Legal Tips

How I Halved My Legal Research Time (Without Sacrificing Quality) – Arshita Anand

Legal research used to consume hours of my day—sifting through dense judgments, hunting for precedents, and formatting citations. Then I embraced technology, cutting my research time in half while maintaining precision. Here’s how I transformed my workflow and how you can too:

1. Move Beyond Google and SCC

Traditional tools like SCC Online and Google are useful but limited. I adopted AI-powered platforms like:

  1. CaseMine: Suggests related cases and highlights key paragraphs.
  2. Manupatra AI Assist: Analyzes case patterns for deeper insights.
  3. LexisNexis: Advanced filters deliver precise results.

These tools don’t just retrieve cases—they anticipate your needs, saving hours of manual searching.

2. Summarize Judgments with AI

Reading 100-page judgments is inefficient. I use AI summarization tools to get concise overviews:

  1. JUDI.AI Judgment Summarizer: Distills rulings to core points.

  2. Casetext (CARA): Summarizes and flags relevant sections.

  3. ChatGPT: Provides quick summaries (always verify key details).

I cross-check critical paragraphs, but these tools eliminate hours of skimming irrelevant text.

3. Automate Citations

Manual citation formatting is tedious. Tools like Zotero, RefWorks, and EndNote generate Bluebook, OSCOLA, or other style-compliant citations instantly. This freed up time for substantive analysis.

4. Master Boolean Search

Vague keyword searches waste time. I use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT, NEAR) to refine queries. For example:
Instead of: arbitration clause invalid enforcement India
Use: "arbitration clause" AND ("invalid" OR "unenforceable") AND India

This delivers precise results, minimizing irrelevant hits.

5. Build a Personal Case Law Database

Re-researching familiar cases is inefficient. I save and tag judgments in Notion, OneNote, or Evernote, noting key takeaways. This personal database ensures I never start from scratch.

6. Leverage Contract Analysis Tools

For contract research, I rely on:

  1. Kira Systems: Identifies risky clauses.

  2. Lawgeex: Streamlines contract review.

These platforms provide a head start, enhancing drafting accuracy and speed.

7. Boost Reading Efficiency

Long judgments slowed me down. Speed-reading tools like Spritz and Reedy trained me to process legal texts faster without losing comprehension.

8. Stay Updated with Alerts

Manually tracking legal updates is unnecessary. I set up alerts on LexisNexis, SCC Online, and Google Alerts to receive real-time notifications on new judgments and amendments in my practice areas.

By integrating these tools, I achieve:

  1. Faster research: Precise results in less time.

  2. Better focus: More time for analysis, not searching.

  3. Higher accuracy: AI and automation reduce errors.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

If you’re stuck in old-school research habits, it’s time to embrace technology. Lawyers leveraging these tools don’t just save time—they deliver superior results. Start today, and transform your practice.