Before selecting a specific GenAI product, a user should consider whether the specific use is more appropriate for a publicly available product (such as ChatGPT) or for a specialty legal product (such as Lexis' Protege). The chart below identifies strengths and weaknesses of each type of product.
| Comparison Criteria | Publicly Available GenAI | Specialty/Subscription Legal GenAI |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Bard, etc. | Lexis' Protege, Westlaw's CoCounsel, etc. |
| Speed | Typically very fast (seconds per response). | Currently much slower (many seconds or even minutes per response). |
| Accuracy (General and Not Law-Specific) | High general accuracy, especially for general questions or summarizing text. | Low general accuracy; database is limited and typically will not provide answers to generalized questions. |
| Accuracy (Law- Specific) | Low; may generate fake cases or citations. | High; designed for reliable citations and legal reasoning using verified legal databases. Accuracy of citations is high, however, AI-generated synopses are still prone to errors of misinterpretation or misunderstanding. |
| Use Cases | Asking general questions about court systems, interplay between branches of government, explanation of new concepts, summarizing articles, or general writing support. | Legal research, case analysis, contract review, or citation validation. |
| Drawbacks | Risk of hallucinations, lack of citation rigor, not tailored for legal reliability. | High cost, limited access, slower development cycles, and domain-specific scope. |
As suggested by the table above, publicly available GenAI excels at providing generalized information about the legal system, explanation of basic legal concepts, and publicly available scholarship that addresses legal issues (like articles accessible via Google Scholar or HeinOnline).
By contrast, law specific GenAI excels at providing specific statutes/regulations/cases, providing authoritative definitions of terms from available treatises, and drafting sample legal documents--like a sales contract or a petition for divorce.
When it comes to selecting a publicly available GenAI platform, the decision may be based on personal preference or whichever platform the user has an active account with. Below are some of the more common platforms.
| General AI Platform | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | OpenAI's conversational AI, known for its versatility in text and image generation. | chat.openai.com |
| Gemini | Google's AI assistant, integrated into Android and Google Workspace. | gemini.google.com |
| Claude | Anthropic's AI chatbot, emphasizing safety and user alignment. | claude.ai |
Like general GenAI products, the specialized legal tools largely work in a similar manner and choice of platform may be guided by subscription availability or cost considerations.
| Law Specific Platform | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Westlaw CoCounsel | Thomson Reuters' AI assistant that integrates with its legal research platforms, providing functionalities like document summarization, legal research, and drafting assistance. | legal.thomsonreuters.com |
| Lexis Protege (formerly AI+) | LexisNexis' AI-powered legal research platform that combines authoritative content with AI-driven tools for drafting, summarizing, and analyzing legal documents. | plus.lexis.com/protege/ |
