Searching for Experts

The Exlitem search engine uses AI to understand natural language queries and match you with relevant experts. Here's how to get the best results.

#Natural Language Search

Type your need in plain English. The AI extracts:

• Specialty — what area of expertise you need
• Location — if you mention a state or city
• Keywords — specific certifications, techniques, or industries

Example queries:

• "Medical doctor specializing in traumatic brain injuries in California"
• "Software engineer with patent litigation experience"
• "Environmental toxicologist familiar with Superfund sites"
• "Forensic accountant, CPA, securities fraud, New York"

Screenshot

The search results page after running the query 'Medical doctor specializing in traumatic brain injuries in California'. Shows the search bar at top with the query, then a list of expert result cards each showing a masked name (e.g., 'Dr. J. M.'), their headline, specialty tags in amber pill badges, and a city/state location. One card shows an 'Unlocked' green indicator.

#Filters

After running a search, refine results using the filter panel on the left:

Screenshot

The left-side filter panel expanded, showing a State dropdown with 'California' selected, a multi-select Specialty filter with 'Neurology' checked, a 'Has Photo' toggle switched on, and a 'Premium Only' toggle. The panel has a clear 'Reset filters' link at the bottom.

#Reading Search Results

Each result card shows:

• Expert name (masked if unclaimed)
• Headline and specialties
• Location (city, state)
• Credential highlights
• Visibility status (open or locked)

Pro and Premium experts have fully open profiles — their contact details are visible without spending credits. Free-tier experts require a credit to unlock. Previously unlocked profiles show a green indicator.

#Claimed vs. Unclaimed Profiles

• Claimed profiles have been verified and are maintained by the expert. They typically have more complete information, a photo, and up-to-date credentials.
• Unclaimed profiles were pre-loaded from public data sources. The information may be incomplete or outdated. We recommend prioritizing claimed profiles for active matters.

#Adding Experts to a Shortlist

From any search result card, you can add an expert directly to a shortlist:

1. Click the Add to Shortlist button on the expert card
2. A popover appears showing your existing shortlists
3. Select a shortlist or create a new one
4. The expert is added immediately

This lets you save promising candidates as you search without leaving the results page. See Cases & Expert Pipeline for more on shortlists.

#Typo Tolerance & Suggestions

The search engine automatically handles typos and misspellings. If your query doesn't match exactly, the system suggests corrections:

• Did you mean? — if a better spelling is detected, a suggestion link appears above the results. Click it to re-run the search with the corrected query.
• Fuzzy matching — minor typos (e.g., "orthopaedic" vs "orthopedic") are matched automatically without needing to correct them.

#Location Suggestions

When typing a city or state in location filters, the search provides autocomplete suggestions. Start typing a city name (e.g., "Los An") and matching locations appear in a dropdown. Select one to filter results to that area.

#Search History & Recently Viewed

The platform tracks your search activity to help you pick up where you left off:

• Search History — your recent search queries are saved and can be re-run from the search page
• Recently Viewed — expert profiles you've viewed recently appear in a dedicated section for quick access

#Expert Comparison

When evaluating multiple experts for a case, use the comparison tool from your shortlists:

1. Select two or more experts from a shortlist
2. Click Compare
3. A side-by-side view shows credentials, experience, location, and specialties for each expert

This helps you make informed decisions without switching between individual profiles.

#Real-Time Notifications

You receive real-time notifications when events relevant to your account occur — for example, when an expert responds to your inquiry or sends a new message. Notifications appear as a badge in the top navigation and update automatically without refreshing the page.

#Tips for Better Results

1. Be specific — "orthopedic surgeon" beats "doctor"
2. Include location — "Texas" filters results automatically
3. Mention certifications — "board-certified", "CPA", "PE" are indexed
4. Try multiple queries — searching "accident reconstruction" and "biomechanics" may return different experts