LexAPI
FreeNot checkedEnables querying EU legal documents, case law, and citation graphs through natural language using the LexAPI.
About
Enables querying EU legal documents, case law, and citation graphs through natural language using the LexAPI.
README
Model Context Protocol server for LexAPI — query EUR-Lex, EU case law, and the citation graph from Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-enabled clients.
Install once, get an API key, and ask your AI assistant: "summarize Article 17 of the GDPR" or "which regulations amend Directive 95/46/EC?" — the model calls LexAPI directly.
Install
You'll need a LexAPI API key. Create one for free at lex-api.com/dashboard (500 credits/month on the FREE tier, no card required).
Claude Desktop
Add to claude_desktop_config.json (location: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS):
{
"mcpServers": {
"lexapi": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@lexapi/mcp"],
"env": {
"LEXAPI_API_KEY": "lex_..."
}
}
}
}
Restart Claude Desktop.
Claude Code
claude mcp add lexapi --env LEXAPI_API_KEY=lex_... -- npx -y @lexapi/mcp
Cursor / other MCP clients
Any client that supports stdio MCP servers can run this. The command is npx -y @lexapi/mcp with LEXAPI_API_KEY in the environment.
Tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
lex_search |
Structured EUR-Lex search (text, dates, document type, author, language). |
lex_get_document |
Full parsed document by CELEX — metadata + articles, sections, tables, annexes. |
lex_get_metadata |
Metadata only (faster than full content). |
lex_get_document_by_url |
Fetch by EUR-Lex URL (pasted from a browser). |
lex_recent_documents |
Recent Official Journal publications (default 7 days). |
lex_cited_by |
Documents citing this CELEX (inbound, typed edges). |
lex_cites |
Documents this CELEX cites (outbound, typed edges). |
lex_citation_network |
Both directions in one call. |
lex_semantic_case_law |
Embedding search over EU case law (paid plans). |
lex_semantic_legislation |
Embedding search over EU legislation (paid plans). |
Configuration
| Env var | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
LEXAPI_API_KEY |
(required) | Your API key. Get one at lex-api.com/dashboard. |
LEXAPI_BASE_URL |
https://lex-api.com/api/v1 |
Override for self-hosted or staging. |
Troubleshooting
LEXAPI_API_KEY is not set — the env var isn't reaching the spawned process. Double-check the env block in your MCP client config.
LexAPI error (401 invalid_api_key) — the key is wrong or revoked. Generate a new one at the dashboard.
LexAPI error (429 …) — you hit your daily quota or per-minute rate limit. The server retries once automatically; if you see this in tool output, you're over quota. Upgrade your plan or wait for reset.
LexAPI error (403 …) on semantic tools — semantic search requires a paid plan. FREE tier returns 403 for those endpoints.
Local development
git clone https://github.com/Lex-API/lexapi-mcp.git
cd lexapi-mcp
npm install
npm run build
LEXAPI_API_KEY=lex_xxx node dist/index.js
License
MIT
Install LexAPI in Claude Desktop, Claude Code & Cursor
unyly install lexapi-mcpInstalls into Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor & VS Code — handles npx, uvx and build-from-source repos for you.
First time? Get the CLI: curl -fsSL https://unyly.org/install | sh
Or configure manually
Run in your terminal:
claude mcp add lexapi-mcp -- npx -y @lexapi/mcpFAQ
Is LexAPI MCP free?
Yes, LexAPI MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.
Does LexAPI need an API key?
No, LexAPI runs without API keys or environment variables.
Is LexAPI hosted or self-hosted?
A hosted option is available: Unyly runs the server in the cloud, no local setup required.
How do I install LexAPI in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?
Open LexAPI on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.
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