Microsoft 365 Copilot Setup

Set up Descrybe Legal Engine in Microsoft 365 Copilot

Connect Descrybe as a Source in Microsoft 365 Copilot

This guide explains how to connect the Descrybe Legal Engine Source and use it in Copilot Chat, Researcher, Cowork, and supported Microsoft 365 experiences.

How Microsoft 365 Copilot connects to Descrybe

Descrybe Legal Engine is available as a Source in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Once connected, Copilot can use Descrybe legal research tools and source-law results while you work in Copilot Chat, Researcher, and Cowork. More Microsoft 365 experiences are on the way.

Before you begin

Microsoft currently requires every person who uses a federated Source to have a qualifying Microsoft Copilot license. For many small firms, the minimum qualifying combination is Microsoft 365 Business Basic plus the Microsoft Copilot Business add-on. Business Basic by itself, free Copilot Chat, and consumer plans such as Microsoft 365 Personal and Family do not support federated Sources.

  • Use an organizational Microsoft 365 account.
  • Make sure a qualifying Microsoft Copilot license is assigned to your account.
  • Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator to allow partner Sources and make Descrybe Legal Engine available.
  • Keep an active Descrybe Legal Engine or Full Platform subscription.

Sign in to Descrybe first

Before opening Copilot, sign in to Descrybe in the same browser and confirm your Legal Engine or Full Platform access on the dashboard. This is the most reliable way to connect Copilot to the right Descrybe account.

  • Sign in to Descrybe.
  • Confirm Legal Engine or Full Platform access on your dashboard.
  • Open Microsoft 365 Copilot and connect the Descrybe Legal Engine Source.

for Microsoft requirements, supported experiences, and administrator information.

Connect the Descrybe Legal Engine Source

  1. 1

    Open Copilot Chat settings

    In Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, open Settings and choose Sources.

  2. 2

    Find Descrybe Legal Engine

    Search the Sources directory for Descrybe Legal Engine, then click Connect.

    In Copilot Chat settings, open Sources, search for Descrybe Legal Engine, and click Connect.
  3. 3

    Authorize your Descrybe account

    Follow the authorization prompt. If you already signed in to Descrybe in the same browser, Copilot should be able to confirm the account with active access.

  4. 4

    Start a legal research request

    Ask Copilot to use Descrybe Legal Engine for a legal research question. Keep the jurisdiction and issue clear, then open the returned sources before relying on them.

    A Copilot legal research result grounded in Descrybe Legal Engine sources.

Where Descrybe works in Microsoft 365 Copilot

Copilot Chat

Ask legal research questions in the conversational Copilot experience and direct Copilot to use Descrybe Legal Engine when you need primary law, citation checks, quote verification, treatment review, or source material.

Researcher

Use Descrybe as a legal source during deeper research and drafting workflows. Review the cited authorities and source passages before using the final work product.

Cowork

Research with Descrybe and build a Word document in the same workspace. Cowork can organize the task, use Descrybe for legal authority, and create or revise the work product.

Excel

Descrybe can also be used from supported Copilot in Excel workflows. Excel may ask for permission before it shares a request with Descrybe.

More Microsoft 365 experiences are on the way

Microsoft controls where partner Sources are available, and availability can also depend on your Microsoft 365 plan and organization settings. We will keep this guide current as the supported experiences expand.

Use Descrybe in Cowork

Cowork is especially useful when the legal research and the document belong in one continuous workspace. Descrybe supplies focused legal research and source material, while Cowork can create and revise the Microsoft Word work product.

  1. 1

    Enable Descrybe for Cowork

    Open Customize, choose Plugins, and make sure Descrybe Legal Engine is installed and enabled.

    Enable Descrybe Legal Engine from Cowork Customize under Plugins.
  2. 2

    Describe the work product

    Tell Cowork what you are creating, what jurisdiction and legal issue apply, and what facts or materials it should use.

  3. 3

    Ask Cowork to use Descrybe

    Direct Cowork to use Descrybe Legal Engine for the legal research. Ask it to preserve citations and identify the authorities used in the document.

  4. 4

    Review the Word document and sources

    Open the created Word document, inspect the cited authorities, and verify important propositions against the source material before finalizing the work.

    Cowork can use Descrybe research while creating and revising a Word document in the same workspace.

Use Descrybe in Excel

Excel can ask for approval before sharing a request with Descrybe Legal Engine. Review the tool name and request details, then choose the permission that fits your work.

Allow once

Approve only the current Descrybe tool call.

Always allow in this chat

Use the menu beside Allow once if you want Excel to use Descrybe again in the current chat without asking each time.

Excel may ask for approval before sending a legal research request to Descrybe.

Troubleshooting

Copilot cannot connect to Descrybe

Sign in to Descrybe in the same browser, confirm active Legal Engine or Full Platform access on your dashboard, then restart the connection from Copilot Sources.

You connected the wrong Descrybe account

Sign out of Descrybe, sign back in with the account that has active access, and reconnect Descrybe Legal Engine in Copilot.

Descrybe does not appear in Sources

Partner Sources are not available in every Microsoft 365 app yet. First try a supported experience such as Copilot Chat, Researcher, or Cowork. If Descrybe still does not appear, confirm that a qualifying Microsoft Copilot license is assigned to your account. Business Basic by itself and free Copilot Chat do not support federated Sources. Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator whether partner Sources are enabled and Descrybe Legal Engine is available to you.

Copilot answers without using Descrybe

Start a new chat and ask directly: "Use Descrybe Legal Engine for this legal research question." Check the response for Descrybe tool use and source references.

Cowork cannot find Descrybe

Open Customize, choose Plugins, and confirm that Descrybe Legal Engine is installed and enabled.

if your account should have access but Microsoft 365 Copilot cannot connect.