Legal Research Tools

Certainly! Here are some popular online tools and applications commonly used for legal research:

1. Westlaw:

• Website: Westlaw
• Description: Westlaw is a comprehensive legal research platform providing access to a vast database of case law, statutes, regulations, legal journals, and more.
• Features:
  • Advanced search capabilities with filters for jurisdiction, date, and topic.
  • Access to primary and secondary legal sources.
  • Case analysis tools, including KeyCite for verifying citations and Shepard’s for tracking case history.
  • Customizable alerts for updates on legal developments.

2. Lexis Advance:

• Website: Lexis Advance
• Description: Lexis Advance is another leading legal research platform offering a wide range of legal content, including case law, statutes, regulations, legal news, and analysis.
• Features:
  • Extensive collection of legal resources from various jurisdictions.
  • Shepard’s Citations for verifying case law and statute citations.
  • Customizable search filters and boolean search capabilities.
  • Tools for creating and organizing research folders.

3. Google Scholar:

• Website: Google Scholar
• Description: Google Scholar provides a free and user-friendly platform for accessing scholarly articles, case law, and legal opinions.
• Features:
  • Searchable database of legal documents, including court opinions and academic articles.
  • Citation tracking to identify influential legal works.
  • Ability to set up email alerts for new case law in specific areas of interest.
  • Helpful for quick and broad legal research across various jurisdictions.

4. Fastcase:

• Website: Fastcase
• Description: Fastcase offers an affordable legal research platform with access to a large library of case law, statutes, regulations, and legal publications.
• Features:
  • Natural language and Boolean search capabilities.
  • Interactive timelines for visualizing case law history.
  • Integrated citation analysis and browsing features.
  • Access to legal treatises, bar publications, and practice guides.

5. Bloomberg Law:

• Website: Bloomberg Law
• Description: Bloomberg Law is a comprehensive legal research and practice management platform offering a wide array of legal resources, news, and analysis.
• Features:
  • Access to federal and state case law, statutes, regulations, and administrative materials.
  • Practice tools for drafting documents, analyzing court opinions, and conducting legal research.
  • News and analysis on legal developments across various practice areas.
  • Customizable alerts for tracking changes in laws and regulations.

6. Casetext:

• Website: Casetext
• Description: Casetext combines traditional legal research with artificial intelligence tools to provide efficient and cost-effective research solutions.
• Features:
  • CARA A.I. (Case Analysis Research Assistant) for analyzing briefs and finding relevant case law.
  • Comprehensive database of federal and state case law, statutes, regulations, and secondary sources.
  • Collaborative features for sharing research and annotations with colleagues.
  • Pricing options suitable for solo practitioners, small firms, and large organizations.

7. Ravel Law (Now part of LexisNexis):

• Website: LexisNexis Ravel Law
• Description: Ravel Law offers innovative visual research tools to enhance legal research and case law analysis.
• Features:
  • Data visualization tools such as interactive case maps and visual search.
  • Judicial analytics for insights into judge and court behavior.
  • Advanced search functionalities with intuitive filters.
  • Integration with LexisNexis for accessing a broader range of legal resources.

8. CaseMine:

• Website: CaseMine
• Description: CaseMine is an AI-powered legal research platform offering access to a vast collection of case law, statutes, and legal documents.
• Features:
  • Keyword and citation search across multiple jurisdictions.
  • CaseIQ for finding related cases and analyzing judicial trends.
  • Case analysis tools for extracting insights from legal texts.
  • MyLibrary feature for organizing and saving research materials.

9. Justia:

• Website: Justia
• Description: Justia provides free legal information, including case law, statutes, regulations, and legal articles.
• Features:
  • Easy-to-use search interface for finding federal and state case law.
  • Access to legal forms, including contracts, leases, and agreements.
  • Legal blogs and newsletters covering various legal topics.
  • Lawyer directory for finding legal professionals in specific practice areas.

10. Casemaker:

• Website: Casemaker
• Description: Casemaker offers legal research tools and resources for attorneys, law firms, and legal professionals.
• Features:
  • State-specific databases of case law, statutes, regulations, and constitutions.
  • Keyword and citation search functionalities with advanced filters.
  • CaseCheck+ for verifying the current status of cases and statutes.
  • Practice area libraries and document management tools.

11. Legal Information Institute (LII) – Cornell Law School:

• Website: Legal Information Institute (LII)
• Description: LII provides free access to a wide range of legal materials, including the U.S. Code, Supreme Court opinions, and state statutes.
• Features:
  • Searchable database of federal and state legal resources.
  • Wex Legal Encyclopedia for explanations of legal terms and concepts.
  • Supreme Court Bulletin for updates on recent Supreme Court decisions.
  • Comprehensive resources for legal research, education, and public understanding of the law.

12. Indian Kanoon:

• Website: Indian Kanoon
• Description: Indian Kanoon is a free legal search engine providing access to Indian case law, statutes, and legal documents.
• Features:
  • Searchable database of Supreme Court and High Court judgments.
  • Access to Central Acts, State Acts, and legal documents from various Indian courts.
  • Advanced search options with filters for jurisdiction, year, and case type.
  • User-friendly interface suitable for legal professionals, students, and researchers.

13. LegalSifter:

• Website: LegalSifter
• Description: LegalSifter offers AI-powered contract analysis tools for reviewing and analyzing legal documents.
• Features:
  • Sifters (contract review algorithms) for identifying key terms, risks, and obligations in contracts.