15 Best AI for Legal Writing

Legal research can be a time-consuming and tedious process, especially when you have a mountain of cases, statutes, and regulations to sift through. As a legal professional, you need to be able to find relevant information quickly and accurately to build a strong case or provide sound legal advice. This is where AI comes in. By using the best AI for legal writing, you can streamline your research process and make your writing more efficient. In this guide, we will explore how AI can help you research and write faster so that you can get back to doing what you do best, practicing law. So, how to do legal research?

Otio's AI research and writing partner is designed to help you achieve your objectives, such as researching and writing faster with AI. This tool is user-friendly and focuses on the benefits of your goals. So, let's see how Otio can revolutionize the way you do legal research.

Table of Contents

• Benefits of Using AI in Legal Research

• Use Cases of AI in Law Firms

• 15 Best AI for Legal Writing

• How to Choose the Best AI for Legal Writing

• Supercharge Your Researching Ability With Otio — Try Otio for Free Today

Benefits of Using AI in Legal Research

The value of a lawyer's time cannot be overstated; it is both precious and costly. Therefore, optimizing time management in legal tasks, without compromising accuracy and compliance, is crucial. This optimization benefits both the legal professionals and their clients. Legal practices and corporate legal departments should evaluate their current workflows to pinpoint tasks that consume excessive time, are prone to human error, or can be made more efficient through automation.

Implementing an AI solution in these areas can be transformative. Artificial intelligence can enhance and expedite vital components of legal services such as thorough document review, exhaustive proofreading, and detailed legal research. This assistance allows lawyers to dedicate more of their time to client counseling and strategic decision-making. AI tools excel at processing large volumes of data with high accuracy. They can detect patterns in the relationships between words or data, identify key information, and spot errors or inconsistencies. For instance, AI can instantly analyze contracts and other legal documents to extract relevant information, thereby reducing human error and alleviating the burden of monotonous tasks.

Use Cases of AI in Law Firms

Document Review: Speed and Accuracy in Handling Data

When it comes to reviewing documents, speed and accuracy are paramount. AI excels in this area by rapidly processing large volumes of data and extracting relevant information with precision and accuracy. This capability not only saves time but also ensures that no critical details are overlooked. Legal professionals can trust AI to perform thorough document reviews, enabling them to focus on higher-level tasks that require human judgment. 

Document Summarization: Making Sense of Large Volumes of Text

Legal cases often involve extensive documentation that can be overwhelming to sift through. AI-powered summarization tools can quickly condense lengthy texts into concise, informative summaries. These summaries provide an overview of the document's content and highlight key points relevant to the case at hand. By utilizing AI for document summarization, lawyers can rapidly gain an understanding of the materials they need to work with and move forward with their case strategy. 

Legal Research: Enhancing Efficiency and Accuracy

Legal research is a time-consuming process that requires meticulous attention to detail. AI can assist by scanning vast databases of legal information and identifying relevant cases, statutes, and regulations in a fraction of the time it would take a human researcher to do so. Moreover, AI can analyze the data it retrieves to uncover patterns and insights that may be critical to a legal argument. This technology not only improves the efficiency of legal research but also enhances its accuracy, reducing the risk of errors or omissions. 

Brief or Memo Drafting: Streamlining the Writing Process

Drafting legal briefs and memoranda involves gathering and organizing a substantial amount of information. AI can automate many of the preliminary tasks associated with this process, such as locating relevant case law and suggesting appropriate language for inclusion in the document. By doing so, AI enables legal professionals to produce more accurate and comprehensive drafts at a much faster pace. 

Contract Drafting: Automating Complex Tasks

Creating contracts that are both effective and legally sound requires a deep understanding of contractual terms and concepts. AI can assist by automating the tedious aspects of contract drafting, such as searching for relevant clauses and inserting appropriate language. This not only speeds up the drafting process but also reduces the likelihood of errors or inconsistencies in the final document. 

Correspondence Drafting: Reducing Risk and Ensuring Clarity

Legal correspondence often contains nuances and subtleties that can be challenging to navigate. AI can help by drawing on a vast repository of precedents and current case law to craft language that is clear, concise, and legally sound. Additionally, AI can ensure that correspondence is formatted correctly and free of grammatical errors, minimizing the risk of misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

Related Reading

• What Tools Do Lawyers Use
• AI in Legal Research
• What Is Legal Research
• Importance of Legal Research
• Legal Research Paper Format
• Can ChatGPT Write Legal Blogs
• Impact of Technology on Law
• Will AI Take Over Lawyers
• ChatGPT for Lawyers

15 Best AI for Legal Writing

1. Otio: The Ultimate AI-Native Workspace for Researchers

Knowledge workers, researchers, and students today face content overload and are left to manage it using fragmented, complex, and manual tools. Too many of them settle for stitching together complicated bookmarking, read-it-later, and note-taking apps to get through their workflows. Now that anyone can create content with the click of a button, this problem is only going to get worse. Otio solves this problem by providing one AI-native workspace for researchers. It helps them:

Collect

A wide range of data sources, from bookmarks, tweets, and extensive books to YouTube videos. 

Extract key takeaways

with detailed AI-generated notes and source-grounded Q&A chat. 

Create

Draft outputs using the sources you’ve collected. Otio helps you go from reading list to first draft faster. Along with this, Otio also enables you to write research papers/essays faster. Here are our top features that researchers love: AI-generated notes on all bookmarks (YouTube videos, PDFs, articles, etc.), Otio enables you to chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, just like you chat with ChatGPT, as well as AI-assisted writing. Our tool features web scraping capabilities that enable you to access a broad range of data sources, extending beyond traditional academic papers and search engines. This feature allows researchers to collect diverse information from various sources, including bookmarks, tweets, books, and YouTube videos, thereby streamlining the process of curating and analyzing data for research purposes. Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today!

2. ChatGPT: The Versatile AI for Legal Research and Content Generation

Developed by OpenAI, this conversational AI platform provides lawyers with a flexible research and content generation resource. While not specifically a legal AI tool, ChatGPT's language model enables legal professionals to synthesize information quickly, draft preliminary documents, and explore complex legal concepts through interactive dialogue.

Pros

• Rapidly generates content across diverse legal topics.

• Efficiently summarizes lengthy documents into digestible formats.

• Supports quick gathering of legal information and initial research.

Cons

• Potential inaccuracies in legal-specific contexts.

• Requires manual verification of generated content.

3. Lex Machina: AI-Powered Legal Analytics for Litigation Attorneys

Lex Machina is a legal analytics software that combines AI and human reviewers to deliver insights on case outcomes and resolutions. The platform maintains an up-to-date database of cases, enabling accurate analysis.

Key features

• Advanced legal analytics

• Huge database of court rulings

• Provides outcome analytics

• Has an API for integration with other systems

Price

• Not provided

Pros

• Makes legal research faster

• Intuitive interface

• Great for intellectual property lawyers

Cons

• Pricing may not be suitable for solo lawyers or small firms.

• Customer service needs improvement

4. CoCounsel: The OpenAI-Powered AI Legal Assistant

CoCounsel is a large language model powered by OpenAI. This AI legal assistant tool is knowledgeable, reliable, and secure enough to support the practice of law. What sets this tool apart from other large language models is that it was trained for the law. Attorneys and AI specialists have rigorously and repeatedly tested this OpenAI-powered solution tailored to lawyers’ needs and reliable and secure enough to meet the highest bar. CoCounsel uses dedicated servers to access GPT-4, meaning your data isn’t sent to “train” the model as part of publicly accessible knowledge.

Pros

• Easy to use

• Can copy and paste citations to documents

• More affordable compared to other apps

Cons

• Contract drafting can be improved

• Lacks depth in creating outlines and summaries

5. Claude AI: The AI Software for Breaking Down Complex Legal Documents

Developed by Anthropic, this AI software for lawyers excels in breaking down complex legal documents, extracting key insights, and providing precise interpretations of intricate legal language. Its capability to read up to 75,000 words enables comprehensive document analysis, making it particularly valuable for contract review, due diligence, and risk management. The AI's strength lies in its ability to identify critical contract provisions, offer nuanced insights, and support legal professionals in navigating regulatory compliance with remarkable accuracy.

Pros

• Provides detailed explanations alongside solutions

• Offers comprehensive document analysis capabilities

• Generates innovative ideas with high accuracy

Cons

• Occasionally produces overly detailed responses.

• Sometimes misses legal nuances.

6. Ever Law: The Cloud-Native E-Discovery and Legal Research Tool

Everlaw is a cloud-native e-discovery and legal research tool for litigation attorneys and legal teams. Its primary function is to help users find and review data used as case evidence. The platform claims to handle fast document processing (up to 90k documents per hour) to assist large-scale investigations.

Pros

• Straightforward user interface

• Great customer service

• Customizable workflows

Cons

• Issues handling large PDF files

• Some reports of technical glitches

7. Genie AI: The AI Legal Assistant for Drafting, Editing, and Reviewing Legal Documents

Genie AI is an AI-powered legal assistant that assists with drafting, editing, and reviewing legal documents, including contracts, letters, policies, and clauses. It allows for collaboration on documents and is compatible with most document formats.

Pros

• Ease of use

• Customizable templates

• Open-source access

Cons

• Reported cases of biased information

• The search feature can be improved

8. Diligen: The AI Tool for Contract Analysis

Diligen is a practical AI tool for attorneys, used for contract analysis, which helps legal professionals review and interpret legal memos and documents, including contracts, leases, and other legal forms. Employing advanced machine learning algorithms, this platform transforms legal document review by identifying key clauses, provisions, and critical terms with remarkable precision. Designed to enhance legal work, Diligen supports legal departments in maintaining document consistency, reducing errors, and streamlining contract review processes across various practice areas.

Pros

• Robust contract analysis with high accuracy rates.

• User-friendly interface with intuitive navigation.

• Comprehensive document management capabilities.

Cons

• Limited public pricing information.

• Potential customization constraints.

9. Auto-GPT: The Experimental AI Agent for Autonomous Task Execution

Auto-GPT is an experimental AI agent built on GPT-4. It is designed to execute complex tasks with minimal human intervention autonomously. Although not specifically legal, the innovative legal AI tool enables lawyers to automate legal drafting, research, and information gathering through sophisticated AI-driven workflows. Leveraging large language models, Auto-GPT can create, prioritize, and execute tasks with internet access and advanced memory management, offering unprecedented automation potential for legal professionals.

Pros

• Autonomous task execution with minimal oversight.

• Comprehensive research capabilities.

• Flexible integration possibilities.

Cons

• Requires careful output verification.

• API costs can accumulate quickly.

10. Smith.AI: The Virtual Receptionist for Legal Practices 

This AI tool is a virtual receptionist service designed to help lawyers and law firms manage phone calls and client inquiries effectively. It uses natural language processing to manage phone calls, screen leads, and schedule appointments, enabling legal firms to enhance client engagement and operational efficiency. With 24/7 live chat and custom AI chatbots, Smith.ai offers a comprehensive communication solution for legal practices aiming to maximize meaningful client interactions.

Pros

• Round-the-clock client engagement capabilities.

• Seamless integration with existing systems.

• Improved lead conversion rates.

Cons

• Occasional response relevancy issues.

• Limited customization for specialized practices.

11. Harvey: The Legal AI Assistant for Drafting and Analyzing Documents

Harvey is a legal AI assistant that supports multiple legal tasks like drafting documents, analyzing contracts, gaining legal insights, and collaborating with team members.

Pros

• Fast response time

• Great document automation feature

• Can be customized to fit a specific law practice

Cons

• Takes time to learn

• Too costly for small firms

12. Patent Pal: The AI Tool for Drafting Patent Applications

PatentPal is an AI-powered tool for drafting patent applications. It enables patent attorneys to quickly write and even automate drafts of patent applications, generating detailed descriptions, abstracts, claims, and figures.

Pros

• Minimalist design for focused writing

• Flexible writing styles

• Can switch between multiple profiles

Cons

• Takes time to learn

• Limited to patent documentation

13. Microsoft CoPilot: The AI Assistant for Microsoft 365

Microsoft Copilot integrates generative AI across the Microsoft ecosystem, offering legal professionals a comprehensive productivity enhancement tool. Although it is not specifically legal, it can be used as one of the tools for AI legal research. Copilot streamlines document creation, research, and collaboration within familiar Microsoft applications using advanced natural language processing. The AI assistant provides intelligent suggestions, automates time-consuming tasks, and enhances overall legal workflow efficiency through seamless integration with Microsoft 365.

Pros

• Seamless Microsoft 365 integration.

• Efficient research and document generation.

• Regular updates and improvements.

Cons

• Requires an existing Microsoft 365 subscription.

• Variable response quality for complex legal tasks.

14. Relativity: The Legal Data Management and E-Discovery Platform

Relativity is one of the most legally robust tools available for electronic discovery and legal data management. The software provides robust search, legal analytics, and machine learning capabilities, enabling legal teams to efficiently process, review, and produce documents across complex investigations. With seamless cloud and on-premise deployment, Relativity offers a versatile solution for corporate litigation, internal investigations, and compliance management.

Pros

• Comprehensive e-discovery capabilities.

• Strong security and compliance features.

• Regular platform updates and improvements.

Cons

• Complex interface requiring significant training.

• Resource-intensive for larger document sets.

15. Blue J: The AI Tax Research Tool

Blue J is a tax research tool powered by AI. It generates verifiable answers to questions about tax laws, enabling tax attorneys and their teams to access information in seconds and better serve their clients.

Pros

• More in-depth answers compared to other tax research tools

• Updated database

Cons

• State tax law coverage can be improved

• Doesn’t offer tax calculation features

How to Choose the Best AI for Legal Writing

Security Compliance: Shielding Your Clients' Secrets

When picking an AI legal writing tool, the first thing you need to check is its security. Your clients trust you with their sensitive information, and you must safeguard it. The right tool should have robust security features, such as encryption and access controls, to protect data from unauthorized access. It should also comply with industry-standard security protocols to ensure that your client information remains confidential.

Workflow Alignment: Does It Make Your Job Easier?

Next, consider whether the tool fits into your existing workflow. Will it help you automate the tasks that take up most of your time? Does it have the legal research capabilities you need to support your cases? Can it improve efficiency in the areas of law you practice? Make sure the tool you choose addresses your specific pain points and helps you work smarter, not harder.

User-Friendliness: No One Likes a Complicated Tool

Even the most powerful AI legal writing tool is useless if your team can't figure out how to use it. Choose a tool with an intuitive interface that requires little to no training. This will ensure high adoption rates and help you maximize the return on your investment.

Seamless Integration: Playing Well With Others

You already use some form of legal case management software or document management system. The last thing you want is to add another tool to the mix that doesn't play well with your existing technology. Make sure the AI legal writing tool you choose can seamlessly integrate with your current systems to avoid data silos and improve productivity.

Related Reading

• Generative AI for Lawyers
• Best Free Legal Research Databases
• Legal Research Examples
• Legal Research Process
• Methods of Legal Research
• How to Do Legal Research as a Paralegal
• Types of Legal Research
• Legal Research Topics
• Automation in the Legal Industry
• How to Research a Law Firm

Supercharge Your Researching Ability With Otio — Try Otio for Free Today

Otio’s AI-Native Workspace for Researchers Suffering From Content Overload. Knowledge workers, researchers, and students today suffer from content overload and are left to deal with it using fragmented, complex, and manual tooling. Too many of them settle for stitching together complicated bookmarking, read-it-later, and note-taking apps to get through their workflows. Now that anyone can create content with the click of a button, this problem is only going to get worse. Otio solves this problem by providing one AI-native workspace for researchers. It helps them: 

• Collect: a wide range of data sources, from bookmarks, tweets, and extensive books to YouTube videos. 

• Extract key takeaways: with detailed AI-generated notes and source-grounded Q&A chat. 

• Create: draft outputs using the sources you’ve collected. Otio helps you go from reading list to first draft faster. 

Along with this, Otio also enables you to write research papers/essays faster. Here are our top features that researchers love, including AI-generated notes on all bookmarks (YouTube videos, PDFs, articles, etc.). Otio enables you to chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, just like you chat with ChatGPT, as well as AI-assisted writing. Our tool features web scraping capabilities that enable you to access a broad range of data sources, extending beyond traditional academic papers and search engines. This feature allows researchers to collect diverse information from various sources, including bookmarks, tweets, books, and YouTube videos, thereby streamlining the process of curating and analyzing data for research purposes. Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today!

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