Every so often a technology comes along that changes an industry, giving early adopters a decisive advantage over their competitors. For the legal industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is that technology and Thomson Reuters Westlaw Edge™ the undisputed standard bearer.
No other product on the market can do what Westlaw Edge does. With advanced AI trained by hundreds of leading attorney editors, it performs complex research tasks at lightning speeds while communicating with users in clear and precise human language.
Law firms that harness its power are quick to see changes, as are their clients and competing law firms. There are hundreds of reasons law firms across the U.S. are making the change to Westlaw Edge. Here are just a few:
1. A competitive advantage in court
The AI powering Westlaw® Litigation Analytics sifts through massive amounts of data to reveal insights that can prove decisive in litigation. The tool quickly serves up information pertaining to a specific judge’s ruling pattern on certain motions, an attorney’s success rate in a certain type of litigation, opposing counsel’s willingness to settle, and more. With this feature, attorneys can quickly access the crucial insights they need to litigate from a position of strength.
2. Faster research
Legal research is faster, more accurate and more intuitive than ever with WestSearch® Plus, the legal-specific search engine behind Westlaw Edge. WestSearch Plus performs once laborious research tasks almost instantaneously, helping attorneys, librarians and paralegals quickly obtain the information they need.
3. Smarter search
Users frustrated with search engines that only get you near, not to, the desired answer will be pleased with the intuitive search features in Westlaw Edge. Predictive search suggestions populate as you type in your search. Granular search options allow you to filter your queries down to specific terms that weed out millions of false leads and get you to the relevant insights quickly.
4. More information
Users of Westlaw Edge not only get their information faster and with greater precision, they also benefit from their connection to the largest collection of legal information. The data behind the platform is constantly updated with new information from cases, statutes, regulations, briefs, treatises and much more, and offers users access to exclusive editorial annotations they cannot get anywhere else.
5. Better information
Of course, not all information is created equal. The data behind Westlaw Edge is built upon a foundation of more than 140 years of editorial annotations. Hundreds of bar-admitted attorneys provide the deep legal understanding that trains the AI to serve up only the most relevant insights. These attorneys understand the law in human terms, and train the AI to make logical connections even when a user’s search may not match the language in the original document.
6. Less waste
Planning tools analyze thousands of case histories to help law firms understand where money was well spent and where it was wasted. Insights on budgeting, staffing, timelines and more can help you see ahead so you can use your resources wisely.
7. Fewer write-offs
Requests for write-offs and write-downs are a persistent source of loss for law firms, especially as they pertain to bills for legal research. With Westlaw Edge, law firms are getting more research done in less time. When clients see their fees stretching further, they are less likely to scrutinize and question billable hours.
8. Happier clients
Greater value in legal research billing is only one way Westlaw Edge makes law firm clients happier. Litigation Analytics provides insights that help attorneys set more accurate expectations on timelines and likely outcomes. Fewer surprises generally means happier clients. The competitive advantages offered by advanced AI-powered legal tools help law firms prevail over competitors and obtain better results for their clients, making those clients more likely to return and refer others.
9. Improved morale
The time legal processionals save using AI-powered solutions frees them up to focus on more meaningful work. Many are even seeing room in their schedules for evenings and weekends. The addition of AI-powered research tools not only makes existing staff happy, it lures top new talent who only want to work with the latest technology.
10. A sharper competitive edge
All of the above factors contribute to an overall theme—gaining an edge over the competition. When a technology enables a law firm to work faster and smarter than its competitors, the advantage is immediate and clear. The divide between firms that adopt advanced AI and those who do not will only widen. The only question is: Which side of the divide will your firm find itself?
Find out what all the buzz is about. Learn more about Westlaw Edge and how it is helping law firms gain a decisive edge over their competitors.
