Westlaw Precision
Westlaw Precision is a premium tier of the Westlaw legal research service, designed to make legal research faster and more accurate. It builds upon traditional Westlaw features by incorporating "Precision Research," a set of advanced search filters allowing users to narrow results based on specific criteria like legal issue (mapped to Key Numbers), fact pattern, motion type, cause of action, party type, and dispositional outcome. This aims to quickly surface the most relevant case law. It retains core Westlaw functionalities like the comprehensive Key Number System taxonomy, the KeyCite citation service for verifying legal authority validity, and access to Thomson Reuters' vast library of primary law (cases, statutes, regulations) and secondary sources (treatises, law reviews, etc.). It also integrates Litigation Analytics and content from Practical Law. Significantly, Westlaw Precision is the platform through which users access Thomson Reuters' generative AI assistant, CoCounsel, enabling AI-powered research summaries, document analysis, and drafting assistance directly within the research workflow.
Key Information
Pricing
Model: Subscription-based, typically enterprise licenses for firms or organizations. Positioned as a premium offering.
Starting at: Not publicly disclosed. Pricing is customized and generally higher than Westlaw Edge or Classic Westlaw plans. Requires contacting Thomson Reuters sales.
Free Plan: Not Available
Trial: Available
Audience
Primary: Law firms (particularly those with significant litigation practices), Corporate legal departments, Government lawyers, Courts.
Secondary: Legal academics, Law students (often via institutional subscriptions).
Use Case
Conducting complex legal research to find highly relevant case law significantly faster than traditional keyword or Boolean searches, using specific legal issue and factual filters.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Dramatically increases speed and accuracy of legal research
- Especially for complex queries; Reduces time spent reviewing irrelevant documents; Leverages highly trusted content and citation tools (KeyCite); Seamlessly integrates powerful generative AI features (CoCounsel); Comprehensive database covering multiple jurisdictions and document types.
Limitations
- Higher subscription cost compared to basic Westlaw tiers; Requires some user training to fully leverage the advanced Precision Research filters; Primarily focused on legal research
- Although CoCounsel broadens the scope; Lock-in to the Thomson Reuters ecosystem.
AI Capabilities
- Integrated AI via CoCounsel: Provides AI-generated research summaries, AI-powered document analysis (e.g., reviewing briefs, contracts), AI-assisted drafting (e.g., memos, communications), Natural language query understanding for research tasks. Note: The Precision Research filters themselves use sophisticated algorithms and potentially machine learning, but the generative AI component is primarily delivered through CoCounsel.
Integrations
- Deep integration with CoCounsel (generative AI assistant).
- Integration with Practical Law (know-how content).
- Integration with other Thomson Reuters tools likely available (e.g., HighQ for collaboration, potentially drafting tools like Contract Express).
- Add-ins for Microsoft Word/Office often available for Westlaw generally.
Unique Features
- Precision Research filters enabling faster identification of on-point cases
- Integration with the trusted Westlaw Key Number System and KeyCite
- Access to Thomson Reuters' extensive and often exclusive legal content
- Serves as the primary platform for accessing integrated CoCounsel AI capabilities within the research workflow.
Disclaimer: Information accuracy is not guaranteed. Always verify details directly with the provider and consult with qualified professionals before making decisions. This tool is not a substitute for legal advice.