Is Westlaw a search engine?

Asked by: Ludwig Schuppe MD  |  Last update: May 17, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (43 votes)

Both Westlaw and Lexis use a default Natural Language search, similar to Google's: type a term (keyword), a group of terms, or a question, and press Enter. Results appear ranked for relevancy. But we don't know precisely how Lexis or Westlaw determines what is relevant.

What type of source is Westlaw?

Westlaw and Lexis provide access to different secondary sources based on the publisher and other licensing arrangements. Although there is overlap of resources, always try to check both Westlaw and Lexis during this step of the research process.

What is Westlaw considered?

Definition: Westlaw is a database used for computer-assisted legal research. It provides online access to various legal resources, including federal and state caselaw, statutes, regulations, and legal periodicals.

Is Westlaw a software?

Westlaw's software features a comprehensive secondary sources database that includes a streamlined interface to browse and bookmark publications. This is where Westlaw (and LexisNexis) set themselves apart from the rest.

What is Westlaw search?

The WestlawNext legal research service is comprehensive, easy to use, and up-to-date. It will help you perform accurate and effective legal research. On WestlawNext, you can quickly search many sources at once and retrieve up-to-date information that might be difficult to find using books.

Westlaw IE Searching Tutorial

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Is Westlaw a database?

Westlaw is an online legal research service and proprietary database for lawyers and legal professionals available in over 60 countries.

How much does Westlaw cost per search?

Westlaw suggests billing $99 per search, which price includes all the documents clicked on (unless the document is outside of the plan). This is known as "Westlaw Predictable Pricing".

What is the difference between Westlaw and LexisNexis?

LexisNexis provides access to an extensive collection of legal content, case law, statutes, regulations, verdicts, and more. Westlaw also has expansive content but has a narrower focus specifically on US legal research.

Does Westlaw have AI search?

Westlaw AI

Westlaw's AI program is based on the technology developed by CoCounsel, an independent leader in legal research assisted by Artificial intelligence.

Can I use Westlaw for free?

Note that California's online regulations and online case law are made available through "free" portals provided by Westlaw and Lexis, respectively.

How do you search cases on Westlaw?

Docket lookup using the case citation

Simply “find” the case in Westlaw Edge by typing “find:” followed by the case citation into the global search bar at the top. And if you only need the docket/case number, it will be listed right at the top of the case below the party names.

Who is Westlaw owned by?

West (also known by its original name, West Publishing) is a business owned by Thomson Reuters that publishes legal, business, and regulatory information in print, and on electronic services such as Westlaw.

What is similar to Westlaw?

The best overall Westlaw alternative is Lexis. Other similar apps like Westlaw are Clio, Smokeball, Practical Guidance®, and Law Insider Contract and Clause Search.

Who has access to Westlaw?

Anyone can buy a subscription to Westlaw. There is a representative in your area that would be happy to sell it to you and train you how to use it. Some public libraries may have a subscription that patrons to use.

What is the default type of search in Westlaw and Lexis Academic?

Use Terms & Connectors to Refine Searches

Both Westlaw and Lexis use a default Natural Language search, similar to Google's: type a term (keyword), a group of terms, or a question, and press Enter. Results appear ranked for relevancy.

Why use Westlaw?

When Should You Use Westlaw? Westlaw Campus Research is a comprehensive legal database that provides access to cases, secondary sources, regulations, and statutes at the state and federal levels. Cases - the written opinions of the appellate and lower court judges.

Can you do a people search on Westlaw?

Find people, assets, and hidden connections faster

PeopleMap on Thomson Reuters Westlaw is the premier public records search tool for discovering data other resources might miss.

Can you search Westlaw by judge?

Click into either Cases or Trial Court Orders from the Westlaw homepage. Then select the Advanced link to the right of the search bar to go to the template. 2. Under Document Fields, type the name of the judge into the appropriate box.

Which dictionaries can you search through on Westlaw?

Westlaw UK's Index of Legal Terms contains the three most comprehensive and authoritative legal dictionaries; Stroud's Judicial Dictionary of Words and Phrases, Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law and Osborn's Concise Law Dictionary as well as the Statutory definitions that form part of Westlaw UK Legislation documents.

Is LexisNexis a search engine?

LexisNexis is an American data analytics company headquartered in New York, New York. Its products are various databases that are accessed through online portals, including portals for computer-assisted legal research (CALR), newspaper search, and consumer information.

Does Westlaw have an AI tool?

Use generative AI to help you find the strongest claims for your matter and avoid missing those that are relevant to your case. Simply enter the facts of your case and receive a list of claims to consider.

Does Westlaw do citations?

The Westlaw database offers a citation tool you can use to easily generate a formatted citation for a legal case. Simply locate your case, highlight the text you plan to cite, and click on the "Copy with Reference" link.

Why Westlaw is better than Lexis?

Schulke, legal reference librarian for the San Francisco Law Library for over 17 years, says he personally favors Westlaw over other search engines. The reason? “It features more California-specific materials. It's also easier for laypeople to use than Lexis.”

How do you search effectively on Westlaw?

Running an Advanced Search
  1. Running an Advanced Search.
  2. Type ADV: in front of your search 2. Run a search that includes a proximity connector (/5, /S, /P) or quotation marks 3. ...
  3. Connectors within parentheses operate first. ...
  4. *No automatic compound search word feature.
  5. Connectors of the same type operate from left to right.

Does Westlaw charge per minute?

Upon accessing next.westlaw.com, a user may elect either per minute or transactional billing in Preferences.