CoCounsel Legal Reviews

“Blown away by this software

Pros

Our legal team has been blown away by it. This AI-powered wiz feels like a clever detective mixed with lightning-fast search guiding us through matters so smoothly that we've gained real confidence and the kind of mastery you'd expect from seasoned counsel. CaseText's CoCounsel app is an absolute ace in the legal toolkit!

Cons

I've watched our department's once-treasured manual research fade into irrelevance, it simply can't compete anymore.

“easy to read font

Pros

On my desktop the font is really easy to read and I notice that information appears very quickly whenever I pull it up.

Cons

It doesn't feel as detailed as some of the larger databases I've used so I sometimes miss a few resources.

“Displays similar cases side by side

Pros

I really appreciate how it displays identical and similar cases side-by-side and I value the two-column page printing layout.

Cons

Sometimes I have to enter an excessive amount of search detail before I get the results I want which can be frustrating.

“affordable tool

Pros

It is incredibly simple to use and it includes the same features offered by much more expensive legal research platforms, all at a price point small firms can actually afford.

Cons

I'm not a fan of the new layout. I would much rather see the previous design restored because it felt more user-friendly and was easier for me to move around.

“Saves a lot of time

Pros

The easy to use search tools and the copy-and-paste features have been a huge timesaver.

Cons

It lacks original pleadings like Complaints, Answers and responsive pleadings such as Motions for Summary Judgment.

“Lets me put statements as my search

Pros

What I really appreciate is being able to type either a full statement or a question as my search and it returns highly relevant, accurate results. That feature saves me an enormous amount of time whenever I'm digging into specific issues to research.

Cons

I'd really like the option to limit searches to particular entries in Black's Law Dictionary within Casetext but I haven't discovered how to do that and it might not be supported yet. For now I'll keep experimenting to see if there's a way to narrow results that way.

“quick and reliable

Pros

As someone who's relied on Westlaw for years switching to this software genuinely caught me off guard. It's very fast and consistently accurate when I'm researching cases especially if you're used to waiting through the slow grind of older services. I also appreciate that I have two search options to choose from, traditional keyword/Boolean queries or the parallel search giving me flexibility in how I hunt down materials.

Cons

I miss having access to a few of the treatises I used to rely on.

“can research any state

Pros

What I find most useful is the brightness of the scope. It makes it simple for me to look up and research any state I need information on.

Cons

Personally I'd really like the platform to include more explanatory treatises so I have additional in-depth references and guidance available.

“Compatible with my browser

Pros

Because it's compatible with my browser I don't have to download any extra software to use it.

Cons

I find the case history could be easier to use. The layout isn't as convenient as I'd like.

“well-organized with fair pricing

Pros

The layout is well-organized and I don't feel nickel-and-dimed for each search I perform. I appreciate being able to copy case excerpts straight into my document and the citations are accurate. Support is truly responsive and consistently helpful whenever I need assistance.

Cons

It would be great if the platform let me filter cases down to specific regulatory subparts. Occasionally I find certain opinions missing. I might see later orders like attorneys' fee awards but not the initial ruling. Also having a mobile app would make things more convenient.

“Legal research at your fingertips

Pros

It puts legal research right at my fingertips so I can quickly pull up cases and materials when I need them.

Cons

Occasionally I find it difficult to frame the right research question which makes getting the exact results I want a bit challenging.

“decent shepardizing and search tools

Pros

The interface is clean and simple and it does the job well. Its search tools work fine and the Shepardizing feature is decent (no service here is perfect) so considering the price I think it's a good value.

Cons

There's not enough customization and I can't pull up appellate briefs the way I can on Westlaw. In my view linking those briefs would offer far more value than the parallel-search feature which is useful but doesn't meet an appellate lawyer's needs. Every case ought to include direct links to the briefs.

“Responsive team

Pros

Using it is very simple and I really appreciate the attentive assistance I get from the staff.

Cons

I noticed that it does not include unreported cases.

“Comprehensive database

Pros

As a solo practitioner I appreciate that this offers a detailed database at a very reasonable price point for someone like me.

Cons

Well I miss having access to the Rutter Guide since I heavily depended on it when I used Westlaw.

“More effective than Lexis

Pros

I find it's interface extremely user-friendly and approachable for users at any experience level. Even though I now have access to Lexis I still reach for Casetext most of the time because it feels quicker and more effective.

Cons

Occasionally I miss the citation-checking tools that some other services offer. Those features make verification easier. Still it gives me enough capability to confirm that the case law I'm relying on is sound.

“Legal research made easy

Pros

As both an educator and a paralegal I've found it's well-organized, friendly layout makes legal research surprisingly effortless and even enjoyable. I also value that case law and statutory materials seem to refresh almost in real time so I'm working from current, reliable information when preparing lessons or handling client matters.

Cons

I can't honestly complain. After using it for several years I haven't faced any issues worth mentioning.

“great for researching resources

Pros

I rely on it because it provides the research materials I need to win my cases. Its search functions are intelligent enough to surface relevant authorities I might have missed on my own.

Cons

When I run a search for a term and the results show cases with the highlighted passage there's no way for me to open that specific passage in a new tab. I've already submitted a feature request because this seems like a simple fix.

“Top choice

Pros

From my experience I find the research process very simple. It is cost-effective and the customer support is extremely helpful and quick to respond. The search result quality is excellent. Compared to Westlaw or Nexis, Casetext wins.

Cons

Not much to criticize here. It has been steadily adding new features. They regularly schedule feedback calls with users and I've seen several of my suggestions actually added to the platform.

“cooperative support team

Pros

It feels simple and user-friendly and it really doesn't demand any expertise beyond understanding the search syntax which is conveniently accessible right from the search bar. I've also found their customer service and research team to be cooperative, stepping in with solid, helpful support when we needed to tackle more complex research.

Cons

There are certain document types I can't usually find, like appellate briefs for example although it appears they keep adding more materials over time. Those briefs are more of a 'nice to have' for our work so it's not a deal-breaker but I would really like to see a wider selection of pleadings made available in the future.

“Huge timesaver

Pros

What I find most helpful about Casetext is how much time it frees up while consistently returning highly accurate search hits. For me the real game changers are tools like CARA AI and the Parallel Search capability. I also rely heavily on the option to run a cite-check across an entire brief and in seconds it tells me whether an authority my opponent cited has gone bad. I appreciate how simple it is to copy and paste caselaw excerpts that come with automatic citation formatting. That single convenience alone recaptures endless hours and speeds up my workflow considerably.

Cons

Honestly there's very little I don't like about it. The platform barely requires a learning curve and overall the user experience feels excellent to me. Even with limited technical skill I find their interface simple and they make it easy to get productive quickly which matters a lot in busy practice.

“all-in-one legal research tool

Pros

For legal research it's fast and flexible, letting me run searches by citation, keyword or exact phrase. I can pull up case law and statutes in seconds and easily copy and paste citations into my notes. The platform also shows case histories and later decisions that reference a matter so I can track how issues evolved. To me it's an all-in-one research tool for attorneys and the price is reasonable.

Cons

I've been unable to locate Pattern Jury Instructions within the platform which is something I need.

“Simple to use

Pros

I find the interface very simple to use and it's one of the few tools that lets a small firm go toe-to-toe with larger teams in research and analysis.

Cons

It would be really helpful if the library had a wider selection of treatises and additional no-action letters to reference.

“Wide range of AI tools

Pros

It's quite user-friendly. The suite of advanced AI tools really helps me locate highly relevant cases quickly and easily.

Cons

Having to unlearn some of my traditional research habits has been an adjustment but honestly I don't have any real complaints.

“powerful features at a reasonable price

Pros

It provides extensive coverage across all state and federal courts for an affordable yearly price and it gives me powerful tools to dig deep into legal research.

Cons

There are no downsides that I can mention here.

“Mixed Experience with Parallel Search

Pros

With Parallel Search I'm able to research any topic in real-time and it provides multiple cases for me to review instantly.

Cons

I'd like Parallel Search to do a better job surfacing dissenting opinions instead of leaning only on majority viewpoints.

“Budget-friendly option

Pros

Westlaw and Lexis offer very similar search engines yet they come with a much higher price tag than alternatives. I still rely on Lexis because I find their Shepard's citator simpler and more user-friendly to use in my day-to-day work. If I had to pick only one platform this would be the one I keep.

Cons

Sometimes the interface makes me take an unnecessary extra step or two which is irritating. For instance I almost never need authority outside Wisconsin yet the system doesn't default to Wisconsin-only results and that seems like an obvious setting the product should offer.

“excellent value for money

Pros

Price is the main plus for me. I like that it's priced fairly and provides good value.

Cons

I wish it offered more secondary sources and stronger state-specific resources.

“Useful cut-paste option

Pros

What I like is the cut-and-paste with citation capability plus the Parallel Cites feature which really helps.

Cons

Parallel Cites is great but I wish it would be updated so the summaries clearly flag when cases are non-published since that's currently missing.