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Boutique I'm working for is having me download cases from Westlaw. Should I avoid them?

What? Are you a summer? Using your school westlaw account?

If they're having you download from your school account, that's shady as hell AND it may be unsafe - I've heard at least one story (maybe totally apocryphal, who knows) of Westlaw attempting to charge a student a fee after learning that the cases were used for commercial purposes in violation of the student agreement with Westlaw (you know, that thing you clicked through upon first joining up?). Westlaw knows what you downloaded using your student account, so I wouldn't totally write this off as a possibility (though it does have that distinct ring of "I heard of a guy once..." that usually precedes all bullshit claims).

On the other hand, if the firm itself has gotten you a "trial account" with Westlaw that's free for part of the summer, that's totally cool. I remember when I was an SA the rep was upfront about saying "We tell the associates you can download cases for free for the next few weeks, so expect to be popular!" so it's clear that Westlaw was in on it. If that's your situation, I wouldn't worry.

Anonymous User wrote:Boutique I'm working for is having me download cases from Westlaw. Should I avoid them?

I'm just wondering how you plan to "avoid" a firm you're "working for."

Or is it the cases from Westlaw that you're attempting to avoid?

If the firm is having you do it on their trial account it's cool. But if their asking you to do it on your account, not only could you et charged but they are acting unethically. It may present issues for you as well with the bar. Doubt it would ever get that crazy, but you never know. Not worth the risk.

I am assuming that this is rather hard for westlaw to catch. A lot of people opt to use westlaw next because their firm will use inferior services, i.e., lexis advance.

I am really not sure how they would know this unless you admit to it.

jarofsoup wrote:I am assuming that this is rather hard for westlaw to catch. A lot of people opt to use westlaw next because their firm will use inferior services, i.e., lexis advance.

I am really not sure how they would know this unless you admit to it.

This is good advice for a future lawyer on the issue of integrity. Yes, it's wrong, stealing IP outside of the permissible bounds of your user license, but you probably won't get caught, so it's ok.

jarofsoup wrote:I am assuming that this is rather hard for westlaw to catch. A lot of people opt to use westlaw next because their firm will use inferior services, i.e., lexis advance.

I am really not sure how they would know this unless you admit to it.

Supposedly, Westlaw has software in place to detect search patterns that reflect commercial use, rather than student use. Don't know how true this is.

I got an email from Westlaw during 1L that said they were giving me 40 hours of researching for the summer, and if I was doing PI I should let them know and they would give me unlimited hours.

Seems to imply that I can use it for a firm.

(I'm just using the free one they gave me at the start of the summer, though...)

RodneyRuxin wrote:I got an email from Westlaw during 1L that said they were giving me 40 hours of researching for the summer, and if I was doing PI I should let them know and they would give me unlimited hours.

Seems to imply that I can use it for a firm.

(I'm just using the free one they gave me at the start of the summer, though...)

I think the 40 hours free research is intended for your own use, and a firm isn't PI.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

RodneyRuxin wrote:I got an email from Westlaw during 1L that said they were giving me 40 hours of researching for the summer, and if I was doing PI I should let them know and they would give me unlimited hours.

Seems to imply that I can use it for a firm.

(I'm just using the free one they gave me at the start of the summer, though...)

I think the 40 hours free research is intended for your own use, and a firm isn't PI.

Everybody at my school got unlimited Lexis, even if for commercial use. Is this not a thing everywhere?

bulinus wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

RodneyRuxin wrote:I got an email from Westlaw during 1L that said they were giving me 40 hours of researching for the summer, and if I was doing PI I should let them know and they would give me unlimited hours.

Seems to imply that I can use it for a firm.

(I'm just using the free one they gave me at the start of the summer, though...)

I think the 40 hours free research is intended for your own use, and a firm isn't PI.

Everybody at my school got unlimited Lexis, even if for commercial use. Is this not a thing everywhere?

Lexis =/= Westlaw