Westlaw New Zealand launches AI-Assisted Research for faster, verifiable legal work
Thomson Reuters has rolled out new workflow upgrades for Westlaw New Zealand, led by AI-Assisted Research. Lawyers can ask complex questions in plain language and receive sourced answers with direct links to primary law. The goal is simple: reduce hours spent scanning results and increase time spent on analysis and client outcomes.
What's new
- AI-Assisted Research: Natural-language queries with verifiable citations and links to primary materials.
- Outline Builder: Turn findings into structured research outlines as you go.
- Keep List: Bookmark and return to key authorities instantly.
- Hide Details: Collapse noise to focus on what matters.
- Search Snippets: Get quick context without opening each result.
- Search Highlighting: See relevant keywords at a glance.
- Getting Started Bar: Pin frequently used content for quick access.
"Generative AI holds immense promise for the legal sector, and lawyers must be able to rely on the sources behind every conclusion," said Vishal Bali, Managing Director for Asia and Emerging Markets. "Thomson Reuters remains steadfast in its mission to provide New Zealand's legal professionals with advanced generative AI technology and information they can trust to improve their expertise and support their clients and organisations with confidence."
Built for New Zealand practice
Pressure is increasing to deliver more value with leaner teams and tighter timelines. According to the 2025 ROI of Legal Tech and AI Report, 72% of New Zealand legal professionals plan to accelerate digital transformation in the next year.
James Jarvis, Vice President for Product Management, Westlaw, noted: "New Zealand's legal community expects precision, reliability, and contextually relevant insight. Our goal is to ensure that Westlaw New Zealand operates in harmony with how local lawyers work - providing research tools that reflect their professional standards and uphold the integrity of the legal process."
Security and compliance
All queries run under a zero-retention policy with third-party AI providers, so customer data isn't used for training. The platform meets SOC 2 Type 2 requirements and has ISO 42001:2023 verification for AI management systems. For more on these standards, see AICPA SOC 2. Thomson Reuters states that responsible, secure AI remains a priority, with additional capabilities planned through 2026.
Why this matters for your workflow
- Faster issue spotting: Ask nuanced questions and move straight to the most relevant authorities.
- Evidence-first answers: Every response links to primary law for instant verification.
- Cleaner research flow: Outline Builder, Keep List, and Search Snippets cut tab-juggling and rework.
- Signal-to-noise control: Hide Details and Search Highlighting keep focus where it counts.
Practical rollout tips
- Pilot on one live matter per practice area; compare time saved and citation quality.
- Capture effective prompts in a shared playbook; refine them with your team's feedback.
- Set internal rules for AI use (verification steps, citation checks, and approval thresholds).
- Train juniors on verifying sources and building outlines that match your house style.
- Track updates through 2026 and adjust workflows as features expand.
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Context and what's next
This release follows the New Zealand launch of CoCounsel, Thomson Reuters' generative AI assistant, in March 2025 - reinforcing a consistent push to make AI a dependable part of legal research. For product information, visit Westlaw by Thomson Reuters.
