Aderant Handshake vs. Thomson Reuters Westlaw

The user of Handshake takes a certain amount of user computer literacy and the user needs to be resourceful. When building our site, I needed to google quite a bit. On the contrary, if budget allows, Handshake developers will do it all for you.

Incentivized

Perhaps well-suited in enterprise agreements where many users need access to many areas, and a giant contract is cost effective. This was a good company to work with as a student and instructor where value was not my specific concern. I cannot speak to the value paid by the responsible party in that context.

• The main reason we got Handshake was to display visual gadgets for our accounting systems. We always provided spreadsheet type reports, but pictures and more engaging. Attorney gets a dashboard in real time of where they stand financially.
• Additional use as FAQ's in different departments in the firm, that is, accounting, IT, and office services.
• Knowledgebase - How to's and software.

Incentivized

• The headnotes allow me to quickly read through the key aspects of the case.
• Keycites make for quick efficient searches.
• The flagging system is great for making sure the case is still good law.
• Ability to save highlighting and comments on cases makes for organized research.

Incentivized

• Documentation is weak, but hopefully, since Aderant just acquired the company, that will improve

Incentivized

• The program logs me off rather quickly when I have a window open stagnant on Practical Law. As I don't believe Practical Law bills per minute of use, I wish it would stay open longer.
• Most of the corporate forms are still unavailable or not maintained in all 50 states. Would love to see practicioners like myself used as resources to get those updated and current.

Incentivized

There is no real competition

Incentivized

The specific product ordered was fine, but it was far too easy to mindlessly incur ancillary charges without warning. This is much less user friendly than other, similar providers of services such as LexisNexis. The Thomson Reuters Westlaw experience is not intuitive when compared to other, similar providers and ended up being less cost effective.

I was passed around like a hot potato and nameless responders were somewhat disrespectful and "snippy." There was no offer to resolve the issue I complained about, and I was basically made to feel as though I was lying about the problem. The solution was easy: fix my customized home screen to remove the possibility of wandering into a non-subscription area. This fix was never offered or pursued. Instead, I was offered the option of signing up for additional services.

None. Always need about Handshake's interface with Aderant, way before Aderant purchased them. Seemed like a natural fit.

Incentivized

Like I said earlier, I previously used Lexis as the legal research tool. I did like Lexis because it was very easy to navigate, and you were able to utilize their Shepherds tool for case citations. However, I felt that their bank or library of cases, legal standards or precedents, and providing the user with the quality of case law needed was subpar. [Thomson Reuters] Westlaw far exceeds [its] competitors when it comes to the necessary elements needed for legal practice/research.

Incentivized

• Hard to say, but ultimately putting knowledge in the hands of fee earners immediately it is positive.

Incentivized

• Accident report does not have auto insurance information, but [Thomson Reuters] Westlaw was able to locate information needed to make sure a client's injuries were taken care of
• Case Citations in response to defendants' motions in trial citing decisions that are against our clients

Incentivized