Administrative
Report
H.18., File # 24-0867 Meeting Date: 5/21/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: MICHAEL W. WEBB, CITY ATTORNEY CRISTINE SHIN, SENIOR
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
TITLE
APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE ONLINE RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO BETWEEN LEXISNEXIS, A DIVISION OF RELX INC. AND THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Legal research plays an integral role in the daily functions of the City Attorney's Office. After careful review of proposals from LexisNexis, a Division of RELX Inc. (“LexisNexis”) and Thomson Reuters Corporation (“Westlaw”), the City Attorney’s Office has decided to amend the existing online research subscription agreement with LexisNexis (the “Amendment”). This Amendment extends the agreement for an additional three years and replaces the soon-to-be-discontinued LexisAdvance platform with the Lexis+ AI platform. This upgrade introduces a set of advanced Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools and specialized content databases that significantly enhance legal research and data analysis capabilities. The City Attorney’s Office has secured a free upgrade period until the renewal date of July 31, 2024.
BACKGROUND
The City Attorney's Office's original agreement with LexisNexis, approved by City Council on December 18, 2018, and commenced on February 1, 2019, will expire July 31, 2024. The existing LexisNexis Advance platform has become outdated and will no longer be supported after this year. In light of this, the City has negotiated an upgrade to the more advanced Lexis+ AI platform as part of the renewal. This platform integrates both extractive and generative AI technologies to enhance legal research, drafting, and data analysis. While exploring available options, it was determined that a similar offering from Westlaw would require subscriptions to two separate platforms: Westlaw Precision AI for research and CoCounsel for drafting. This bifurcation would complicate the integration and increase costs. Conversely, LexisNexis offers a comprehensive solution through Lexis+ AI, which combines research and drafting capabilities into a single platform. The platform provides access to a wide array of legal documents, case law, and practical guidance selected for governmental use at both the state and national levels. The Amendment includes the following capabilities:
1. Core Public Records with Smartlinx Reports: Access to public records for party verification.
H.18., File # 24-0867 Meeting Date: 5/21/2024
2. CA Verdicts & Settlements: Database of legal outcomes in California to inform case strategies.
3. CA Legislative Bill History: Bill histories to aid in understanding legislative developments.
4. Courtlink: Legal document and docket access for national case tracking.
5. CA National Government Package: Legal resources for government attorneys, enhancing state and national legal operations.
6. California Judicial Council Automated Jury Instruction Templates (CACI & CALCRIM): Templates to aid in drafting jury instructions.
7. Lexis+ Practical Guidance - State & Local Government: Practical guidance for government law.
8. Lexis+ AI Access - Ask & Summarize: AI tools for querying and summarizing complex legal information.
9. Lexis+ AI Access - Drafting: Advanced AI for assisting the drafting of legal documents.
COORDINATION
This Amendment has been negotiated by and approved by the City Attorney's Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
This Amendment with LexisNexis establishes a monthly fee of $1,403 from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. This rate is significantly more cost-effective than the combined monthly costs of Westlaw Precision AI and CoCounsel, which amount to $3,225. Beginning on each annual anniversary date of the agreement, the monthly fee will increase by five percent. The total payment for the first year, amounting to $19,137, has been budgeted under the City Attorney's FY 24-25 budget. This includes the free upgrade period ending on July 31, 2024.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Amendment to the Online Research Subscription Agreement Previously Entered into between LexisNexis, a Division of RELX Inc.
2. Subscription Agreement between LexisNexis Nexis, a Division of Relx Inc. and the City of Redondo Beach