Find Related Documents

Summary

Learn how to find related documents with Vincent. Upload a key document, and our powerful productivity tool will instantly analyze its content, topics, and citations, then scan the world’s largest collection of legal information to produce a list of relevant materials, saving you hours of manual research.

Why This is Important

Legal research is more than just finding documents that match keywords; it's about understanding the web of connections between them. The "Find Related Documents" workflow ensures you are aware of both the key documents and those that can give you an extra edge. It helps you build a more comprehensive case by uncovering semantically related materials that a manual search might overlook.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Upload Your Document

To begin, select the 'Find Related Documents' workflow. You can then upload your source document in one of two ways:

1. Upload a File: Drag and drop your document or click to select a file from your computer.

1. Paste Text: Copy and paste any section of text into the box on the right.

Vincent accepts files up to 5MB in Word (.doc, .docx), PDF, and Text (.txt) formats.

Step 2: Review Your Initial Results

Vincent will analyze your document and display a list of related materials. The results are organized into tabs:

• All Cited and Suggested: Shows all results combined.

• Cited in Document: Shows only the documents directly cited in your uploaded text.

• Additional Suggestions: Shows other documents related to your text, such as those on the same point of law or that cite similar arguments.

Step 3: Refine Your Results with Focus Result

To get even more precise results, use the Focus Result panel on the right side of the screen. This powerful tool allows you to tell Vincent exactly what kind of connections you are most interested in.

You can direct Vincent to focus on three types of connections:

• Cited Authorities: Find documents that are directly cited by, cite, or are commonly cited with the authorities in your source document.

• Conceptual Matches: Find semantically similar documents that focus on the same points of law, even if they don't share citations.

• Thematic Connections: Widen your search to find documents based on the broader legal themes present in your document.

Best Practices & Pro Tips

• Start with a Key Document: For the best results, start with a document that is central to your case, such as a key complaint, a pivotal case, or a detailed memo.

• Use Focus Result Iteratively: Don't be afraid to experiment. Start with a broad search, then use the "Direct Vincent" checkboxes to narrow your focus and uncover the most relevant materials.

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