Common questions about Knowledge Search

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What is CoCounsel Knowledge Search?
CoCounsel Knowledge Search is a capability within CoCounsel Core which lets users simultaneously search content repositories to find the most relevant content across their main content sources at once. Users can:
  • Search multiple content repositories where their knowledge is housed
  • Find relevant documents within those repositories
  • Surface insights and answers from those repositories
  • Connect to other Thomson Reuters and Microsoft applications to continue their workflow
What Thomson Reuters subscriptions are required?
No specific subscriptions are required in addition to CoCounsel. If a customer doesn’t have Practical Law or Westlaw, customers won’t be able to search those sources. Instead, the search results will be surfaced from their internal repositories or their other third-party subscriptions.
Does Knowledge Search replace Legal Search Connect?
No. Knowledge Search is not a direct replacement for Legal Search Connect. For more information on how to the 2 compare, see these documents: Content source list and Search service product comparison.
What LLM is this running on?
GPT 4.0mini. We constantly revise and update our models to ensure the best quality/cost balance for our customers.
Does this bypass the need for Westlaw Edge U.K. with CoCounsel?
No. Knowledge Search can only display Westlaw content that the customer has access to through Westlaw Edge U.K. Even if Knowledge Search surfaces Westlaw content, users would need to go to their Westlaw subscription to view it.
In addition to the content, the premium Westlaw subscriptions also offer many other benefits. Knowledge Search makes it easy to find relevant information by automatically applying filters and searching across multiple sources. It helps customers get started on their research or task. However, if they need to dive deeper into specific topics or analyze complex information, Westlaw is still the best choice. Westlaw uses advanced technology to provide more detailed summaries, searches, and analysis of its extensive content. This is especially useful for litigators who need to thoroughly examine cases and outcomes.
Think of it like this: Knowledge Search helps you find the right doors to open, while Westlaw Edge U.K. helps you explore what's behind those doors in greater detail. By using both tools together, you get the best of both worlds. Knowledge Search provides a broad search across multiple sources, and Westlaw provides in-depth analysis of its comprehensive content.
By having both, customers will have a powerful research combination that helps find the right information, analyze it thoroughly, and get the best possible answers.
Is Syncly required to access the firm’s DMS?
No. Knowledge Search uses the same technology that is currently used in both CoCounsel Drafting and the Outlook plug-in that enables users to connect to the DMS and content subscriptions.
Does Knowledge Search mean we don’t need to sell Syncly anymore?
No. Syncly and Knowledge Search solve different problems. Syncly is a great solution for uploading documents in bulk. Knowledge Search helps customers find the right documents by searching all of their content repositories. For a more detailed comparison, see the Syncly FAQs.
What content sources are integrated with Knowledge Search?
For the most updated list of content sources, see the content source list in advisor.
Does Knowledge Connect integrate with West km?
No, neither CoCounsel nor Knowledge Search integrate with West km.
Does Knowledge Connect integrate with Westlaw (U.S.)?
No, not that this time.
Why wouldn’t a customer go directly to their DMS to find documents?
With Knowledge Search, you're doing the search where you're doing the work when you're using CoCounsel. This lets customers remove the step where they have to go to their DMS (and often multiple other systems such as SharePoint, OneDrive), find and download documents, and then upload them into CoCounsel.
Knowledge Search also lets them search all content at once – whether it's in their DMS or in other content subscriptions.
Knowledge Search improves the user experience by making it simpler to search and then do something with those search results.
Does Knowledge Search cost more?
No. Knowledge Search is included in all CoCounsel subscriptions.
How does Knowledge Search work with third-party search?
When customers use Knowledge Search, they can ask a question or type in a keyword. Knowledge Search then breaks down the request and figures out the best way to search for answers in each of our sources. This is done automatically, so customers don't have to spend time searching each source individually.
Knowledge Search also makes sure to keep the users’ permissions and follow any ethical rules that apply to each source.
Knowledge Search adds summaries and keywords to help users quickly see what the results are about.
The goal is to give customers the best possible search results, using the strengths of each source and filling in any gaps with our own technology. This way, customers get the answers they need quickly and easily, without having to do extra work.
Is Knowledge Search available for all CoCounsel users?
Yes. It will be turned on to all users by default, but administrators can turn it off for selected users in the same way as other skills.

Connect content sources and use Knowledge Search

What is a content source?
A data source, also known as a connector, integrates 2 platforms together to return data from one to another.
How can I request additional content sources?
You can contact your Knowledge Manager. They’ll be able to update your available sources as needed. In the case that a source isn't available, your Knowledge Manage can contact your account manager.
Why am I asked to sign in for some content sources?
Some content sources do the subscription validation automatically so you can connect to them without sign in, but there are some content sources that will require your account’s sign in information.
Why do I have no available content sources?
It's probable that your account isn’t set up by your Knowledge Manager yet, contact them for help.
If I already selected some content sources, can I add or remove later?
Yes, you can manage your registered sources at any time from the Content sources’ menu.
How should I perform a search?
You can use single keywords or a group of keywords by using Boolean operators like AND/OR/NOT. For example, fraud AND damage/car OR automobile/infringement NOT patent.
You can also search by specifying a phrase with double quotes. For example, “Due Diligence”. The results that are returned will display cases that search for exactly what's in the quotation marks.
There are other cases you can use different connectors:
  • Group search terms (): This will search for cases which include the keyword as well as one or both of the keywords within the parenthesis. For example, Appeal AND (verdict OR judgment)
  • Wildcard (*): Allows for different letters to fill where the asterisk is. For example, Withdr*w – cases that have either withdraw or withdrew
  • Root extender (!): Allows for different endings to the word. For example, Infring! - Search for cases that have any word that begins with Infring (infringe, infringement, infringed)
What’s intelligent search?
Intelligent search automatically detects the type of search you're performing. You can search by natural language or keywords.
Query using natural language
Use precise language and avoid additional info. For example, “Find information about property law and easements”.
Keyword search using Boolean operators: Use a single or group of keywords using Boolean operators like AND/OR/NOT. For example, fraud AND damage/car OR automobile/infringement NOT patent.
Use double quotes to search for a phrase. For example, “Due diligence”. Results return cases that contain what's within double quotes.
Can I run a previous search again?
Yes, the recent search functionality will display your recent searches from the last 48 hours. This functionality doesn’t apply for “Find in results” functionality which is search result specific.
How does the “Find in results” field work?
This field will help you find a specific term within your current search results; the term will be highlighted so you can easily identify it.
Do searches retrieve LLM content?
If you want to see the LLM version of your searches you can select the detailed option on the
Result display
dropdown. If not, you can select the simplified version. This option will be available for the following content sources: SharePoint, OneDrive, iManage Cloud, iManage On-premise, NetDocuments U.S. & EU, Practical Law U.S., HighQ.
What does the number next to the data source name mean?
It's the number of documents found for your search within that specific data source.
What search service is being used for this application?
The Federated Search API is a powerful tool that enables users to seamlessly search across a variety of data sources.
For which documents can I see a preview?
This option will be available for the following content sources: SharePoint, OneDrive, iManage Cloud, iManage On-premise, NetDocuments, HighQ, and Practical Law U.S.