How to Use Lexis+ AI in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Lexis+ AI is LexisNexis's AI-powered legal research platform, built specifically to prevent hallucinations with Shepard's Citations verification. It combines the world's largest legal database with AI-generated summaries, case analysis, and document drafting — designed for law firm associates, paralegals, and in-house counsel who need research they can trust in court.
Lexis+ AI (lexisnexis.com) is the AI-enhanced tier of LexisNexis, one of the two dominant legal research databases (alongside Westlaw). Where general AI models hallucinate legal citations — a serious professional liability — Lexis+ AI grounds every response in its actual case law database and verifies citations through Shepard's Citations, the gold standard for checking whether a case is still good law.
What makes it different
Legal AI has one unforgiving requirement: the cases you cite must be real and still valid. Lexis+ AI addresses this with a hallucination guard that cross-references every citation against the LexisNexis database and Shepard's signal indicators. Attorneys can ask research questions in plain English — 'What is the standard for preliminary injunctions in the Ninth Circuit?' — and receive an AI-generated summary with verified, linkable citations they can rely on.
Core features
Key capabilities include: AI-powered legal research with verified citations, document drafting for briefs, memos, and contracts, case summarization for rapid review of long decisions, Shepard's Citations integration for case validity checking, and client advice letters generated from research findings.
The platform also includes a 'Practical Guidance' layer that suggests relevant forms, checklists, and precedent documents alongside case law research.
Who uses it
Lexis+ AI is used by law firm attorneys (primarily associates doing research), in-house legal teams, paralegals, and legal academics. It requires an active LexisNexis subscription, which is typically licensed through law firms or legal departments rather than individual practitioners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Lexis+ AI prevent hallucinations? Every citation is verified against the LexisNexis case law database and cross-checked with Shepard's Citations before being presented. Is it better than Westlaw's AI? Both offer AI research tools; the choice typically comes down to which database your firm already licenses. Lexis+ AI has a slight edge in natural-language research UX; Westlaw AI (CoCounsel) has strong document analysis features.
What You'll Need
- A Lexis+ AI account (starting from Subscription required)
- A modern web browser or the Lexis+ AI app
- Payment method for paid features
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Visit https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/lexis-plus-ai.page and sign up for a paid account. You'll need an email address to register.
Start Your First Conversation
Once logged in, you'll see the main chat interface. Type a question or task in the input box and press Enter. Lexis+ AI supports text — start with a simple text prompt to get familiar.
Natural Language Chat
Type your question or task in natural language. Lexis+ AI excels at understanding context and providing helpful, detailed responses.
Pro Tips
- Be specific: The more context you provide, the better the response. Instead of "write an email," try "write a professional follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in two weeks."
- Iterate: If you don't get what you need, ask for clarification or refinement: "Make it shorter" or "Use a more formal tone."
- Use examples: Show Lexis+ AI what format you want by including an example in your prompt.
- Save useful conversations: Most platforms let you name and revisit conversations — organize by project or topic.
Common Use Cases
Legal
AI assistants providing legal information, document drafting, and regulatory guidance.
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- Responses seem generic or unhelpful
- Add more context to your prompt. Specify the audience, tone, length, and format you need. Try starting over with a clearer description of your goal.
- The tool isn't responding or is slow
- AI chatbots can experience high traffic. Refresh the page and try again. Check the service's status page if issues persist.
- Output is too long or too short
- Explicitly specify the length: "in 100 words," "as a brief summary," or "in detail with examples."
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Lexis+ AI free to use?
- Lexis+ AI requires a paid subscription, starting from Subscription required.
- Do I need an account to use Lexis+ AI?
- Yes, you need to create an account to use Lexis+ AI.
- What can I use Lexis+ AI for?
- Lexis+ AI is LexisNexis's AI-powered legal research platform, built specifically to prevent hallucinations with Shepard's Citations verification. It combines the world's largest legal database with AI-generated summaries, case analysis, and document drafting — designed for law firm associates, paralegals, and in-house counsel who need research they can trust in court.
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