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BriefCatch Next FAQs

BriefCatch Products

Meet BriefCatch Next — the most advanced version yet of the trusted legal-writing tool used by top law firms, courts, and government agencies.

Contents

Installation

How do I install or update to BriefCatch Next?

BriefCatch Next is available as a separate add-in in Microsoft AppSource/Marketplace. Deployment or installation works the same way as BriefCatch 3. For more information, please reference the below articles:

Do I need to uninstall BriefCatch 3?

BriefCatch 3 will continue to function as normal until retired. Once you install BriefCatch Next, you can keep both, or remove BriefCatch 3 by following these instructions.

Will BriefCatch Next work with my firm’s IT and security setup?

Yes. BriefCatch Next supports enterprise security configurations and can be deployed through Microsoft AppSource or via direct installation We also provide a security and privacy white paper for IT review upon request.

Will my existing BriefCatch account work with BriefCatch Next?

Yes. Your existing BriefCatch account and subscription will automatically work in BriefCatch Next.

Security

How does BriefCatch ensure data privacy and security?

BriefCatch follows strict data-protection and confidentiality standards designed for legal professionals.

  • No document content is stored or reused.
  • No data is used to train AI models.
  • AI requests are processed securely through encrypted channels.
  • Documents never leave your local Microsoft Word environment unless you choose to enable AI citation review or BriefChat. Even then, only the minimum text necessary for processing that specific request is used and not retained.The only information you can choose to share with AI consists of citations and queries made in BriefChat.

For more information, review our:

Features

What’s new in BriefCatch Next?

BriefCatch Next introduces a modern interface, faster performance, and two exciting new features:

  • CiteCheck, the first AI-enhanced citation correction tool for legal writing.
  • BriefChat, a conversational assistant trained on Ross Guberman’s writing corpus.

You’ll also see cleaner suggestion cards, color-coded underlines, new filters, and expanded rule sets for grammar, clarity, and style.

For for information, reference our BriefCatch Next User Guide.

How is BriefCatch Next different from BriefCatch 3?

While BC3 focused purely on rule-based editing, BC Next combines that trusted foundation with optional AI tools.

You still get every style, clarity, and precision rule from BC3—plus:

  • Citation suggestions
  • BriefChat (AI writing coach)
  • A redesigned, more intuitive interface
  • One-click “Apply All” editing

Your familiar editing experience remains intact, but now you can go further and faster.

What kind of documents does BriefCatch Next work best with?

BCNext works with any Microsoft Word document, but it’s optimized for:

  • Legal briefs
  • Judicial opinions
  • Memoranda
  • Motions
  • Contracts and transactional documents

It reviews both body text and footnotes, and now—with CiteCheck—also operates in tables, bullet points, and footnotes.

Is BriefCatch compliant with professional-confidentiality obligations?

Yes. BriefCatch is built specifically for lawyers and courts. The product complies with applicable privacy laws and security standards and is safe for use on confidential client documents. Our internal policy prohibits model training or data retention from user content.

What does the Lightning Bolt icon do?

briefcatch-next-lightning-bolt-edits

The Lightning Bolt icon, located at the top-right corner of the BCNext add-in, allows you to apply all available suggestions at once with a single click. It’s designed to save time and streamline your editing process.

Does the Lightning Bolt apply every edit automatically?

Yes — when you click the Lightning Bolt, BCNext automatically applies all active suggestions in your document. If a suggestion card contains multiple options, the Lightning Bolt applies the first or default recommendation for that card.

Can I review the changes after using the Lightning Bolt?

Absolutely. We recommend turning on Track Changes in Microsoft Word before clicking the Lightning Bolt. This way, you can easily review, accept, or reject each edit after the tool applies them.

Can I undo the Lightning Bolt action if I change my mind?

Yes — simply use Undo (Ctrl+Z or Command+Z) to revert the edits immediately after applying them. You can also manually reject specific edits in Word’s Track Changes view.

Will the Lightning Bolt feature overwrite custom edits or comments in my document?

No — the Lightning Bolt only applies BriefCatch’s text suggestions. It does not remove or alter your comments, footnotes, or other tracked changes already present in your document.

Can I control or disable the Lightning Bolt feature?

At launch, the Lightning Bolt feature is always visible, but its behavior is being refined. In future updates, administrators may be able to toggle or restrict Lightning Bolt access via the user portal to align with firm preferences or editing policies.

When should I use the Lightning Bolt versus applying edits manually?

Use the Lightning Bolt when you’re working on a final pass or a clean-up draft and want to accept a broad set of straightforward improvements quickly. For early drafts or sensitive documents, we recommend applying suggestions individually to maintain full control.

Does the Lightning Bolt apply AI-generated suggestions too?

If AI is turned ON, the Lightning Bolt will also apply relevant AI-powered citation corrections and BriefChat-based refinements. If AI is OFF, it applies only rule-based edits — ensuring your workflow remains predictable and secure.

AI Options

What features use AI?

Two features currently use AI:

  • BriefChat: A conversational Q&A tool trained on Ross Guberman’s writing corpus.
  • CiteCheck: When AI is toggled on, the citation engine uses AI to refine and enhance rule-based citation corrections. When AI is toggled on, the CiteCheck suggestions are provided from a combination of both the rules engine and AI.

All other editing suggestions—style, grammar, clarity—remain rule-based and unaffected by AI.

Is AI automatically enabled in BriefCatch Next?

No. AI is defaulted to OFF.‍‍

If your organization has allowed AI, you can turn it on manually using the AI Toggle at the bottom of the add-in panel.‍

When off, BCNext runs entirely on BriefCatch’s rule-based engine—just like BC3. The AI toggle turns on the two new AI features in the tool: (1) BriefChat and (2) CiteCheck. When off, BriefChat becomes inaccessible and CiteCheck will still operate but just from a rules-engine.

Can I control whether my firm’s users use AI features?

Yes. All AI features are disabled by default for every user. If you’d like to enable AI for your organization, please contact our support team. We can turn it on or off based on your preferences.

At launch, AI can be enabled or disabled for your entire organization. In a future release, you’ll be able to grant AI access to specific users while keeping it disabled for others.

In an upcoming update, organization administrators will also be able to manage AI settings directly within the BriefCatch Admin Portal.

What happens if I keep AI turned off?

You’ll still enjoy all the editing power of BC3, plus use of CiteChecker from the rules engine, interface improvements, and faster performance—without any AI processing. The AI tools are optional enhancements, not requirements.

How does BriefChat differ from ChatGPT or other AI tools?

BriefChat is not a general AI chatbot. It’s trained exclusively on Ross Guberman’s legal-writing corpus and BriefCatch’s proprietary rule set. That means you get context-specific, reliable writing guidance rooted in real legal expertise.

Need Help? Have Questions?

Our support team is happy to help! Contact us below: