Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown Forum

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How do you take your research?

Lexis Nexis
28
26%
Westlaw
81
74%
 
Total votes: 109

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Bronte

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Bronte » Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:20 pm

shoeshine wrote:
I.P. Daly wrote:Do any schools have access to Bloomberg? If so, how does it compare to Lexis and West?

What is Bloomberg? (besides a media conglomerate, new york mayor, and television channel)
I'm sure he's referring to the media conglomerate / data company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_L.P. But yeah, I didn't know they did legal database stuff.

adonai

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by adonai » Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:31 pm

Lexis because they provide case briefs. I know Westlaw does it too, but we aren't granted access to it.

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I.P. Daly

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by I.P. Daly » Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:32 pm

Bronte wrote: I'm sure he's referring to the media conglomerate / data company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_L.P. But yeah, I didn't know they did legal database stuff.
Several years ago, Bloomberg (the media conglomerate) started "Bloomberg LAW" in an attempt to compete with Lexis and West.

I think several schools in the NYC area have free access to Bloomberg...

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ahduth

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by ahduth » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:55 am

I.P. Daly wrote:
Bronte wrote: I'm sure he's referring to the media conglomerate / data company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_L.P. But yeah, I didn't know they did legal database stuff.
Several years ago, Bloomberg (the media conglomerate) started "Bloomberg LAW" in an attempt to compete with Lexis and West.

I think several schools in the NYC area have free access to Bloomberg...
They've told us nothing about it. And I doubt they have offices in our library.

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by CreativityKing » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:57 am

fanmingrui wrote:Lexis has better rewards.
OK, I feel stupid, but how did I get points on Lexis? I've been logging in every day and searching for a random case in either federal or state cases, but my point total hasn't budged. This is the most important law school question I've ever asked.

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kwais

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by kwais » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:01 am

We use Bloomberg at CLS (by use I mean we have free access and a seminar by its reps)

target

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by target » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:10 pm

Question related to either Lexis or West. Is there a search or general function that lets me find out later hearing(s) of a remanded case? I mean many remanded cases got settled out of court and would not have later record. But for a few that were actually heard, is there a way to find them in Lexis or West?

kahechsof

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by kahechsof » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:15 pm

I like the way OP assumed lexis was superior, but we have 4/5 using westlaw so far.

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Bronte

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Bronte » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:07 pm

shepdawg wrote:I don't think many law firms use either Advance or Next.
They will soon. Well Lexis Advance just came out. But Westlaw original will be phased out soon.

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bendtheslurry

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by bendtheslurry » Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:02 pm

fuck you lexis for promising me 30 points everyday in september then only giving me 15 :evil:

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bport hopeful

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by bport hopeful » Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:13 pm

bendtheslurry wrote:fuck you lexis for promising me 30 points everyday in september then only giving me 15 :evil:
+1

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introversional

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by introversional » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:05 pm

kahechsof wrote:I like the way OP assumed lexis was superior, but we have 4/5 using westlaw so far.
Negative; Caddilacs suck, and I referred to Lexis as a Caddy. ;)

After playing around with Next a lot more.... I hereby deem Westlaw the Mercedes of Search.
(haven't figured out West's rewards system yet... may switch back if it blows)

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sundance95

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by sundance95 » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:14 pm

I like Lexis because I've used it before. Also, their rewards are better. Westlaw seems to be pretty much the same except for the key number system, which is great if you need to find that first case on topic.

WestlawNext is great and all, but because firms won't pay extra for it, I don't use it.

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Michaela

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Michaela » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:43 pm

CreativityKing wrote:
fanmingrui wrote:Lexis has better rewards.
OK, I feel stupid, but how did I get points on Lexis? I've been logging in every day and searching for a random case in either federal or state cases, but my point total hasn't budged. This is the most important law school question I've ever asked.
2 week delay in point deposit

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Bronte

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Bronte » Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:48 pm

sundance95 wrote:I like Lexis because I've used it before. Also, their rewards are better. Westlaw seems to be pretty much uthe same except for the key number system, which is great if you need to find that first case on topic.

WestlawNext is great and all, but because firms won't pay extra for it, I don't use it.
Westlaw is planning to phase out classic soon. Firms will have it.

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sundance95

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by sundance95 » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:27 pm

Bronte wrote:
sundance95 wrote:I like Lexis because I've used it before. Also, their rewards are better. Westlaw seems to be pretty much uthe same except for the key number system, which is great if you need to find that first case on topic.

WestlawNext is great and all, but because firms won't pay extra for it, I don't use it.
Westlaw is planning to phase out classic soon. Firms will have it.
When? Haven't they been saying that for a good while now? And at any rate, Next is easy to use-its not like one has to 'learn' it.

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bport hopeful

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by bport hopeful » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:28 pm

sundance95 wrote:
Bronte wrote:
sundance95 wrote:I like Lexis because I've used it before. Also, their rewards are better. Westlaw seems to be pretty much uthe same except for the key number system, which is great if you need to find that first case on topic.

WestlawNext is great and all, but because firms won't pay extra for it, I don't use it.
Westlaw is planning to phase out classic soon. Firms will have it.
When? Haven't they been saying that for a good while now? And at any rate, Next is easy to use-its not like one has to 'learn' it.
I think they said within 18 months, but I might be making this up. Not longer than that I dont think tho.

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target

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by target » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:40 pm

bport hopeful wrote:
bendtheslurry wrote:fuck you lexis for promising me 30 points everyday in september then only giving me 15 :evil:
+1
They added later and separately, I think. I just got my first few days updated.

ToTransferOrNot

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by ToTransferOrNot » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:47 am

So I got used to Westlaw Next.

Federal judiciary does not have it.


Going back to original Westlaw or Lexis after having Next is incredibly painful. Efficiency is SO much lower.

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Bronte

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Bronte » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:47 pm

If Westlaw's really planning to switch completely over to Next, they should really just give it to firms for no additional cost now so as to reduce the inevitable backlash from the old people when they switch over. (If you're skeptical about this backlash, see the legal profession's continuing use of WordPerfect.)

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by missinglink » Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:49 pm

Bronte wrote:If Westlaw's really planning to switch completely over to Next, they should really just give it to firms for no additional cost now so as to reduce the inevitable backlash from the old people when they switch over. (If you're skeptical about this backlash, see the legal profession's continuing use of WordPerfect.)
Who uses WordPerfect? I'm genuinely curious.

Last summer, my judge and all the research attorneys used Word (not the latest version, to be sure). All the firms I've visited seem to use Word too.

WestlawNext is my go to search engine right now.

But I've been playing around with Lexis Advanced, and it might get more of my time once the database is up to snuff.

Bloomberg is useful too, but it's not really part of my workflow at the moment.

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Lasers

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Lasers » Sat Sep 24, 2011 5:30 pm

i like westlaw better but i search with lexus more. better rewards, more points, and the training stuff online is an easy 400 pts.

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OklahomasOK

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by OklahomasOK » Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:25 am

Big fan of Next. I actually like the Westlaw rewards, and points are a breeze to come by. Not to mention the tutorials are actually more helpful than my Legal Research class.

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Lasers

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Lasers » Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:49 pm

OklahomasOK wrote:Big fan of Next. I actually like the Westlaw rewards, and points are a breeze to come by. Not to mention the tutorials are actually more helpful than my Legal Research class.
how do you get westlaw pts easy?

i know lexis has easy tutorials every month.

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Pato_09

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Re: Lexis v. Westlaw super search smackdown

Post by Pato_09 » Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:52 pm

I am switching from Lexis to WestLaw, but it does not let me log in to WestLaw Next. Supposedly it is because I am using Safari on a MAC. Does anybody use WestLaw Next on a MAC, and could help me solve this issue?

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


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