi alteram partem” = “principles of fair hearing”

Hierarchical concepts

• Searching for “Article 21” also surfaces cases about “right to life”, “personal liberty”, and “due process”

Contextual meaning

• “Discharge” means something different in contract law versus criminal procedure versus employment law
• SmartSearch understands context from surrounding words

Indian legal specifics

• Understands references to Indian Evidence Act, CPC, CrPC
• Recognizes Supreme Court and High Court naming conventions
• Familiar with Indian legal terminology and Latin maxims

Keyword vs Semantic: Side-by-Side Comparison

Query	Keyword Results	SmartSearch Results
”anticipatory bail economic offences”	Cases with these exact words	Also finds cases discussing “pre-arrest bail”, “Section 438 applications”, “white collar crimes"
"specific performance part performance”	Exact phrase matches	Includes cases on “part execution of contract”, “acts in furtherance of agreement”, Section 53A Transfer of Property Act
”delay condonation appeal”	Word matches only	Finds “sufficient cause”, “limitation extension”, Section 5 applications with different terminology

Tips for Writing Effective Semantic Queries

SmartSearch works best when you describe your legal problem naturally. Here are tips to get better results:

Do: Describe the Situation

Instead of:

“Section 138 NI Act cheque bounce”

Try:

“dishonour of cheque issued for discharge of legally enforceable debt”

Do: Include Relevant Context

Instead of:

“specific performance”

Try:

“specific performance of agreement to sell immovable property where buyer paid substantial consideration”

Do: State the Legal Question

Instead of:

“bail murder”

Try:

“grant of bail in murder case where investigation is complete and trial is delayed”

Avoid: Boolean Operators

SmartSearch does not need AND, OR, NOT operators. Just describe what you want:

Instead of	Use
”contract AND breach AND damages"	"claim for damages arising from breach of contract"
"appeal NOT criminal"	"civil appeal against decree”

Avoid: Over-specific Citation Hunting

SmartSearch excels at finding conceptually similar cases. If you need a specific citation, use the citation search feature instead.

Combining Filters with Semantic Search

SmartSearch becomes even more powerful when combined with filters:

Narrow by Date

Researching recent developments? Add a date filter:

Query: “interpretation of arbitration clause in commercial contracts” Filter: Cases from 2020-2024

Filter by Bench Size

Looking for authoritative precedents? Filter by bench composition:

Query: “conflict between fundamental rights and directive principles” Filter: Constitution Bench (5+ judges)

Combine with Court Selection

Focus your research by court:

Query: “compensation for land acquisition delay” Filter: Supreme Court only

When to Use Keyword vs Semantic Search

Use Keyword Search When	Use SmartSearch When
You know the exact citation	You are exploring a legal issue
Searching for specific party names	Looking for similar fact patterns
Finding cases mentioning a statute section	Researching how courts have treated a concept
You need exact phrase matches	You want conceptually related cases

Try SmartSearch Today

The best way to understand SmartSearch is to experience it. Here are some queries to try:

1. “Whether landlord can refuse renewal of lease for commercial premises without assigning reason”

2. “Validity of non-compete clause in employment contract restricting work in same industry”

3. “Right of Hindu daughter to claim partition of ancestral property after 2005 amendment”

SmartSearch is available on all LexGyan plans, including the free tier with 10 searches per month.

Start Searching Now

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Have questions about SmartSearch or suggestions for improvement? We would love to hear from you at [email protected]