Welcome to Tui Law Ltd. Nau mai Haere mai. Tui Law Ltd was established in 2018 in Tauranga and later moved to Rotorua to meet a growing need for legal representation in the region. The firm provides tailored legal services across the North Island, specialising in Family, Criminal, Traffic, Employment Law, and Limited Licences.
Tui Law works closely with its clients, building strong relationships founded on trust, transparency, and practical legal support. Whether clients are navigating complex disputes or seeking proactive guidance, the firm is committed to achieving timely and effective legal outcomes.
The challenge
Legal research has traditionally been one of the most time-intensive aspects of Tui Law’s practice. Staff operate in fast‑paced litigation environments, often managing multiple matters simultaneously while working to tight court-imposed deadlines.
Before adopting AI-assisted research, identifying the most relevant case law could be laborious, sometimes resulting in overlooked authorities and increased pressure on staff—particularly as submission deadlines approached. This challenge prompted the firm to reassess its research processes and consider whether emerging technology could improve efficiency without compromising accuracy or professional obligations.
Why AI-Assisted Research
The introduction of AI-assisted research significantly challenged—and ultimately improved—Tui Law’s approach to legal research. With access to Westlaw AI-assisted research, the firm was able to identify relevant case law more quickly and with greater confidence. Previously missed authorities were surfaced early, enabling stronger and more well-supported legal arguments.
This shift represented more than a productivity gain; it marked a change in how research was approached across the firm. Research became faster, more focused, and less stressful, allowing staff to redirect time and attention to higher‑value legal work. As a result, clients also benefited from improved efficiency and more timely advice.
The solution
Tui Law was first introduced to Westlaw AI-Assisted Research at a Law Society training session. The team conducted an initial test using a sentencing matter, where the tool delivered not only highly relevant cases but also a nice background to the law.
Since then, Westlaw AI-Assisted Research has become the firm’s preferred starting point for legal research. It enables the team to quickly identify relevant cases, follow legal reasoning across related authorities, and build robust submissions with greater certainty.
The impact of this efficiency has been tangible. At a recent informal lunch, a member of the judiciary noted that Tui Law’s submissions were being filed noticeably earlier and more promptly —a rare occurrence in the time-pressured criminal law environment.
‘On average, our research process is now an estimated 75% quicker using Westlaw AI- Assisted research.’ Racheal Ruakawa – Principal Barrister and solicitor, Tui Law Ltd
Measurable impact
The adoption of Westlaw AI-assisted research has resulted in measurable improvements across the firm:
- Research time has been reduced by an estimated 75%.
- Staff report greater confidence in the strength and completeness of their legal arguments.
- Submissions are completed earlier, easing deadline pressure.
- Lower costs for legally aided clients and the justice system
- Overall stress levels have reduced, contributing to a healthier work‑life balance.
- Staff no longer need to stay late to complete extensive research tasks, enabling more sustainable working practices without compromising legal quality.
Benefits to clients
A significant and unexpected benefit of reduced research time has been lower costs for clients and third parties, particularly in legally aided matters.
Because a portion of legal research time is recoverable under legal aid grants, any reduction in time spent researching directly reduces the amount claimed from the Ministry of Justice and the repayment obligations for clients.
‘By reducing research time, Tui Law is invoicing fewer research hours. This lowers costs for the taxpayer and reduces repayment amounts for legally aided clients.’
Racheal Ruakawa – Principal Barrister and solicitor, Tui Law Ltd
Looking ahead
Artificial intelligence is now viewed as an essential component of Tui Law’s future practice. The firm anticipates expanding its use of AI tools, particularly CoCounsel, to assist with reviewing complex documents, such as identifying changes in lease agreements and supporting Employment Law matters as disputes progress to the Employment Relations Authority.
As legal work becomes increasingly complex and fast-moving, Tui Law sees AI as a critical enabler—helping the firm deliver efficient, high‑quality advocacy while maintaining strong professional standards and positive client outcomes.
With the use of AI, Tui Law still prioritises professional responsibility and the protection of client privilege. Using a publisher‑controlled legal research platform such as Westlaw aligns with these obligations. Unlike public, open AI tools, Westlaw operates within a secure research environment where outputs are directly linked to verified source material.
This gives Tui Law confidence in both accuracy and reliability, while minimising the risk associated with unverified AI-generated content.
As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted legal content in New Zealand with AI-Assisted research capabilities, book a demo of Westlaw New Zealand
