OpenAI Launches Astra for Law to Support Legal Research and Drafting

OpenAI has launched Astra for Law, a legal-focused configuration of its GPT-6 Astra model designed to assist lawyers with legal research, analysis and document drafting.

The company describes Astra for Law as a specialized version of GPT-6 Astra rather than a completely new AI model. OpenAI has combined the model with a legal search index and a set of instructions tailored for legal research and analysis, and is making the system available to selected law firms and legal technology companies.

Legal Research Across 230 Million URLs

Astra for Law`s search index covers US case law, statutes, regulations, court rules and administrative decisions across more than 230 million URLs. OpenAI said new sources are added to the index every day.

Case-law coverage is supported by the nonprofit Free Law Project`s CourtListener database.

OpenAI said the system achieved a 54% overall correctness rate on 200 questions from the private validation set of Vals AI`s Legal Research Bench. By comparison, GPT-6 Astra using web search alone achieved 38.7% on the same questions. Both systems were tested using their highest reasoning settings.

The company also reported that Astra for Law identified 24% more reference cases on case-law questions. On a separate audited dataset, it retrieved up to 54% more of the target passages from the correct court opinions.

Initial Access Limited to Selected Firms

Access to Astra for Law is currently limited through OpenAI`s Trusted Access program. Selected law firms can use the system through ChatGPT and Codex, where it appears in the model selector as GPT-6 Astra Law.

OpenAI plans to make the system available through an API under the name gpt-6-astra-law, although the company has not yet announced a release date or pricing.

Legal AI companies Harvey Technologies and Legora are among the companies identified as API customers.

For eligible firms, OpenAI said the API comes with zero data retention, while ChatGPT Enterprise usage is excluded from human review by default.

New Integrations With Legal Software

The launch also includes a range of integrations designed to connect ChatGPT with existing legal technology.

OpenAI said 26 partner-built plugins are being introduced, connecting ChatGPT with platforms including Relativity, Clio, iManage and DeepJudge.

Thomson Reuters is integrating HighQ matter context into ChatGPT and is also previewing a connector for its CoCounsel Legal product.

Nine additional plugins developed by lawyers and legal engineers outside the main vendor group add 47 custom skills.

At the same time, ChatGPT for Word has reached general availability.

Law Firms Develop Their Own AI Tools

OpenAI said its engineers have also been working directly with individual law firms to develop customized AI tools using ChatGPT Enterprise.

At Sullivan & Cromwell, one tool analyzes agreements using the firm`s negotiating playbooks and selected precedents. It can then turn its findings into proposed redlines.

At Ropes & Gray, the technology has been applied to deal-diligence work, while Cooley`s GO Public tool supports initial public offering preparation, including drafting filings.

John Savva, a Sullivan & Cromwell partner who reviewed early versions of the tools, said the models demonstrated what he described as "impressive research depth and sensitivity to authority."

OpenAI Expands Its Focus on Legal AI

OpenAI said Astra for Law marks the beginning of a longer-term investment in the legal industry, where accuracy, access to authoritative sources, data protection and integration with existing legal workflows are particularly important.

The launch comes about two weeks after GPT-6 Astra began rolling out on September 3, adding another specialized use case to OpenAI`s expanding AI platform.