AI Modes
The AI Assistant has three modes, selectable from the chat input. Each controls how the AI investigates your question.
| Agent | Research (Legacy) | Deep Research (Legacy) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Matter-bound analysis, case-law validation, anything you'd show a partner | Fast online lookups — statutes, regulations, quick case scans | Long-form narrative reports |
| Output | Structured legal memorandum with inline citations linked to source | Chat response with source links | Long-form chat response |
| Speed | Medium — investigation shown in real time | Fast | Slow |
| Default? | Yes | Opt-in toggle | Opt-in toggle |
If in doubt, use Agent. It's designed for the full legal workflow — plans the investigation, reads your matter documents, validates case law, and returns a cited memo.
How to pick a mode
- Working inside a Matter with documents attached, or asking anything that touches case law? → Agent. Built for the legal workflow. Plans an investigation, reads your documents, searches case law, and returns a cited memo.
- Just want a fast online lookup — a statute, a regulation, a quick "what cases address X" scan — with no memo? → Research.
- Specifically want a long-form narrative report, and willing to wait? → Deep Research. For most research needs, Agent now produces better-cited, faster output — try Agent first.
Agent
Flagship mode and the new default. Runs a structured investigation with inline citations that link back to source. See the full Agent Mode page for the complete breakdown.
Use Agent for:
- Matter-bound analysis ("summarize the contract risks in this MSA")
- Case-law validation ("pull and verify the controlling cases")
- Any cite-ready answer you'd show a partner
Research (Legacy)
A single-pass lookup that taps online legal resources — federal and state courts, statutes, regulations — and the Irys Database of templates and secondary sources. Fast, lightweight, good for quick checks.
Use Research for:
- "Is there a Texas statute on executory contracts?"
- "Find cases about the implied warranty of habitability in New York."
- Quick template or regulation pulls where a short answer is enough.
Research is a single-pass retrieval — it won't plan, pursue leads, or produce a structured memo. For anything you need to cite with confidence, Agent produces more reliable citations.
Deep Research (Legacy)
A longer, more comprehensive narrative report designed for memo-quality output where depth matters more than speed.
Use Deep Research for:
- Long-form narrative reports you're willing to wait for.
- Existing workflows you've built around it.
For most memo-quality queries, Agent now produces cleaner, better-cited, faster output. See the dedicated Deep Research page for more.