Evaluating Alternatives to

Lexis & Westlaw

By Todd Venie and Roger Skalbeck
December 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

Tax Court 1924 – current

Fastcase 1790 - current (ALL) 1924 - current 1912 - current Bankruptcy: 1979 – current
BIA 1996 – current

Tax Court 1999 – current

Casemaker 1790 - current (ALL) 1930 - current 1932 - current Bankruptcy 1999 – current
BIA 1996 – current

Generally 1924 – Current

Tax Court 1942 - Current
10th Circuit 1929 – Current 1921 - Current
Loislaw 1790 - current (ALL) Bankruptcy 1975 - Current
11th Circuit 1981 – Current (SELECTED)
(SELECTED)
Federal Circuit 1929 – Current

Generally 1930 – current Varies widely - Some back

Tax Court 1999 – current
VersusLaw 1886 - current DC Circuit 1950 – current to 1930, others to early
BIA 1996 - current
9th Circuit 1941 – current 1970s
 U.S. Code Coverage Comparison
Full Text Find by
Database Browsable Currency Session Laws
Search Citation

Fastcase Yes Yes Yes 2006 version None

Yes Yes Yes Titles 1-41 through 01/08/2008 Current

Casemaker
Titles 42-50 through 01/03/2007 NOT integrated into Code

Yes Yes Yes Current

Loislaw 2006 Version
Integrated into Code

Yes Yes Yes Current

Versuslaw 2006 Version
Integrated into Code
 Search & Finding Functions
Terms & Natural Links Across
Database Federated Searching Sorting Options
Connectors Language Materials

Date
Relevance
Fastcase Yes Yes No* Yes
Most Cited
Party Name

Date
Casemaker Yes No No Yes – with limited search functions
Relevance

Loislaw Yes No Yes Yes Date

Date
Versuslaw Yes No No Yes Jurisdiction
Party 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

All research on premium

service;
Initial research
may repeat research
ONLY on Loislaw
 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 rvs5@law.georgetown.edu
– Todd Venie tmv22@law.georgetown.edu
• Copyright 2009
Todd Venie and Roger Skalbeck

Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States