Colin Biggers & Paisley: Balancing AI Innovation with Trusted Legal Research

According to Jannett, some of the platform's earliest strengths were its simplicity and ease of navigation. Features such as Partner Tools, including the Corporations Act Partner, topic roadmaps and the 360-degree legislation view quickly became valuable resources for practitioners looking to understand an issue efficiently and move their research forward.

"The simple interface and access to the Partner Tools, as well as topic roadmaps, were early winners. The 360-degree view of legislation is also a time-saving enhancement," she says.

The platform's scope of content, ease of use and cost-effectiveness continue to be key reasons the practice values it today.

Responding to changing expectations around AI

While trusted content remains essential, expectations around legal research technology have changed significantly in recent years.

"Staff tend to expect an AI-enhanced experience as a bare minimum given their exposure to and daily interaction with AI across a number of environments, including Google."

Against that backdrop, the introduction of AI-powered capabilities within CCH iKnowConnect has been well received across the business. Features such as the AI Assistant, AI Q&A and document summarisation have resonated with users who are increasingly accustomed to receiving information in a more conversational and accessible way.

For Jannett, one of the most important outcomes has been the impact on user engagement. "The inclusion of AI functionality within CCH iKnowConnect has certainly increased the level of adoption," she says.

The reason is straightforward. Lawyers want tools that help them navigate information more efficiently, and AI can play a valuable role in streamlining that process.

Efficiency without compromising rigour

Despite the growing popularity of AI, Colin Biggers & Paisley takes a pragmatic approach to its use.

Jannett is careful not to position any single platform or technology as a complete solution. Legal research remains a process that draws on multiple sources and professional judgement.

Rather than treating AI as a substitute for legal expertise, the firm views it as a tool that supports research and knowledge discovery. Lawyers are expected to validate information and apply professional judgement before relying on it.

"Our staff know to check, rather than rely exclusively on, the AI-generated output. CCH iKnowConnect's disclaimer helps to reinforce this."

Trust in the underlying content is equally important.

For a profession where accuracy matters, the combination of trusted content and AI assistance helps create a more efficient research experience without compromising quality.

Evolving with customer needs

Beyond AI, Jannett points to several platform enhancements that have delivered practical value over time.

Court-ready PDFs, simple content sharing via links, practice area-specific search and browsing, favourites and folders, search and chat history, and improved content currency all contribute to a better user experience.

She also highlights Wolters Kluwer's willingness to listen to customers and evolve the platform based on feedback.

"CCH's willingness to seek and apply customer feedback has been a significant strength,” she says.

Regular reporting has also become an important part of the practice’s ongoing evaluation of research technology investments.

"A big one for us is reporting. We receive regular usage reporting that feeds into the ongoing investment cycle."

Looking ahead

As legal research continues to evolve, Jannett believes organisations will increasingly focus on governance, security and responsible AI adoption.

"We have a continued focus on data governance and platform security. We and our clients expect this."

At the same time, she does not see AI replacing the expertise of legal professionals.

For Colin Biggers & Paisley, the future is not about choosing between AI and expertise. It is about combining trusted content, intelligent technology and professional judgement to help practitioners research with greater confidence and efficiency.

"CCH iKnowConnect is cost-effective and an efficient way to access trusted content," Jannett says.