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Thomson Reuters CoCounsel Solutions Overview

Agentic Legal AI Platform with Westlaw Integration

Last updated: 2026-03-20 Legal AI

CoCounsel is Thomson Reuters' AI-powered legal assistant, originally developed by Casetext (acquired by Thomson Reuters in August 2023 for $650M). In August 2025, Thomson Reuters launched CoCounsel Legal, a unified platform featuring Deep Research and agentic guided workflows. As of February 2026, one million professionals across 107 countries have chosen CoCounsel, and the next generation of CoCounsel Legal—designed around conversational task execution—is entering beta [1][2].

Our Recommendation

  • +CoCounsel is the leading choice for law firms that already use Westlaw and want AI capabilities grounded in authoritative legal content. Its Deep Research feature is the industry's first professional-grade agentic research capability—AI that plans, reasons, and executes legal research, not just summarizes search results.
  • +Best for: Law firms and corporate legal departments already invested in Westlaw, litigators needing citation-verified research, and organizations wanting guided workflows for routine legal tasks (contracts, discovery, depositions).
  • +Consider alternatives if: You don't have Westlaw (CoCounsel Core doesn't include case law search), you're on LexisNexis ecosystem (Harvey AI has Lexis partnership), or you need document-only AI without legal research (general-purpose tools may suffice).

Why Consider CoCounsel?

CoCounsel's value proposition centers on three core strengths:

Deep Research: Agentic AI That Plans and Executes: Unlike ChatGPT or Claude which respond to single prompts, Deep Research creates multi-step research plans, executes them autonomously, and delivers comprehensive reports with arguments on both sides. This is the closest thing to having a junior associate conduct research independently.
Westlaw Grounding: Zero Hallucination Risk: Every CoCounsel citation links to verified Westlaw content. While general-purpose AI can fabricate case names and citations, CoCounsel's closed-loop architecture ensures every legal citation is real and verifiable. This is non-negotiable for court filings.
Guided Workflows: AI for Routine Legal Tasks: CoCounsel doesn't just answer questions—it guides you through complete workflows: privacy policy drafting, discovery requests, deposition prep, demand letters. These templates encode Practical Law know-how into repeatable processes.
Thomson Reuters Ecosystem: If you're already paying for Westlaw and Practical Law, CoCounsel leverages content you've already licensed. Integration with HighQ (1M+ users) and Clio extends AI throughout your practice management stack.

Platform Evolution

August 2023

Thomson Reuters acquires Casetext for $650M

2024

CoCounsel Core launches as document-focused AI assistant

July 2025

Initial CoCounsel guided workflows released

August 2025

CoCounsel Legal launches with Deep Research and agentic capabilities

November 2025

Agentic workflows, customizable workflow builder, and bulk document review (up to 10K docs) announced in beta

January 2026

Deep Research for Westlaw Advantage and Practical Law launched in UK; tabular review for bulk document analysis

February 2026

One million professionals across 107 countries using CoCounsel; next-gen CoCounsel Legal (conversational task execution) enters beta

Product Family

CoCounsel Core

Document analysis AI for uploaded documents—review, summarize, question-answering

CoCounsel Legal

Unified platform combining Deep Research, agentic workflows, and document intelligence

Westlaw Precision with CoCounsel

Bundle combining Westlaw's AI-assisted research with CoCounsel's document capabilities

Deep Research

Industry's First Professional-Grade Agentic AI Research

Deep Research represents a fundamental shift from AI that summarizes search results to AI that plans, reasons, and executes comprehensive legal research independently [1].

Research Planning: Generates multi-step research plans that users can review before execution
Iterative Execution: Executes research plans autonomously, adapting approach based on findings
Transparent Reasoning: Traces and explains logic throughout the research process
Citation-Backed Reports: Delivers comprehensive reports with arguments on both sides, relevant case law, and related issues
Westlaw Grounding: All research grounded in authoritative Westlaw primary law content
headline: Unlike ChatGPT's 'Deep Research' feature, CoCounsel's Deep Research is grounded exclusively in Westlaw's primary law database—ensuring zero hallucination risk on legal citations.
key Difference: General-purpose AI tools research the open web and can fabricate case citations. CoCounsel's closed-loop architecture means every citation links to verified Westlaw content.
implication: For legal work product, this distinction is critical: CoCounsel delivers 'No Hallucination' research that general-purpose tools cannot guarantee.
deep Research Practical Law:
status: Beta (select customers)
availability: US: First half 2026; UK: Same timeframe
description: Extends Deep Research to Practical Law know-how content

Guided Workflows

Multi-step task flows that apply agentic AI to high-friction legal work, embedding Westlaw and Practical Law expertise.

  • Privacy policy drafting
  • Employee policy creation
  • Complaint drafting
  • Discovery requests and responses
  • Deposition transcript review
  • Demand letter creation
capability: Agentic Workflow Execution
description: CoCounsel independently plans and executes complex, multi-step workflows from a single prompt
status: Beta
capability: Customizable Workflow Builder
description: Create, save, and share firm-specific workflows
status: Beta
capability: Bulk Document Review
description: Analyze up to 10,000 documents in a single workflow
status: Beta

Pricing Structure

CoCounsel Core

$225/user/month
  • Document analysis and review capabilities
  • Volume discounts available
  • Can be purchased standalone or with Westlaw

CoCounsel Legal

Custom (multiyear subscription)
  • Includes Deep Research and guided workflows
  • Annual fee increases expected
  • Continual upgrades included
  • Contact sales for specific pricing

Westlaw Precision with CoCounsel

Contact sales
  • Bundle pricing varies by firm size and usage
  • May include discount on CoCounsel component

Thomson Reuters has shifted to multiyear subscriptions with 'mostly' increased annual fees but continual upgrades included—similar to Microsoft 365 model [3]

Core Capabilities

Document Analysis

  • Upload and analyze documents
  • Ask questions about document content
  • Extract key terms, dates, provisions
  • Compare documents against playbooks

Legal Research

  • AI-powered case law research (Westlaw)
  • Know-how guidance (Practical Law)
  • Citation verification
  • Multi-jurisdictional research

Drafting Support

  • First-draft generation
  • Policy and contract drafting workflows
  • Redlining against playbooks
  • Email and correspondence drafting

Litigation Support

  • Deposition question preparation
  • Discovery request/response drafting
  • Case timeline creation
  • Claims Explorer integration

Contract Analysis

  • Key term extraction
  • Risk identification
  • Provision analysis
  • Bulk contract review

Integrations

ClioPractice management integration
HighQCollaboration platform integration (launched October 2025)
Microsoft WordIn-document drafting and review
Document Management SystemsFederated search across firm DMS (via underlying search systems)

Market Position

1 million+ professionals across 107 countries
Global Adoption
Majority of top US firms use CoCounsel
AmLaw 100
Majority of top US courts
US Courts
1 million+ users
HighQ Users

Thomson Reuters investing $200M+ annually in organic AI development [4]

Security & Privacy

  • +User prompts and data not used for AI training
  • +Secure and private by design
  • +Enterprise-grade data protection
  • +Firm data remains confidential
  • +SOC 2 compliance

Considerations

  • +CoCounsel Core does NOT search case law—requires Westlaw Precision bundle
  • +Complex product lineup can be confusing (multiple overlapping offerings)
  • +Pricing requires sales engagement—not transparent
  • +Annual price increases expected with multiyear subscriptions
  • +Some advanced features still in beta
  • +DMS integration uses federated search (not full document indexing)

Competitive Positioning vs. Harvey

Content FoundationWestlaw primary law + Practical Law know-howLexisNexis content (as of June 2025)
Pricing Transparency$225/user/month for Core (published)Enterprise-only, custom pricing
Target MarketBroad (firms of all sizes)Enterprise (BigLaw and corporate legal)
Agentic CapabilitiesDeep Research + guided workflows (August 2025)Custom workflows and integrations

Practice Area Use Cases

Litigation: Motion Response Preparation

Use Deep Research to analyze opposing counsel's motion and identify counterarguments with supporting case law.

Example: "Analyze this motion for summary judgment. Research the legal standards for summary judgment in the Eastern District of New York, identify weaknesses in the movant's arguments, and find case law supporting each counterargument. Provide arguments on both sides."

Why it excels: Deep Research autonomously plans and executes the research, delivering a comprehensive brief with verified citations—ready for attorney review and refinement.

Corporate: M&A Contract Review

Review acquisition agreements and supporting documents for key provisions, risks, and unusual terms.

Example: "Analyze this stock purchase agreement and ancillary documents. Extract: (1) all representations and warranties, (2) indemnification provisions with caps and baskets, (3) conditions to closing, (4) any provisions that deviate from standard market terms. Flag anything requiring attention."

Why it excels: Bulk document review capability (up to 10K documents in beta) allows processing entire data rooms efficiently.

Employment: Policy Drafting

Use guided workflows to draft compliant employee policies tailored to jurisdiction and company size.

Example: "Draft a remote work policy for a 200-employee California company. Include: eligibility criteria, equipment provisions, reimbursement requirements per California Labor Code, data security obligations, and performance expectations. Align with current best practices."

Why it excels: Guided workflows embed Practical Law know-how and jurisdiction-specific requirements into the drafting process.

Litigation: Deposition Preparation

Analyze deposition transcripts and generate question outlines based on testimony gaps and contradictions.

Example: "Review these three deposition transcripts from the plaintiff's witnesses. Identify: (1) inconsistencies between witness accounts, (2) gaps in testimony that require follow-up, (3) statements that contradict documentary evidence in the case file. Generate follow-up questions for each witness."

Why it excels: Document analysis capability processes lengthy transcripts while maintaining context across multiple witnesses.

Discovery: Interrogatory Response

Draft discovery responses with appropriate objections and substantive answers.

Example: "Draft responses to these interrogatories. For each: (1) identify applicable objections (overly broad, burdensome, privileged, etc.), (2) draft the objection language, (3) provide a substantive response subject to objections where appropriate. Follow Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requirements."

Why it excels: Discovery workflow encodes procedural requirements and common objection frameworks into structured drafting.

When NOT to Use CoCounsel

  • +You don't have Westlaw: CoCounsel Core does NOT include case law search capabilities. Without a Westlaw subscription, you're limited to document analysis—no legal research. Consider the Westlaw Precision bundle or alternatives.
  • +You're on LexisNexis: If your firm is invested in Lexis ecosystem, Harvey AI's LexisNexis partnership (June 2025) may offer better integration. Evaluate switching costs carefully.
  • +Simple document Q&A only: If you just need to ask questions about uploaded documents without legal research, general-purpose AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude) may be more cost-effective at ~$20/month vs. $225/user/month.
  • +Non-US jurisdictions primarily: CoCounsel's strength is US law. For UK, Canada, or other jurisdictions, verify Westlaw coverage in your practice areas before committing.
  • +Price sensitivity as a solo/small firm: $225/user/month is significant for solo practitioners. Evaluate whether the productivity gains justify the cost for your practice volume.

Questions to Consider Before Adopting

Do we already have Westlaw?

CoCounsel's value is maximized when grounded in Westlaw content. Without Westlaw, CoCounsel Core is document-only. Factor in Westlaw subscription costs if you don't already have it.

What's our current legal research workflow?

Deep Research replaces significant portions of manual legal research. If associates spend substantial time on research, ROI potential is high. If research is minimal, benefits are limited.

Which practice areas would use CoCounsel?

Litigation gets the most value from Deep Research. Transactional practices benefit from document review and drafting workflows. Match CoCounsel's strengths to your practice mix.

What's our firm size and user count?

At $225/user/month, costs scale quickly. A 10-attorney firm would pay $2,250/month minimum. Evaluate which attorneys need full access vs. occasional use.

Are we willing to commit to multiyear pricing?

CoCounsel Legal uses multiyear subscriptions with annual increases. Ensure you're comfortable with the commitment structure before signing.

Getting Started

1

Request a demo

Contact Thomson Reuters for a guided demonstration. CoCounsel doesn't offer self-service trials—you'll need a sales engagement to see the product.

2

Identify pilot users

Select 2-3 attorneys across practice areas for initial adoption. Include at least one litigator to evaluate Deep Research and one transactional attorney for document review.

3

Evaluate Westlaw bundling

If you have Westlaw, discuss Precision with CoCounsel bundle pricing. If you don't, evaluate whether adding Westlaw + CoCounsel makes sense vs. alternatives.

4

Test on real matters

During pilot, use CoCounsel on actual client work. Compare Deep Research output to traditional research methods. Track time savings and quality.

5

Negotiate multiyear terms

CoCounsel Legal uses multiyear subscriptions. Negotiate annual increase caps and ensure upgrade commitments are in writing before signing.

Key Takeaways

  • 1.Best for: Westlaw-invested firms wanting AI grounded in authoritative legal content, litigators needing citation-verified research, and teams wanting guided workflows for routine legal tasks
  • 2.Deep Research: Industry's first professional-grade agentic AI—plans, reasons, and executes legal research autonomously, not just summarizes search results
  • 3.Zero hallucination guarantee: Every citation links to verified Westlaw content—critical for court filings where fabricated citations are career-ending
  • 4.Pricing: CoCounsel Core $225/user/month (document analysis only); CoCounsel Legal multiyear subscription (includes Deep Research + workflows)
  • 5.CRITICAL: CoCounsel Core does NOT include case law search—requires Westlaw Precision bundle for legal research capabilities
  • 6.Practice area strengths: Litigation (motion research, deposition prep), Transactional (contract review, M&A due diligence), Employment (policy drafting)
  • 7.When NOT to use: No Westlaw subscription, LexisNexis ecosystem investment, simple document Q&A only (general AI cheaper), or non-US primary practice
  • 8.Market position: 1 million+ professionals across 107 countries, majority of Am Law 100, $200M+ annual Thomson Reuters AI investment
  • 9.Next-gen CoCounsel Legal (beta 2026): Conversational task execution—describe an objective, CoCounsel builds a plan, retrieves authority, analyzes material, verifies citations, and delivers structured work product
  • 10.Getting started: Request demo (no self-service trial), identify pilot users across practice areas, evaluate Westlaw bundling options

References

  1. [1]Thomson Reuters, "Thomson Reuters Launches CoCounsel Legal: Transforming Legal Work with Agentic AI and Deep Research," Aug. 5, 2025.Link
  2. [2]LawSites, "Thomson Reuters Launches CoCounsel Legal with Agentic AI and Deep Research Capabilities," Aug. 5, 2025.Link
  3. [3]Above the Law, "Thomson Reuters New Pricing Model: A Step Towards Simplicity," Aug. 6, 2025.Link
  4. [4]Legal Reader, "Thomson Reuters Continues Driving Legal AI Innovation," Nov. 4, 2025.Link
  5. [5]Lawyerist, "CoCounsel Review: Features, Cost, Pros & Cons (2026)," Aug. 12, 2025.Link
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