Whether you are looking for legal software or you want to find out how to use the tools that are available, you may have questions about Westlaw. This article will cover the basics of what Westlaw has to offer, as well as the answers to some common questions. Hopefully, this will help you choose the right product for your practice.
About Westlaw
Using Westlaw to research cases is a valuable tool for attorneys and legal professionals. While Westlaw is a great program, it can be overwhelming. It is also more expensive than competitors. Having a better understanding of its features can help you save time and money.
To begin, Westlaw has a massive database. These include collections of court records, laws, regulations, statutes, books, journals, and publications from around the world. These materials are compiled and maintained by West Publishing, a Minnesota-based company.
The database itself is not copyrighted, so it can be accessed from anywhere. It has an abundance of features that make it easy for users to search, export, and return to previously performed research at any time. There are also a variety of standalone solutions for common legal tasks.
Cost of subscriptions
Whether you are a solo practitioner or a large firm, the cost of west law subscriptions is a big factor. Westlaw offers a wide variety of plans and subscriptions. There are also flat-rate and hourly-rate options.
The standard annual Westlaw subscription costs about $173 per month for one attorney. For two or more attorneys, the annual costs drop to about $228 per month. For firms with complex cases, the Premium plan may be the best choice. It offers access to opinions from the United States Supreme Court and U.S. District Courts, as well as statutory revisions on state and federal levels. The Standard plan is more basic and includes opinions from U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.
For small firms, the Basic and Essentials plans are geared toward firms with six or fewer attorneys. These plans include state statutes and case law. However, the pricing is still based on a limited selection of databases.
TWEN courseware
Using Westlaw for course preparation is not an option for most students, but it’s possible for select individuals. While the company does not offer a formal program, a few schools have opted to certify their students in the legal esoteric. One such program, the Legal Research Foundation (LRF), boasts a student body of over 900, with the majority of graduates pursuing jobs in the legal industry. To reap the benefits of this program, you need to get a registration key. This nifty little nugget costs about $25 per month. Getting started is easy, and once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to access the library’s databases and a host of other educational programs aimed at increasing your employability.
In particular, the West Law system’s most recent iteration has gained a bit of a reputation for speed and accuracy, as well as a plethora of features that have not been seen in years past. While the name of the company is not mentioned too often, its technology is certainly a contender in the world of research.
Lexis Advance
Whether you are a law school student or a legal researcher, both Westlaw and Lexis Advance are useful legal research tools. However, there are subtle differences between the two that may make one prefer one over the other.
Both Westlaw and LexisNexis provide access to a broad range of online databases, including federal and state codes, case law, and public records. These databases are offered through either a web browser or a mobile app. Some states also maintain state-specific legal research sites.
Both systems allow for natural language searching, which means that researchers can use their preferred language to navigate through legal topics. In addition, both systems allow researchers to check the status of citations. This allows them to determine whether a cited reference is still good law.
