Choosing between Lexis+ and Westlaw Precision is one of the most consequential technology decisions a modern legal team makes. These platforms shape research speed, accuracy, risk management, and client value. This week’s in-depth comparison outlines how the two leaders stack up on features, generative AI, analytics, compliance, Microsoft 365 integration, pricing, and best-fit scenarios—so you can buy with confidence and implement with purpose.
- Overview of the Tools
- Features & Capabilities Comparison
- Side-by-Side Comparison at a Glance
- Compliance, Security & Risk Management
- Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
- User Experience & Learning Curve
- Integration with Microsoft 365 and Other Legal Tools
- Pricing & Licensing Models
- Pros & Cons of Each Solution
- Best Fit Scenarios
- Decision-Support Framework
- Verdict
- Conclusion
Overview of the Tools
Lexis+ is LexisNexis’s unified legal research experience that blends primary law, secondary sources, citator tools (Shepard’s), analytics (e.g., Lex Machina, Context), Practical Guidance, brief analysis, and a growing suite of generative AI capabilities (Lexis+ AI) for conversational research and drafting assist. The platform emphasizes breadth of content, AI-assisted answers with citations, and integrations across the LexisNexis portfolio.
Westlaw Precision is Thomson Reuters’s premium research offering built on Westlaw with new “precision research” classifications to accelerate on-point case discovery. It layers advanced issue-level filters, enhanced citator (KeyCite), litigation analytics, Practical Law know-how content, and generative AI experiences integrated from the TR/Casetext ecosystem. The focus is faster path-to-authority and stronger on-point relevance.
Features & Capabilities Comparison
Research Precision and Filters
Westlaw Precision introduces granular issue-level tagging and filters (e.g., legal issue, fact pattern, motion type/outcome, cause of action, and outcome) to isolate the most relevant authorities quickly. This can substantially reduce research time in fact-sensitive or motion-driven work, particularly in litigation.
Lexis+ emphasizes comprehensive retrieval and iterative refinement with modern search experiences (natural language and Boolean), topic summaries, and AI-guided query refinement. It is strong for multi-jurisdictional surveys, deep secondary-source exploration, and broad canvassing before narrowing.
Citators: Shepard’s vs KeyCite
Shepard’s (Lexis+) is known for granular treatment signals and explanatory parentheticals, with powerful features for identifying positive/negative treatment and depth of discussion. Shepard’s is particularly helpful for legislative and administrative materials alongside cases.
KeyCite (Westlaw Precision) provides classic red/yellow flags and innovations like “Cited With” and enhanced history to understand relationships and treatment. KeyCite’s tight integration with Precision’s filters can accelerate validation and synthesis.
Generative AI for Legal Research
Lexis+ AI supports conversational research, brief drafting, and summarization with linked citations and source grounding. It’s well-suited to first-pass framing of an issue and quickly generating outlines or checklists.
Westlaw Precision (AI) integrates generative experiences informed by Thomson Reuters’s content and Casetext technology to answer complex legal questions and propose starting points with citations. When paired with Precision filters, it can produce highly targeted, verifiable outputs faster.
Brief and Document Analysis
Lexis+ offers brief analysis to surface missing authorities, conflicts, and recommended citations, plus drafting aides that leverage Practical Guidance and analytics tools.
Westlaw Precision users can tap into brief analysis and drafting with TR’s broader drafting suite; coupling Quick Check-style review with Practical Law and Drafting Assistant can create a cohesive drafting pipeline.
Analytics and Practical Guidance
Lexis+ integrates Lex Machina for outcome analytics and Context for judge, court, and expert insights, alongside Lexis Practical Guidance models, checklists, and clauses.
Westlaw Precision integrates Litigation Analytics and Practical Law. Practical Law’s breadth and editorial quality are frequently cited advantages for transactional and corporate teams. Analytics coverage can vary by jurisdiction and practice area; vet your specific needs.
Content Breadth & Secondary Sources
Both vendors maintain extensive primary law libraries and premium secondary sources that are often exclusive to one platform or the other. Your coverage needs (e.g., treatises, practice guides, state-specific publications) can be decisive—ask each vendor to demonstrate access to your “must-have” titles.
Side-by-Side Comparison at a Glance
| Category | Lexis+ | Westlaw Precision |
|---|---|---|
| Core Research Approach | Comprehensive retrieval with iterative narrowing; strong secondary sources and AI-guided Q&A | Issue-level classification and filters to reach on-point authorities faster |
| Citator | Shepard’s with granular signals and treatments; strong for legislative/admin materials | KeyCite with flags, History, and Cited With; tightly integrated into Precision filters |
| Generative AI | Lexis+ AI for conversational research, drafting, and summaries with citations | AI-enabled answers and drafting informed by TR content and Casetext tech |
| Brief/Document Analysis | Brief analysis detects gaps and conflicts; integrates with analytics and guidance | Brief analysis and Quick Check-style capabilities; strong pairing with Drafting Assistant |
| Analytics | Lex Machina (outcomes) and Context (judges/experts) | Litigation Analytics (court/judge metrics) |
| Practical Guidance | Lexis Practical Guidance with models and clauses | Practical Law with extensive editorial know-how |
| Microsoft 365 | Lexis Create add-in for Word; legacy integrations; SSO via SAML/Azure AD | Drafting Assistant and Practical Law for Word; SSO via SAML/Azure AD |
| Collaboration | Shared folders, alerts; integrates with analytics tools; options for intranet surfacing | Shared research, HighQ ecosystem for matter collaboration (add-on) |
| Compliance/Security | Enterprise security, encryption, admin controls, audit logs; compliance docs available from vendor | Enterprise security, encryption, admin controls, audit logs; compliance docs available from vendor |
| Pricing & Licensing | Tiered subscriptions, bundles with analytics/guidance; out-of-plan content may trigger charges | Premium tier pricing; add-ons for analytics/guidance; out-of-plan content may trigger charges |
| Best For | Firms needing broad content, analytics depth, and AI drafting aids | Teams prioritizing speed-to-on-point authority and motion-focused research |
Expert take: In 2025, the deciding factor isn’t “who has more content”—it’s who gets you to the right answer faster without increasing risk. Precision’s issue filters excel at speed-to-authority; Lexis+ shines when you need breadth, analytics, and AI-driven drafting to deliver client-ready work product.
Compliance, Security & Risk Management
Both vendors market enterprise-grade security designed for law firms and corporate legal departments. While specific attestations and certifications vary by product and region, expect the following common controls:
- Encryption in transit and at rest
- Single sign-on (SAML/Azure AD/Okta) and optional MFA
- Role-based access, usage logs, and administrative reporting
- Data retention controls and support for legal holds on account-level data
- Vendor security documentation, penetration testing summaries, and DPAs available upon request
For generative AI features, both vendors state that customer prompts and retrieved documents are not used to train public LLMs. Nevertheless, confirm your organization’s requirements for confidentiality, logging, storage duration, and jurisdictional processing—and obtain these statements in writing.
Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
Lexis+ supports shared folders, alerts, saved searches, and easy citation sharing. When paired with Lex Machina and Context, teams can centralize matter-specific insights for repeatable use.
Westlaw Precision enables shared research assets and integrates well into Thomson Reuters’s broader collaboration offerings. Many firms extend this with HighQ (separate product) for matter sites, tasking, and document automation.
Both platforms can surface links on internal portals or knowledge bases, and both send alerts for new authorities, negative treatment, and legislative updates—key for risk management and client notifications.
User Experience & Learning Curve
Westlaw Precision feels familiar to Westlaw users but adds powerful new filters and facets on search results. Litigators often experience a fast productivity bump, especially in motion practice.
Lexis+ offers a modern interface with strong discovery tools, AI-guided queries, and robust secondary sources. New users appreciate conversational AI and topic summaries; power users rely on Boolean and Shepard’s customization.
Both vendors provide onboarding, training webinars, certification tracks, and admin dashboards to monitor adoption and usage.
Integration with Microsoft 365 and Other Legal Tools
Deep Microsoft 365 integration is increasingly a must-have to keep legal teams inside Word, Outlook, and Teams.
- Lexis+: Lexis Create for Word supports citation tools, clause insertion, and knowledge reuse; brief analysis accepts Word/PDF uploads; SSO with Azure AD. Many firms expose Lexis links and alerts in Teams or intranets.
- Westlaw Precision: Drafting Assistant and Practical Law for Word connect research to drafting with authority checking and model documents; SSO via Azure AD/Okta; firms commonly embed links and alerts in Teams and HighQ.
Outside Microsoft 365, look for connections to DMS (iManage/NetDocuments), intake/case systems, and knowledge platforms. Both vendors maintain partner ecosystems and APIs or export options that can feed internal knowledge hubs.
Pricing & Licensing Models
Both platforms use tiered subscriptions with content bundles, seat-based licensing, and optional add-ons (analytics, guidance, drafting tools, AI). Expect enterprise agreements with multi-year terms. Key pricing drivers include:
- Number and type of users (researchers vs. occasional users)
- Practice-area content sets and state/federal coverage
- Analytics modules (Lex Machina/Context vs. Litigation Analytics)
- Practical guidance (Lexis Practical Guidance vs. Practical Law)
- Drafting tools and Microsoft 365 add-ins
- Generative AI feature access and usage allowances
Both platforms may charge transactional fees for out-of-plan content. To avoid surprises, request a “no accidental overage” clause, clear usage dashboards, and proactive notifications. Bundle wisely: if your team lives in Practical Law or Lex Machina, negotiate those modules from the start.
Pros & Cons of Each Solution
Lexis+
- Pros: Broad content and secondary sources; Shepard’s depth; strong AI for drafting and summaries; robust analytics via Lex Machina and Context; solid Word integration with Lexis Create.
- Cons: Fewer issue-level precision filters than Westlaw Precision; interface breadth can encourage over-retrieval without disciplined filtering; pricing complexity with analytics add-ons.
Westlaw Precision
- Pros: Exceptional issue-level filtering for fast on-point case discovery; KeyCite innovations; seamless with Practical Law and Drafting Assistant; compelling AI answers rooted in TR ecosystem.
- Cons: Premium pricing; analytics depth varies by jurisdiction; may require process changes to exploit Precision filters fully; some secondary sources may be exclusive to the competitor.
Two efficient research workflows
- Westlaw Precision path: Natural-language query → apply issue/fact/motion filters → validate with KeyCite → export to Drafting Assistant/Word → add Practical Law model language.
- Lexis+ path: Conversational AI to frame issues → Shepardize key cases/statutes → consult Practical Guidance/secondary sources → run brief analysis → finalize in Word via Lexis Create.
Best Fit Scenarios
- Litigation-first teams with heavy motion practice: Westlaw Precision’s issue-level filters deliver speed-to-authority and clean result sets.
- Firms needing analytics-driven strategy and broad surveys: Lexis+ with Lex Machina and Context supports pattern recognition and judge/expert insights.
- Transactional/corporate groups: Westlaw Precision paired with Practical Law or Lexis+ with Practical Guidance—run pilots to see which models/clauses match your drafting style.
- Knowledge-management–mature firms: Either platform works; consider which integrates best with your DMS, 365 add-ins, and intranet strategy.
- Budget-constrained small firms: Evaluate entry bundles and AI feature ROI. A narrowly scoped Westlaw Precision package or a Lexis+ bundle without premium analytics can both be cost-effective.
Decision-Support Framework
Use this checklist to evaluate which platform aligns with your priorities:
- Matter Mix: What percentage of work is litigation (motions, appeals) vs. transactional/regulatory? Which jurisdictions dominate?
- Speed vs. Breadth: Do you value ultra-fast on-point authority (Precision filters) or comprehensive canvassing with strong secondary-source depth (Lexis+)?
- Citator Preference: Does your team favor Shepard’s treatments or KeyCite flags and visualizations? Run the same matters through each.
- Generative AI Safety and ROI: Which AI experience produces reliable, sourced outputs for your use cases? Confirm data-handling commitments.
- Analytics: Which analytics (Lex Machina/Context vs. TR Litigation Analytics) cover your courts and practice areas best?
- Guidance Content: Practical Guidance vs. Practical Law—whose models and checklists align with your drafting norms?
- Microsoft 365 Fit: Do your lawyers work primarily in Word/Outlook/Teams? Test Lexis Create vs. Drafting Assistant/Practical Law for Word.
- Training & Adoption: Which UI do your teams adopt faster? What certifications and admin reporting are available?
- Compliance & IT: SSO, MFA, logging, data retention, and audit packages—does the vendor meet your governance standards?
- Total Cost: Price bundles, AI usage, analytics, and “out-of-plan” risks. Negotiate guardrails and success metrics up front.
Verdict
Westlaw Precision is best when your highest priority is rapidly locating the most on-point cases with minimal noise—especially for motion-intensive litigation. Precision’s issue-level filters and KeyCite integration deliver measurable speed gains and defensibility.
Lexis+ is best when you need broad and deep research across jurisdictions, richer analytics for strategic decisions, and generative AI that supports drafting and summarization. Shepard’s, Lex Machina, and Context create a compelling ecosystem for insights and work-product acceleration.
Bottom line: Litigators who live in motions may see superior speed in Westlaw Precision. Teams needing analytics and drafting support may realize greater end-to-end value from Lexis+. Many mid-to-large firms license both and optimize access by practice group. If you must choose one, run a structured 14-day pilot using real matters, time your workflows, and compare outcomes.
Conclusion
Both Lexis+ and Westlaw Precision are outstanding, but they excel in different moments of the research-to-drafting lifecycle. Align your choice to matter mix, analytics needs, and Microsoft 365 workflow. Whichever route you take, invest in training, AI governance, and usage dashboards to turn features into measurable client value.
Want expert guidance on improving your legal practice operations with modern tools and strategies? Reach out to A.I. Solutions today for tailored support and training.
