Thomas & Thomas LLC
In the competitive landscape of legal services, efficiency and accuracy are paramount. G. Nolan Thomas, a practicing attorney in Gillette, Wyoming, and his father, S. Gregory Thomas, own and operate THOMAS & THOMAS LLC, where they have both witnessed the transformative impact of adopting Thomson Reuters generative AI solutions in CoCounsel.
Despite being a relatively new firm established just two years ago, Nolan and his firm’s commitment to providing top-notch legal services is evident. The firm consists of two attorneys, one paralegal, and two legal assistants. The firm manages a diverse range of cases. Both Nolan and Greg consider themselves “country lawyers” or “county-seat lawyers” who handle a broad spectrum of legal matters, as the local needs of a rural area dictate.
Early adoption of Westlaw
Nolan’s journey with Westlaw began during his law school days, where he found the platform more intuitive than the legal research alternatives. His initial practice at a large firm in South Dakota that extensively used Thomson Reuters products further cemented his reliance on Westlaw, particularly for public record searches. This foundation laid the groundwork for his advocacy of Westlaw Precision upon returning to his hometown of Gillette.
Adopting generative AI for enhanced efficiency
Nolan's decision to integrate CoCounsel into his practice was driven by the need to save time, improve client experience, and add more value for clients. “I just looked at the generative AI and immediately thought this is going to be a significant time saver,” Nolan explains. Recognizing the fast-paced nature of modern legal practice, he understood the importance of staying ahead of the curve. By leveraging CoCounsel, Nolan has aimed to provide quicker responses to clients’ legal questions and to streamline legal research.
Practicing Law with CoCounsel: A game changer
One of the standout tools in Nolan's arsenal is Westlaw Precision. This generative AI (GenAI)-powered platform has revolutionized how Nolan conducts legal research. “It's been a huge time-savings tool,” he shares. Whether he is in a client meeting, a hearing, or a trial, Nolan can quickly type in a query using AI-Assisted Research and receive relevant legal information to review and find answers. This capability has significantly reduced the time he spends on legal research, allowing him to focus on delivering results for his clients.
Nolan recounts one specific instance where Westlaw Precision proved invaluable during a hearing for a bank client regarding an ex-parte writ of replevin. Faced with a complex legal question in a novel legal proceeding, he was able to find an ancient, but relevant case from 1948 in real-time, to answer the judge’s question and provide the necessary information to allow the court to proceed. “Even in the middle of a hearing, Westlaw Precision helped me out,” Nolan emphasizes.
In addition to Westlaw Precision, Nolan's firm benefits from other capabilities in CoCounsel that streamline core tasks and simplify document review. Nolan frequently uses CoCounsel to review and summarize legal documents, ensuring accuracy and clarity. “I’m the kind of person who, before court, needs to create an outline and have a game plan of what to say in court beforehand,” says Thomas. “A lot of times, I’ll upload discovery documents into CoCounsel, and I’ll ask it to make me an outline with questions directed to each of the legal factors or elements that are dispositive of a case or controlling on a legal issue.”
CoCounsel’s ability to quickly review documents and generate outlines has been invaluable multiple times. “I was at a jury trial in October, and I was very crunched on time, and needed to prepare two expert witnesses beforehand. I asked CoCounsel to make an expert examination outline based on the expert reports I uploaded, which it quickly did, and I was able to prep the witnesses and give them a thorough outline ahead of trial to ensure my experts were prepared.”
Empowering his team with CoCounsel
Nolan's firm also utilizes Practical Law Dynamic Tool Set, which empowers his legal assistants and paralegal to draft contracts and correspondence efficiently. By accessing Practical Law resources, his team can confidently manage tasks they may not have encountered before. “We usually get a checklist from Practical Law and that allows my paralegal or legal assistants, even if they’ve never done something like a buy-sell agreement, to at least have a starting point. They can ask Search & Summarize Practical Law, and then they can go from there. It levels up their experience and enhances their capabilities,” Nolan explains. This not only boosts the confidence and competence of his staff but also enhances the firm's overall productivity. “We are a small firm. We do not have enough people to put a ton of time into a file. Our goal is to get it done and get it done right.”
Client satisfaction and competitive advantage
In a market where clients often shop around for legal services, Nolan understands the importance of responsiveness and efficiency. “Clients have high expectations, and they expect you to be working on things quickly,” he notes. The ability to provide swift answers and maintain frequent contact with clients has set Nolan's firm apart, fostering trust and satisfaction.
CoCounsel from Thomson Reuters has become an integral part of delivering these expectations, enhancing the firm's reputation and client loyalty. Even though the adoption of CoCounsel has been overwhelmingly positive for Nolan's firm, it did come with considerations regarding cost. However, Nolan's perspective on this is clear. “While these tools are an investment, they allow us to manage 10 more clients a month, so the increased revenue more than justifies the expense.” By focusing on the long-term benefits and increased client satisfaction, Nolan knows the investment in these innovative tools is justified.
Transformative potential
Nolan's experience with CoCounsel exemplifies the potential of technology in the legal industry. He advises firms hesitant about adopting it to consider that other firms will — and are — embracing AI to gain an advantage, so it is imperative to stay at the forefront to keep up with the competition. By embracing CoCounsel, Westlaw Precision, and Practical Law Dynamic Tool Set, Nolan has not only enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of his legal practice but has also improved client satisfaction and profitability. As Nolan aptly puts it, “Our goal is to figure out the problem our client needs solving, and get it solved as inexpensively and quickly as we can. I think Westlaw Precision and CoCounsel certainly help speed things up and help keep our clients happy.”
