Thomson Reuters has launched a brand-new product that it claims will improve both the speed and quality of legal research. The new product, Westlaw Precision, is an advanced add-on to Westlaw Edge. It is designed to reduce research hours and expand the Westlaw Key Number System to classify cases in a more detailed fashion: motion type, outcome, fact patterns and more.
Thomson Reuters has added more than 250 new editorial attorneys to take a deeper dive into cases to generate these new search capabilities. It sounds pretty great, right? Not so fast. While various press releases and interviews have raved about the capabilities of this new tool, there are currently limitations that could impact its usefulness to legal professionals.
Key Concerns About Westlaw Precision:
- The new tool only goes back 12 years.
- It’s important to note that 2 ½ years of this was during the pandemic with courts essentially shut down for part of that time.
- Currently, there are only 8 topics available – Commercial Law, Federal Civil Procedure, Federal Discovery and Evidence, Federal Remedies, Federal Class Actions, Employment, Securities, and Anti-trust.
- More have been promised in the future (15 by the end of 2023), but for now, you will only find relevant information if you are working in the available topics.
- Westlaw Precision does not include unreported cases.
- Similar options exist and may be more affordable.
What all of this means is that you will essentially be another beta tester for a product that is not yet delivering on its promise of thorough research and accuracy. Not only that, barring the initial free trial, you’ll be paying a premium for the privilege.
One of the key issues is that Westlaw may be solving a problem that does not really exist. Is it always feasible to actually save time on research? Many attorneys are rather proficient in drafting queries and prefer to find their own cases. If you cut hours spent on research, you’re actually cutting into your billable hours. You would be paying more for a product and billing less to use it.
Still Interested in Westlaw Precision? Arm Yourself with Information
Some firms will indeed benefit from the first iteration of Westlaw Precision. If you have decided to try the product for yourself and you think it will benefit you, that’s great! Here are a few things to consider before reaching out to your rep:
- Take advantage of the free trial. Discover if the product is right for you without the risk.
- Review the terms and conditions of your free trial carefully. Is there an automatic transition to the full product after the trial ends? Do you have to do any specific tasks to prevent that, like sending a letter of cancelation or calling to cancel?
- Have a professional consultant look over any contracts involving Westlaw Precision. This product will continue to evolve, and you want your own laser-focused precision on annual price increases and future costs for new topics or features.
- Consider waiting. This product is extremely limited in its current phase. A wait-and-see approach will allow you to observe the potential issues other firms experience. In this economy, it is much better to learn lessons on someone else’s dime.
Is Westlaw Precision the new innovation in legal research technology? Or is it a half-finished product hurried to market to generate a revenue boost for a company struggling to increase profits? Frankly, it could be a bit of both. For now, it may be a good idea to sit back and wait for the product to fully realize its claims.
If you need any help learning more about how Westlaw Precision will impact your current legal contracts, give me a call for a free consultation. I can ensure that you don’t harm your own bottom line to pad theirs.