West Law Legal Research

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West Law is a comprehensive legal research database that offers access to case law, statutes, and regulations from all 50 U.S. states and more than 190 countries. The database is searchable by keyword, topic, jurisdiction, and date.

West Law also offers a variety of research tools and resources to help users conduct legal research effectively. These tools include a legal dictionary, a legal news database, a legal blog directory, and a legal citation guide.

West Law is available to users at law schools, universities, and public libraries. It can also be accessed remotely by subscription.

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How do I use Westlaw for legal research?

Westlaw is one of the most popular legal research databases used by attorneys and law students. It contains a vast amount of case law, statutes, and other legal materials from all over the world.

In order to use Westlaw for legal research, you first need to create an account. You can do this on the Westlaw website. Once you have created an account, you can begin searching for materials.

There are a few different ways to search for materials on Westlaw. The first is to use the Westlaw search bar. You can type in keywords or phrases, and Westlaw will return results from all of its databases.

Another way to search for materials is to use the Westlaw legal citator. The legal citator allows you to find cases that have cited a particular case or statute. This can be useful for determining how a particular case has been interpreted by other courts.

Westlaw also has a number of specialized databases, such as the Westlaw Journal Library and the Westlaw UK Database. These databases contain articles and other materials on various legal topics.

Westlaw can be a useful tool for legal research. It contains a vast amount of legal materials from all over the world.

What is the purpose of Westlaw?

Westlaw is a comprehensive legal research database that offers access to case law, statutes, regulations, and other legal resources. It can be used to research a wide range of legal topics, and it offers a variety of features that can help legal professionals quickly find the information they need.

Is Westlaw a legal database?

Westlaw is a legal database that offers subscribers access to a variety of resources, including case law, statutes, and regulations. It is one of the most popular legal research tools available and is used by attorneys, law students, and government officials.

Westlaw is maintained by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of legal information and research tools. The database is updated regularly with new content, and subscribers can access it from any computer with an internet connection.

One of the key benefits of Westlaw is its comprehensive coverage of case law. The database includes coverage of all U.S. federal and state court cases, as well as cases from over 100 other countries. This makes it an invaluable resource for legal research.

Westlaw also offers a wide range of other resources, including:

-Statutes

-Regulations

-News

-Bloomberg Terminal

Westlaw is a popular tool among attorneys and law students, and it is essential for anyone who needs to conduct legal research. It is easy to use and offers comprehensive coverage of case law and other legal resources.

Does it cost money to search in Westlaw?

Westlaw is a subscription-based legal research database that provides access to case law, statutes, and other legal resources. Westlaw users can search the database for free, but there is a cost associated with viewing the full text of documents.

When you perform a search in Westlaw, the results are displayed in a list. To view the full text of a document, you need to click on the link in the “Full Text” column. If you are a subscriber, the document will be displayed in a new window. If you are not a subscriber, you will be prompted to purchase a subscription or sign up for a free trial.

There is a cost associated with viewing the full text of documents on Westlaw, but there is no cost to search the database. Subscribers can save time and money by quickly locating the documents they need and avoiding the need to purchase individual copies. Non-subscribers can sign up for a free trial to gain access to the full text of documents.

How do I start a legal research?

A legal research is the process of finding and analyzing legal materials in order to make a legal decision. It is an important skill for law students, lawyers, and legal professionals.

There are a few steps involved in starting a legal research:

1. Identify the legal question you are trying to answer. This can be done by talking to a lawyer, reading case law, or looking at statutes.

2. Gather relevant legal materials. This can include case law, statutes, regulations, and articles.

3. Analyze the legal materials. This involves reading and understanding the case law, statutes, and regulations.

4. Make a legal decision. This involves applying the law to the facts of the case and reaching a conclusion.

It is important to note that legal research is not an exact science. There is often more than one answer to a legal question. It is up to the lawyer or legal professional to decide which answer is the best.

How do paralegals do legal research?

Legal research is the process of locating and analyzing legal materials in order to provide a legal opinion. It is an important skill for lawyers and paralegals.

There are a number of different methods and sources that paralegals can use to conduct legal research. The most important step is to identify the specific issue or question that needs to be answered.

Once the question has been identified, paralegals can begin to gather relevant information from case law, statutes, regulations, and other legal sources. They will analyze this information to determine the relevant legal principles and precedents.

Finally, paralegals will form an opinion based on their findings, and will provide this opinion to their clients or to the court.

Do most law firms use Lexis or Westlaw?

There is no definitive answer to this question as law firms may have different preferences or needs that lead them to prefer one research platform over the other. However, in general, Lexis is more commonly used by law firms than Westlaw.

One of the main reasons Lexis is more popular among law firms is that it offers a wider range of resources. In addition to legal databases, Lexis also includes news, business, and other types of information. Westlaw is more limited in its resources, focusing specifically on legal materials.

Another reason law firms may prefer Lexis is that it is more user-friendly. The interface is simpler and easier to navigate, which can be important when doing legal research. Westlaw is known for its complex and difficult-to-use interface.

However, Westlaw does have some advantages over Lexis. For example, Westlaw’s search capabilities are generally considered to be better. It is also often updated more quickly than Lexis, which can be important for staying up-to-date on the latest legal developments.

Ultimately, whether a law firm uses Lexis or Westlaw is likely to come down to personal preference. Some firms may prefer the broader range of resources available on Lexis, while others may find Westlaw’s search capabilities to be more helpful.

West Law Legal Research7 min read