Clearbrief

Overview

Clearbrief is legal drafting software that connects claims in Word documents to supporting evidence. It suits litigators and other legal teams whose work depends on checking and presenting a documentary record; its focus is less compelling for readers seeking a general-purpose AI writing assistant.

Its strongest case is the link between drafting, source verification, and preparation of case materials. The trade-off is a high starting price for individual paid use.

Key features

Drafting and evidence checks

Clearbrief’s Analyze and Add Fact-Cite tools help verify claims and locate support in source documents. Clickable citations connect written claims to that evidence, a useful safeguard for legal work where a reader needs to trace assertions back to the record.

Building trial materials

Table Builder, timelines, and summaries help extract and organize facts across document sets. AI-generated investigation reports with hyperlinked citations, Tables of Authorities, exhibits, and hyperlinked filings extend the product beyond drafting. These tools are particularly relevant to litigation teams assembling case materials; the feature set is less suited to work that does not center on legal documents.

Integrations and control

Clearbrief describes integrations with LexisNexis, Fastcase vLex, Clio, iManage, Relativity, and PACER. Bring Your Own Storage lets organizations keep documents in their own cloud. Clearbrief says customer data is not used to train large language models, and customers control whether and how generative AI is used. Those controls matter to organizations weighing AI use in legal work.

Pricing

The Law Students plan is free for law students, making it the clear starting point for students who want to work with Clearbrief without a subscription fee. Its stated audience is limited to law students.

Solo costs $300 per user per month. It is aimed at individual legal professionals, but that recurring per-user price is a substantial commitment; multi-year agreements may have lower pricing. A free trial is available, offering a way to assess fit before paying.

Enterprise Unlimited has custom pricing, with volume discounts available and 1:1 training for responsible AI use included. It is the better fit for organizations that need an enterprise plan and training, rather than a single-user subscription.

Platforms

Clearbrief is available on the web and Windows. Its Windows MSI installer launches the add-in from Microsoft Word, making the desktop option relevant to users who draft in Word. Technical support is available by email at [email protected].

Who it's for

Clearbrief identifies litigators, in-house legal teams, courts, government agencies, arbitrators, and boutique firms among its users. Its combination of evidence checking and trial-preparation tools makes it most appropriate for people who regularly connect legal writing to source documents. Law students can begin on the free plan; individuals outside that group face the $300 per user per month Solo price.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Clickable citations and claim-checking tools connect legal drafts to supporting source material.
• Pros: Timelines, summaries, and trial-preparation tools help organize facts from document sets.
• Pros: Bring Your Own Storage, stated limits on AI training use, and customer control over generative AI provide meaningful document and AI controls.
• Cons: Solo costs $300 per user per month, which may be difficult to justify for occasional use or an individual with a limited budget.
• Cons: The free plan is for law students, so it is not a general free tier for legal professionals.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Legal AI Software.

• OpusLaw is another freemium option, with web access and paid plans that include monthly message and tool allowances.
• Robin AI is a paid alternative with a free plan and trial, available as a browser extension and on the web.
• DocJuris may suit teams seeking a contract-focused platform with unlimited users and an annual platform fee sized to contract volume and enabled apps.
• LegitQuest is a freemium web and API option with an annual SME plan and allowances for keyword alerts and AI chats.
• Judicio offers a trial and supports macOS, web, and Windows; its Professional plan includes one seat and a monthly credit allowance.
• Spellbook is a custom-priced alternative centered on a Word add-in, with online support and training.
• Zuva is a freemium option available on the web.
• Thomson Reuters Case Tracking is a paid web-based alternative.

Verdict

Choose Clearbrief if your legal work regularly requires tracing drafted claims to source evidence and assembling case materials from document sets. Its linked citations and litigation-oriented tools give it a clear purpose. Look elsewhere if you need a general AI assistant, or if $300 per user per month is too much for your individual use.