Practical Law is a web-based legal know-how service for legal professionals, with guidance, templates, and tools for legal work. Practice notes explain complex legal issues in plain language, while standard documents and clauses include drafting annotations, notes, and negotiation tips. Interactive Matter Maps show processes step by step, link to related resources, and can be customized. Deep Research plans research steps, retrieves relevant guidance and templates, and produces a supported report. What's Market supports searching, analyzing, and comparing deals and public filings summarized by Practical Law experts. Automated documents use guided questionnaires to create editable Word documents. Practical Law Global helps users identify local laws and compare issues across jurisdictions; stated coverage spans more than 100 jurisdictions. Practical Law Connect brings Practical Law know-how together with Westlaw business resources, including primary legal sources. The US product page describes resources across all 50 states, 10 business sectors, and 17 major practice areas. The maker says more than 650 full-time attorney-editors globally write and maintain its resources.
Who it is for
Practical Law presents plans for law firms, general counsel, and government organizations. Its guidance and research tools may suit legal professionals working across practice areas or jurisdictions.
What is good
- Practice notes explain complex legal issues in plain language.
- Matter Maps provide customizable, linked process steps.
- Deep Research produces a supported report.
- Global content covers more than 100 jurisdictions.
- Free 7-day trial requires no credit card.
What to know first
- No free plan.
- Trial is limited to eligible prospects and up to two per year.
- Online pricing is for new customers.
- Support hours vary by weekday chat and phone.
Verdict
Practical Law brings legal guidance, drafting resources, research tools, and jurisdictional content together for professional legal work. New customers can use a free 7-day premium US trial if eligible; existing customers are directed to Thomson Reuters for pricing.
Get started with Practical Law
- Open the Practical Law website
- Start the eligible seven-day premium US trial
- Use the web platform for guidance, templates, and tools
- Select resources for your jurisdiction or practice area
- Use Contract Express questionnaires for editable Word documents
- Contact Thomson Reuters for customer pricing information
Limits to know first
The free trial provides access to the premium US product for seven days and does not require a credit card. Eligible Practical Law Premium prospects may receive up to two seven-day trials per year.
Questions about Practical Law
Does Practical Law offer a free trial?
Yes. Eligible prospects can receive a seven-day trial of the premium US product without providing a credit card. The pricing page says eligible prospects may receive up to two such trials per year.
Is there a free plan?
No. Practical Law is a paid service.
Which jurisdictions does it cover?
Coverage includes more than 100 jurisdictions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, China, Japan, Singapore, and the European Union.
Who is Practical Law for?
Its plans are presented for law firms, general counsel, and government organizations.
What does Practical Law Connect include?
It combines Practical Law task-based guidance with Westlaw business resources, including primary sources of law.
When is support available?
Support is available weekdays by chat from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time and by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Compared on legal research software
- Free plan
- No
- Docket search
- No
- Legal commentary
- Yes
- Jurisdiction coverage
- 100+ jurisdictions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, China, Japan, Singapore, and European Union
- Research alerts
- Yes
