Westlaw Bestlaw!
May 21, 2018

Westlaw Bestlaw!

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Thomson Reuters Westlaw

I use Westlaw for legal research. I use it to search for cases to support my briefs and memoranda. I also use Westlaw to check on the legal citations that my adversaries use as support in their arguments. Westlaw is a great tool for legal research particularly its headnotes and keycites. Westlaw's headnotes are what set it apart from other legal research tools. The ease in searching through headnotes allow for quicker and more efficient research allowing me to get the job done faster. Keycites make it easier to search broad topics when I do not know exactly what I am looking for.

Pros

  • 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.

Cons

  • More expensive than other tools.
  • Limited plans.
  • Positive return by making legal research more efficient.
  • Cost more to use however saves time and allows for more work to get done.
Compared to LexisNexis, Westlaw is easier to use. Text is easier to read with less distractions. Easier to find statutes and regulations. While Lexis has the shepardizing feature, Westlaw has a method of checking to make sure the law is still good law. Shepardize is Lexis's best feature however it is not a strong enough feature to make me prefer it over Westlaw.
Best suited for legal research. Also helpful when looking for statutes, or other regulations. When looking up research on Westlaw, I know that it is accurate. It is less appropriate perhaps in a smaller firm where the cost exceeds it benefits.

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