Evaluating Alternatives to Lexis and Westlaw - Slides
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Transcript of Evaluating Alternatives to Lexis and Westlaw - Slides
Evaluating Alternatives to Lexis & Westlaw
By Todd Venie and Roger SkalbeckDecember 10, 2009
Presentation for:Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC
Federal Case Law Coverage Comparison
Database U.S. Supreme Court Federal Circuit Courts Federal District Courts Other Federal Courts
Fastcase 1790 - current (ALL) 1924 - current 1912 - currentTax Court 1924 – current
Bankruptcy: 1979 – currentBIA 1996 – current
Casemaker 1790 - current (ALL) 1930 - current 1932 - currentTax Court 1999 – current
Bankruptcy 1999 – currentBIA 1996 – current
Loislaw 1790 - current (ALL)
Generally 1924 – Current10th Circuit 1929 – Current11th Circuit 1981 – Current
Federal Circuit 1929 – Current
1921 - Current (SELECTED)
Tax Court 1942 - Current Bankruptcy 1975 - Current
(SELECTED)
VersusLaw 1886 - currentGenerally 1930 – currentDC Circuit 1950 – current9th Circuit 1941 – current
Varies widely - Some back to 1930, others to early
1970s
Tax Court 1999 – currentBIA 1996 - current
U.S. Code Coverage Comparison
Database Full Text Search Browsable Find by
Citation Currency Session Laws
Fastcase Yes Yes Yes 2006 version None
CasemakerYes Yes Yes Titles 1-41 through 01/08/2008
Titles 42-50 through 01/03/2007Current
NOT integrated into Code
Loislaw Yes Yes Yes 2006 Version Current Integrated into Code
Versuslaw Yes Yes Yes 2006 Version Current Integrated into Code
Search & Finding FunctionsDatabase Terms &
ConnectorsNatural
LanguageLinks Across
Materials Federated Searching Sorting Options
Fastcase Yes Yes No* Yes
Date Relevance Most CitedParty Name
Casemaker Yes No No Yes – with limited search functions Date Relevance
Loislaw Yes No Yes Yes Date
Versuslaw Yes No No YesDate
JurisdictionParty Name
Notable Differences
• Currency of codes and integration of session laws
• District court coverage
• State case law coverage
• Linking across materials
• Sorting & searching options
Bar Association Benefits• Fastcase
– 22 state and local bar associations including: • Virginia State Bar• Maryland State Bar Association
• Casemaker– 28 state and local bars
• Loislaw– None
• VersusLaw– A few bar associations and malpractice insurers
Output & Personalization
• Print / Download– 2-column: Fastcase, Casemaker– 1-column: Loislaw, Versuslaw
• Personalization and saved documents– Fastcase: “My Library”– Versuslaw: save searches
Bells & Whistles
• Loislaw: automated updates– Get new materials that cite your case or
match your search criteria– Can create intranet search form (widget)
• Casemaker & Loislaw– Thesaurus for searching
Bells & Whistles• Fastcase
– Authority Check: citation analysis, sorting & visualization
Ease of use Issues
• Casemaker: – Statute linking limited– Link highlighting is subtle
• Fastcase:– Cross-case and cross-statute linking not 100%– Links to Lexis / Westlaw for Credit Card users
Pre-Searching Only
• Use alternative source only for initial search:– Identify terms of art– Locate a few good cases
Initial research ONLY on Loislaw
All research on premium service;
may repeat research
Parallel Searching
• Simultaneous use of both service types• Feasible for multi-task researchers• Impractical for hourly search charges
Serial Searching
• Start search with alternative • Proceed to Lexis/Westlaw for updating and unique
content• Return to alternative for more research
Integration Hurdles
• Changing search behavior is difficult• Training is tricky• Integration between online services is far
from seamless
Open Discussion
• Which integration options work?
• What are people already doing?– Option #1: Promote bar/association benefits– Option #2: Provide incentives– Option #3: Prohibit specific uses
Contact and Credits
• Direct questions or comments to: – Roger V. Skalbeck [email protected]– Todd Venie [email protected]
• Copyright 2009 Todd Venie and Roger Skalbeck
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States