Generative AI brings new insights to litigation analytics tools
Nicole Black.
Updated: With the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, many traditional software categories have been reinvented. Legal software has not been immune from this impactful change. Over the past few years, AI has been increasingly embedded into tools that support legal workflows, and the result has been improved functionality that increases the overall intuitiveness and value of legal software.
The next generation of litigation analytics
Litigation analytics software is no exception to this trend. This category of software has changed significantly since I last wrote about it in 2020. The addition of more sophisticated AI capabilities, including generative AI, to some platforms, has supercharged the output. As a result, this category of software is even more appealing than ever to litigation attorneys and their teams.
Since the rollout of ChatGPT in November 2022, improved AI capabilities have impacted new and existing litigation analytics tools, noticeably increasing competition in this space. With this influx of AI-enabled products comes the challenge of sifting through the many choices available to identify the tool that is the best fit for your law firm’s needs.
That’s where this article comes in. I’ll provide an overview of this software category, tips for choosing the right tools, and a rundown of top contenders in the space.
The how and why of litigation analytics
Litigation analytics software quickly sifts through court records, filings and other public and private datasets, providing users with organized insights about judges, case outcomes, attorneys, expert witnesses and more. This technology helps legal professionals identify the patterns and trends that influence the direction of a case, providing for more informed strategy development.
With the addition of generative AI, these tools go beyond traditional data sorting. Generative AI capabilities enable the software to not only organize and analyze data but also generate summaries, predict potential outcomes, and offer strategic recommendations based on historical trends and similar cases. For example, the software can highlight patterns in a judge’s previous rulings or identify the likelihood of success for certain motions.
This enhanced functionality enables legal teams to reduce the time spent on manual research and data analysis. Using real-time, AI-powered insights, lawyers can make more informed decisions, improving the accuracy and efficiency of case preparation. Whether forecasting a case’s outcome or identifying trends in opposing counsel’s litigation tactics, these tools help legal professionals optimize their strategies from start to finish. The result is not just improved workflow efficiency but an increase in data-driven decision-making that can have a direct impact on litigation success.
Evaluating AI tools for litigation analytics
Before exploring new AI-powered software, you’ll have to first evaluate your firm’s current tech choices. Software vendors often introduce updates or may be in the process of forming partnerships that enhance the platforms that are already used in your firm, which could potentially add the features you’re seeking. Checking with your firm’s trusted providers before evaluating other tools can save time and resources by avoiding redundant purchases.
If you determine that a new solution is necessary, the next step is to clearly define the problems you have to solve. Review your firm’s current tech to identify gaps in your IT stack and uncover workflow inefficiencies. Make sure to involve team members who will use the software, so that you better understand their pain points and preferences. Their input will ensure a smoother adoption process and alignment with day-to-day operations.
Once you have a clear sense of your needs, research available tools. The list of litigation analytics platforms below is a good starting point. Take advantage of free trials or demos to test functionality and determine whether the software integrates well with your existing systems and workflows.
Security and compliance are also essential considerations when adopting AI tools. Your firm’s ethical obligations require careful vetting of any third-party provider that handles your firm’s confidential information. Confirm how client data will be handled, stored and backed up. Determine who will have access to it and under what circumstances.
Additionally, because analytics tools depend on firm data, ensuring robust data security is critical. While vendors often claim to protect data, you should verify the protections in place and assess whether the steps taken meet professional and regulatory standards.
When researching AI tools, another security factor to consider is whether the provider uses your firm’s data inputs to further train its AI models. Current ethics guidance suggests that confidential data should not be used for this purpose.
Finally, evaluate the AI tool’s accuracy and reliability. Consider how well it performs tasks, such as analyzing court data and predicting litigation outcomes, ensuring that it complements rather than complicates your litigation strategy. With these factors addressed, your firm will be better equipped to adopt a solution that enhances efficiency and litigation management.
With that advice in mind, let’s review some generative AI-enhanced litigation analytics tools. Understand that this list is not all-inclusive. Additionally, offerings from large legal tech companies, like Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis and vLex, are excluded. Each of these companies provides large-scale generative AI platforms that include litigation analytics data, so if your firm has these tools in place, it’s worth learning more about these capabilities and their costs before investing in a stand-alone option.
The cost of most legal analytics software depends on subscription models, features and firm size and is often negotiated with the vendor. However, if pricing is available on the company’s website, it will be included below.
Litigation analytics software with AI capabilities
First, there’s Trellis, which is a state trial court research and analytics platform. It provides access to court dockets and the judicial rulings of most states. Trellis offers insights into judges, opposing counsel and their firms and case outcomes. Pricing starts at $129.95 per month for up to three accounts.
LegalMation is an AI-driven tool that automates the litigation process. It generates legal documents and provides data analytics for litigators. The analytics provided draw from datasets that include external sources, such as court dockets, along with a firm’s internal data and documents. Reports provided include a risk index, outcome and cost predictions and counsel comparisons.
Another option is Premonition, an AI-driven litigation data and analytics platform. It predicts motion outcomes and provides insights into lawyers, firms, companies, judges and courts, offering comprehensive data coverage and detailed analysis of various litigation participants.
Finally, Pre/Dicta collects, classifies and analyzes the entire federal docket and every judge’s unique personal attributes, including age, gender, resumé/background and political affiliation. Then, using what it calls “predictive AI,” it predicts the success or failure of a motion to dismiss before that judge.
Maximizing litigation teams’ efficiency with AI
We are in a fast-moving era of technological advancements, and ignoring AI is not an option. Instead, position your firm for long-term growth by investing in AI-powered software that streamlines your teams’ litigation workflows and supports strategic decision-making.
The data-driven insights will improve courtroom outcomes and enhance client satisfaction, enabling your firm to stay ahead of the competition. The bottom line: There’s no better time than now to explore AI solutions that will empower your legal team for future litigation success.
Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York-based attorney, author and journalist, and she is the principal legal insight strategist at MyCase, a company that offers legal practice management software for small firms. She is the nationally recognized author of Cloud Computing for Lawyers and is co-author of Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier, both published by the American Bar Association. She writes regular columns for ABAJournal.com and Above the Law, has authored hundreds of articles for other publications, and regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law and emerging technologies. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @nikiblack, or she can be reached at [email protected].
This column reflects the opinions of the author and not necessarily the views of the ABA Journal—or the American Bar Association.
Updated Oct. 29 at 9:29 a.m. to clarify wording for the Pre/Dicta litigation analytics software.
