Capturing Legal Research Time in Westlaw and Lexis

Last updated: July 16, 2026


Legal research is one of the easiest places to lose billable time. A quick statute check turns into forty minutes across a dozen tabs, and by the end of the day it is hard to remember which matter it belonged to, let alone how long it took. Billables AI is built to solve exactly this.


Why browser-based research works so well with Billables AI
Westlaw, Lexis, and most modern research platforms run entirely in your browser, and that is where Billables AI's capture is strongest. Because research happens in the browser, Billables AI can precisely capture your research sessions as they happen, including the time you spend and the context of what you were working on.


No timers, no manual entries. You research the way you always have. Billables AI captures the session in the background, so a deep dive into case law never slips through the cracks.


Research connects to the rest of your work. Billables AI evaluates your browser activity alongside your activity in your other integrated tools, like email, documents, and your practice management system. If you pull a client email, draft a memo, and then spend an hour in Westlaw on the same issue, Billables AI ties that research to the right matter automatically.


Narratives that reflect the work. Captured research sessions flow into billing narratives that describe the work performed, so "legal research" becomes a clear, defensible entry instead of a vague line item.
What this looks like in practice

  1. Open Westlaw or Lexis in your browser and research as usual.

  2. Billables AI captures the session, including duration and context.

  3. Your research time appears in your daily timeline, associated with the relevant matter based on your related activity.

  4. Review, adjust if needed, and approve. The entry is ready for billing.

Tips for the best results

  • Keep your other integrations (email, documents, practice management) connected. The more context Billables AI has, the more accurately research time lands on the right matter.

  • Review your timeline at the end of the day. Long research sessions that span multiple matters can be split before approval.

Questions?
If you have questions about how research capture works for your firm, reach out to our support team. We are happy to walk through your setup.