The LOIS Perplexity connector lets users working in Perplexity Computer ask questions about the documents in a Filevine project (matter). Ask a question in plain language and get a grounded answer drawn from the project’s documents, all without opening the LOIS Console.
What is the LOIS Perplexity Connector?
The LOIS Perplexity connector is primarily for answering questions about the documents and document content in a single Filevine project.
| Capability | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Answer a question from the documents in one matter | "What do the medical records say about prior injuries on the Larson matter?" |
| Find the matter by name when none is selected | "What's the status of discovery in the Henderson case?" |
| Pull specific pages from a document | "Show me the section of the deposition where the witness discusses the accident" |
The LOIS Perplexity connector does not include the following capabilities. These capabilities should instead be taken in LOIS.
- It does not write: it cannot create, update, or delete any items.
- It exclusively reads documents: it cannot upload, edit, draft, or export them.
- It does not include document preview or source-linked citations.
- It does not include other LOIS-exclusive tools: Workflows, Skills, MedChron, or billing features.
- It operates in a single project (matter) at a time, and does not perform cross-project or firm-wide reporting.
Filevine vs. LOIS Perplexity Connectors
The Filevine Perplexity connector exists separate from the LOIS Perplexity connector, and performs a different job.
| Filevine Perplexity Connector | LOIS Perplexity Connector | |
|---|---|---|
| Talks to | The Filevine API | The LOIS agent |
| Requires | Filevine product | LOIS product |
| Reads records (projects, tasks, deadlines, contacts) | Yes | No |
| Writes and updates records | Yes | No |
| Finds documents by filename, folder or metadata | Yes | No |
| Answers questions about what is inside documents | No | Yes |
If you want Perplexity to take action in Filevine, use the Filevine connector. If you want Perplexity to answer a question based on project documents, use the LOIS connector.
Using LOIS vs. Using the LOIS Connector
The connector is a bridge that lets Perplexity reach out to another system when your question needs it. You authorize the connection once. After that, when you ask something that needs your matter documents, Perplexity calls LOIS, gets an answer back, and continues.
The LOIS Perplexity connector is not simply LOIS in a new window. You are talking to Perplexity, and Perplexity reaches over to LOIS when your question needs it. A few things feel different as a result.
- You are talking to Perplexity, not to LOIS. Perplexity decides when to call LOIS, then relays what comes back. It may add its own wording around the answer. The grounded part is what LOIS returned.
- There is no project picker. In the console, you can select a project before you ask. In Perplexity, you must name the project in your question. If more than one project could match, it asks you which one rather than guessing.
- Citations do not open documents. In the console, clicking a citation opens the document with the passage highlighted. In Perplexity, you get the answer as text. To see the underlying documents, go to LOIS.
- It only answers questions about documents. The console can upload, draft, run workflows, run skills, do legal research, and reach billing. None of that is here, and nothing can be changed.
Set Up the Connection
Before you Begin
Before set up, note the following:
- The signed-in user needs the LOIS product on their user account in Account Manager. Having Filevine alone is not enough.
- The connector is available for Filevine tenants in the US. Canadian tenants are not currently supported.
- Everything runs as that user. They can only see the matters and documents they can already reach in Filevine.
- Connectors are part of Perplexity Computer, available on Perplexity's paid plans: Pro, Max, Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max. On Enterprise plans, an admin can turn off individual connectors for the organization, so if LOIS isn't listed, check with your Perplexity admin.
Step-by-Step
No Admin setup is needed for this connector—these steps can be taken by any user.
- In Perplexity, open Customize/Plugins in the sidebar and search for “Filevine LOIS.” Select the Filevine LOIS connector.
- Select the plus icon on the connector. You'll be taken to the FVID (Filevine Identity) page, where you can sign in.
- Upon signing in, you’re returned to Perplexity with LOIS connected.
Manage the Connection
In Customize/Plugins > Installed in Perplexity, you can find the LOIS connector. Open it to disconnect it or adjust tool permissions.
Under Manage permissions, each tool can be set to Disable, Always ask or Allow. Both tools—Ask Lois about a case and Check connection— are read-only and default to Allow.
Disconnection and Session Expiration
LOIS’ Perplexity Connector expires based on the FVID session, which is controlled by your firm Admin in the Account Manager > Tenant Configuration. By default, the interval is one day, but it can be extended up to three months. Learn more about adjusting session timeout.
When the session expires, Perplexity tells you the LOIS connection has expired. Reconnect LOIS from Customize/Plugins > Connectors to sign in again.
Use the Connector
Ask a question in plain text. If possible, name the project (matter). If more than one matter matches your request, Perplexity will ask which one you mean rather than guessing.
Depending on the permissions you’ve set, Perplexity either runs it straight away (Allow) or asks you first (Always ask).
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