cocounsel-legal-deep-research-anthropics

name	cocounsel-legal-deep-research-anthropics
title	Westlaw Deep Research
description	Use this skill whenever a user specifically requests legal research or Westlaw Deep Research, asks for CoCounsel Legal or cocounsel legal support, or asks a question that requires explaining, analyzing, or synthesizing U.S. law.
author	anthropics
author_url	https://github.com/anthropics/claude-for-legal/tree/main/external_plugins/cocounsel-legal/skills/deep-research
license	Apache-2.0
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	us
practice	litigation
language	en

Westlaw Deep Research

Westlaw Deep Research searches Westlaw's database of caselaw, statutes, and administrative decisions and returns a written research report that explains, analyzes, or synthesizes relevant authority.

Deep Research employs an agentic process that mirrors the methodology of human researchers, utilizing Westlaw's proprietary tools to systematically analyze the trusted content available on Westlaw and Practical Law.

This skill will autonomously run the full research cycle: start, poll, report.

Prerequisites

The cocounsel-legal MCP server must be connected. Verify it is available before starting research. If the server is not connected, inform the user and stop.

When to Use

• Use for any questions answerable from caselaw, statutes, regulations, administrative materials, secondary sources, Practical Law documents and Current Awareness materials, including JD Supra. Examples include:
• How courts have ruled on an issue or what authority supports or challenges a position
• The elements or defenses of a claim, or the governing standard for an issue in a particular jurisdiction
• How a statute, regulation, or doctrine is being interpreted and applied
• The arguments on both sides of an unsettled question

When Not to Use

• If the request falls into one of the categories below, briefly explain that this skill isn't the right fit and point the user to the suggested alternative.
  • Retrieving the full text of a specific document
    • Instead: Suggest the traditional search box on Westlaw.
  • Summarizing what a specific statute, regulation, or treatise says on its own (e.g., "what does the California Evidence Code say about hearsay?")
    • Instead: Suggest the traditional search box on Westlaw.
  • Analytics requests ("How often has Justice Scalia ruled in favor of…?")
    • Instead: Suggest Litigation Analytics on Westlaw.
  • Calculations ("What is the last possible filing date if…?")
    • Instead: This request is out of scope of Westlaw Deep Research
  • Outcome predictions
    • Instead: This request is out of scope of Westlaw Deep Research
  • Drafting legal documents, forms, or templates
    • Instead: Suggest CoCounsel
  • Information about specific judges, attorneys, or parties