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.
SkillScore64Maintained
Automatic
◆Legal & Contracts pack
Last verified 8/12/2026
What it changes
Passed 12 of 19 test cases with the skill, and 5 of 19 without it.
Without skill24%
With skill64%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
Directs the user to Claims Explorer on Westlaw.
Directs the user to AI Jurisdictional Surveys on Westlaw.
Directs the user to the traditional search box on Westlaw.
and 8 more in the full report
10 fixed6 passed either way9 still failing0 broke
Pass-rate lift
+40 pp
Tokens
-7%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-72%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 8/12/2026v116 of 25 cases passed with skill · 19 comparable
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
See it in action
One of 10 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
1 of 10
Prompt
The deep research task with ID 'conv-4411' returned status 'failed' with error_type 'INVALID_JURISDICTION' and failure_reason 'The jurisdiction specified is not recognized'. Present this update to the legal counsel.
What was checked, without and with the skill
Checked
Without skill
With skill
Explains the error and failure reason in plain natural language.
Passed
Passed
Omits technical field names like error_type or failure_reason from the output text.
Missed
Passed
case-10 · gemini-3.6-flash · 8/12/2026 · answers are capped and redacted
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md122 linessingle file
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
Instead: Suggest Litigation Analytics on Westlaw
Foreign or non-U.S. law
Instead: Suggest country-specific version of Westlaw, such as Westlaw UK or Westlaw Canada, or use Westlaw International