Thomson Reuters has announced the launch of CoCounsel Legal, a platform that leverages the capabilities of agentic artificial intelligence, coupled with comprehensive research tools all based on Westlaw content. This new release marks a development in providing legal professionals with advanced AI systems that are capable of managing complex workflows and conducting deep legal research. The company’s ambitions are evident as they set CoCounsel Legal apart by including guided workflows that are designed to execute entire legal tasks in a methodical manner. For more detailed coverage, see the full article on LawNext.
An integral part of this offering is the introduction of Deep Research. This sector of the platform represents the legal industry’s first agentic AI research capability that promises more than mere search summaries. It provides structured research plans with iterative execution and delivers comprehensive reports, complete with transparent reasoning. The inclusion of Westlaw’s exclusive tools like Key Numbers and KeyCite further amplifies its research capabilities, as explained by Mike Dahn, Senior Vice President and Head of Westlaw Product Management. Further insights can be explored in a related discussion on LawNext.
Another point of note from this announcement is the debut of Westlaw Advantage, introduced as the last major version of Westlaw. With advancements that include the Litigation Document Analyzer, this iteration aims to transform legal document analysis. It can identify arguments in opposing motions and suggest logical counterarguments, backed by pertinent legal authority. Notably, it addresses potential AI errors such as fictitious citations—commonly known as hallucinations. Thomson Reuters is setting itself apart by transitioning to a more integrated platform model that supports continuous updates, a shift articulated by Raghu Ramanathan, President of Legal Professionals and Government at the company.
The legal tech giant is heavily investing in AI, signifying its commitment to transforming legal service delivery. By reportedly investing $10 billion in legal technology transformation, including a substantial annual investment specifically for AI integration, Thomson Reuters aims to maintain its stature by providing a reliable legal AI experience fortified by their considerable content repository.
The new Westlaw Advantage will officially launch on August 13, with Deep Research features available upon release. The anticipated enhancements to filtering options and follow-up research suggestions are to follow in subsequent updates. This shift presents a new direction for how legal information and workflows are administered, foreseeing a potential wide-scale influence across corporate and legal sectors globally.