Holding Redlich adopts Westlaw Advantage to boost research
Holding Redlich has implemented the legal research platform Westlaw Advantage as part of a broader push to improve efficiency, reduce risk and lift research quality.
The rollout gives the firm's lawyers access to authorised law reports and other verified legal materials through a single platform. Research outputs are linked to citable authorities, while commentary and practitioner texts sit alongside primary sources.
The adoption builds on technology already used across the firm's operations. It also reflects a legal sector in which artificial intelligence is becoming more embedded in day-to-day work, particularly in research tasks that require materials to be checked against recognised sources.
Keren Smith, Chief Knowledge Officer, said the focus was on the reliability of the material underpinning legal advice. "In an environment where AI-generated content is becoming more prevalent, it is critical that the materials underpinning legal advice are accurate, current and recognised by the courts," Smith said.
She said access to court-recognised and verified sources was central to the firm's approach. "The ability to work directly from authorised law reports and verified secondary materials gives our lawyers greater confidence in the integrity of their research and the advice that follows," she said.
AI workflows
A key reason for the implementation was to reduce the time required for complex legal research. The platform is intended to help lawyers move through multi-step research processes more efficiently, improving speed and precision in legal work.
That focus reflects a broader shift in how Holding Redlich is using artificial intelligence in practice. Rather than treating AI as a trial or limited experiment, the firm is moving towards operational use within legal research workflows.
Smith described that transition directly. "We are moving from experimentation to operational use of AI within our legal research workflows," she said.
She added that responsibility for legal work remains with practitioners even when technology is involved. "These tools are now a functional part of how matters are researched and progressed, but accountability remains entirely with the lawyer. It is essential that any AI-assisted output can be verified, checked and relied upon," she said.
Verified sources
The announcement highlights a broader issue for law firms as generative AI tools become more common in professional services. Legal practices have been weighing the promise of faster drafting and research against the need to avoid errors, unsupported citations and analysis based on material that may not be accepted by courts.
In that context, authorised law reports and verified secondary materials have become a key point of distinction. The platform is designed to support legal work by improving access to trusted source material rather than replacing lawyers' judgement.
Smith made that point explicitly. "Legal judgement remains central to the practice of law. Westlaw Advantage enhances that judgement by improving access to high-quality materials, but the analysis, advice and responsibility remain with the practitioner," she said.
Holding Redlich operates from offices in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns, providing legal services to public and private sector clients, including government. The move reflects how law firms are seeking to build AI use around source verification and lawyer oversight as these tools become part of routine research work.