Free/Cost Effective Research on the Web and Alternatives to Lexis & Westlaw

Topics Covered How much do Lexis and Westlaw Cost? Cost saving tips for Lexis and Westlaw Low cost databases

Lexis and Westlaw cost? Even if flat rate plan, client charged or maybe outside of plan Lexis- items outside of plan not accessible. Another account to access off plan. Westlaw-Message saying outside of plan

Computing Westlaw Costs Florida Briefs Multibase Click for rate Select rate = $11.03/min Click Subscriber for per search cost Add communication charges -.22/min Add print/download costs –.04 per line or $20 per document

Cost-Saving Tips for Lexis/WL See Efficient /Cost Effective Legal ResearchEfficient /Cost Effective Legal Research Call Lexis/Westlaw reference attorney Ask librarian re. price plan Use print or cheaper databases first Before go online: Create search, figure cost

Cost-Saving Tips for Lexis/WL Use most specific database Start general & use focus/locate Decide transactional or hourly, print line or print document Use get or find instead of searching if have cite

Cost-Saving Tips for Lexis/WL Table of contents, documents in sequence no charge Use CheckCite® and WestCheck to check citations. Print with Web browser or cut & paste for free.

Tips from Lexis/WL LexisNexis Cost Effective Research StrategiesLexisNexis Cost Effective Research Strategies Cost Effective Research Tips - Westlaw (These links on Getting Ready to Clerk: Summer Associate Guide )Getting Ready to Clerk: Summer Associate Guide

Low Cost Databases

Stripped down versions of Lexis/WL Casemaker –Free w/ free student OSBA membership Fastcase – Free w/ Cleve bar membership Lois Law – Coming soon Versus Law – Free to Law students

Articles re. Low Cost Database Four Legal Research Companies Offer Mid-priced Options, Wisconsin Law Journal, Sept. 4, 2008Four Legal Research Companies Offer Mid-priced Options A Guide to Fee-Based U. S. Legal Research Databases – Globalex, Dec 2006A Guide to Fee-Based U. S. Legal Research Databases 2006 comparison – Univ. Wash. Law Library2006 comparison

Contents Unanno Statutes Cases w/o Headnotes Unanno Regs “Shepard’s –Like Feature” Other LoislawYesYes – Ohio unreported Yes“Yes”Treatises Case maker YesYes – Ohio unreported Yes“Yes” Some Jurisdictions - Jury Instruc., Jury Verdicts, More

Contents Unanno Statutes Cases w/o Headnotes Unanno Regs “Shepard’s –Like Feature” FastcaseExcept 11 states – Internet links Fed App 1968-, Ohio , Ohio unreported CoverageCoverage Mostly Internet Links Yes Versuslaw See help, Content/ Features Fed if pay more, no state Ohio Ohio unreported Older Fed District More $ Fed if pay more, no State Yes

Searching BooleanNatural Language FieldsSearch databases together LoislawYes - near2NoYes CasemakerYes - w/n, w/sent, w/para NoYesFed together, State CASES together

Special Feature of Loislaw SAVED SEARCHES!

Searching BooleanNatural Language FieldsSearch databases together FastcaseYes - w/nYesDate, cite look-up only Yes Versus Law Yes - w/nYes default connector is ADJ 4 fields, see help For addtl fee

Primary & Secondary – Specific Subjects BNA – See Electronic Resources page for links.Electronic Resources CCH - See Electronic Resources page for links.Electronic Resources RIA Checkpoint

BNA Current awareness, may contain past 12 years ex. U.S. Law Week/Supreme Court Today ; Daily Labor Report (DLR expensive!).U.S. Law Week/Supreme Court Today Daily Labor Report Sign up for BNA Current Awareness ServicesSign up for BNA Current Awareness Services Libraries, ex. Labor and Employment Law Library or ABA/BNA lawyers' manual on professional conductLabor and Employment Law Library ABA/BNA lawyers' manual on professional conduct

CCH CCH Business and Finance - - Antitrust, Securities, Business Organizations, Corporate Governance, Banking, Insurance, Products Liability, Government Contracts, Intellectual Property, Transportation, Evidence. List of Major Titles.CCH Business and Finance - List of Major Titles.

CCH CCH Health and Human Resources - Human Resources, Benefits, Pensions, Labor & Employment Law, Environmental Compliance, Health Care, Food, Drugs & Devices. List of Major Titles.CCH Health and Human Resources List of Major Titles

CCH Boolean searching, w/n etc. Limit by date – click on Search Tools button Current awareness s – Sign up InstructionsSign up Instructions Index Known for their fifty state charts

EEOC Compliance Manual “This practitioner´s guide features the full text of the EEOC´s Manual of current guidelines and directives for bringing and settling job discrimination lawsuits against employers.” (EEOC Compliance manual also in BNA Labor & Employment Law Library)

Other Databases Heinonline – Handy Link on Library Home PageHeinonlineLibrary Home Page –Law Reviews old & new –Code of Fed Regulations – old & new & Federal Register –Some legislative history documents Ohio Capitol Connection Gongwer