Long read, June 14, 2026
the difference between retrieval and reasoning in practice
Priya RaghunathanDirector of Research7 min read
The problem
We keep coming back to the difference between retrieval and reasoning in practice, because the cost of a miss here compounds across a portfolio.
What we do about it
In the current build this runs as part of the standard pass, so it applies to every document in the set rather than only the ones someone thought to check.
Where it breaks
Scanned originals with poor image quality remain the weakest input. So do agreements that were assembled from three precedents and never reconciled, which is common in long-lived supplier relationships.
None of this removes the reviewer. It moves the reviewer to the part of the work where judgement actually pays.
retrievaldrafting
Working notes from the Lawrs team. General information about legal technology and practice, not legal advice.