This fall, the Paul Martin Law Library at Windsor Law will partner with CiteRight, a Toronto-based startup company that specializes in providing legal research tools to law students and established lawyers alike.

According to its website, CiteRight makes legal research fast, affordable, and simple. The startup’s flagship tool lets users collaborate on legal research, while formatting legal citations automatically.

Along with the rest of the world, University of Windsor students, faculty, and staff had to pivot the way they learn, teach, and work amid the pandemic. In the wake of this abrupt change, law librarian Annette Demers searched for strategic, collaborative partnerships.

She says the law school’s librarians, student reference associates, instructors, and Legal Innovation Hub student group will test and review the automated legal citation tool. A demonstration of the project in May impressed Demers.

“It convinced me that this product will be a game changer for the legal profession and for how we teach legal citation in law school,” she says.

The firm’s CEO, Aaron Wenner, calls the agreement a win-win.

“CiteRight solves problems that affect law students and legal practitioners alike,” he says. “Our partnership with the University of Windsor gives us the opportunity to collaborate with some really bright students to bring real innovation to the legal profession.”

Windsor Law student Hilary Peters developed the company’s latest tool, which compiles and consolidates free electronic filing resources for all courts across Canada.

“Working for CiteRight has been a much richer experience than I ever could have expected,” Peters says. “I’m learning about software development, project management, and marketing — things I never thought I’d have the opportunity to learn. The team is truly invested in my growth, so I’m very excited to continue working with them through the school year.”

—Rachelle Prince