If you're looking for an online version of Westlaw, you might be wondering if there are any Westlaw alternatives. These are free legal search databases that offer similar functionality to Westlaw but don’t contain all the features. These are the major databases you can use to determine whether they are worth your while.
Fastcase
Fastcase may be worth considering if your goal is to search for legal opinions and not pay any fees. Fastcase is an open-source alternative that gives you access to a large legal database. To search the database efficiently, however, you will need to scan and index legal opinions within books. In addition to scanning, Fastcase outsources its indexing work. Here are some pros and con's to Fastcase as a primary legal research tool:
Fastcase may not offer as many features as Westlaw, but it does have a lot of them. A large number of cases that were mentioned in later decisions can be viewed. These cases can also be viewed with arguments and their results. Each pricing option offers different features. Fastcase has three pricing options. Casetext can be used to look up citations as well and provides information on federal and state court cases. The database has millions of federal court case numbers going back to 1925.
VersusLaw
VersusLaw's Standard Plan represents the most basic subscription. The Standard Plan does not cover Pennsylvania. However, the Standard Plan includes the majority of the materials. VersusLaw also offers administrative regulations in over 30 U.S. States. VersusLaw provides access to the most recent legal developments, whether you are looking for historical or current case law. However, the biggest flaw of VersusLaw is the exclusion of Pennsylvania case law.
Its cost is half that of Westlaw. This is especially appealing to those looking for low-cost, easy-to-use legal research. The library contains the U.S. courts decisions, federal, state, as well administrative codes. The cost is much lower than LexisNexis. VersusLaw targets solo lawyers, small firms and academic law libraries as well as non-lawyers.
CALI
If you can't afford the costly CALI subscription, there are many other CALI Westlaw alternatives available for legal research. CALI is a program that Law professors have created and which has produced over 1000 online tutorials. This material is intended for law students and is available at no cost. To access CALI, simply visit their website and enter your school authorization code. During registration, you will be required to set up a password as well as an email address. Once you have signed in, you will gain access to thousands upon thousands of legal research material written by professors across this country.
LexisONE
LexisONE from LexisNexis is the latest product in legal research. LexisONE, a subscription-based online service that is free to use, combines 5 years worth of free caselaw, legal forms, and an Internet Legal Guide with links to over 22,000 law-related websites. It's a great alternative to Westlaw and doesn't require registration or download. Moreover, you can save a lot of money by avoiding the high-priced Westlaw subscription.
The company also offers a free trial, and is a true replacement for Westlaw. There are no out-of-plan charges, and it has top-rated customer service. The best part is that you can use it free of charge until your Westlaw subscription expires. You can also use all of the Westlaw features, even case summaries that have been written by judges. Access to any case can be obtained from any jurisdiction.
FAQ
How much should I expect to pay for a lawyer?
If you want to hire a lawyer, ask yourself what you will need from him or her. An hourly rate of $1,000-$2,500 should be the norm. The time you spend researching your options, preparing the paperwork required to start the process and meeting with a lawyer to negotiate the details of the contract, drafting it, filing fees, travel expenses, and so on is not included in the hourly rate. So, even though you think you are paying just for his or her advice, you actually end up spending more money than that.
It is also important to decide whether the lawyer will be available full-time or part time. Hourly rates are usually charged by full-time lawyers. Part-time attorneys typically charge by the project. A part-time lawyer is best for those who only require help once or twice a month. If you require ongoing support, however, you should consider a full-time attorney.
You should also consider whether you prefer to hire a solo practitioner or a firm. Solo practitioners tend to charge lower hourly rates, but often lack the resources needed to provide professional representation. Firms offer greater experience and expertise as well as better access to resources.
The cost of malpractice insurance should be considered. Some states require professional liability insurance for all lawyers. Others don't. In any case, it is a good idea to check with the state bar association to see if there are any insurers in your area.
What type of lawyer is most in demand?
It's easiest to explain this question by saying there are two kinds of lawyers. They are transactional lawyers and litigation lawyers. Transactional lawyers handle business law and contracts. Lawyers who specialize in litigation deal with lawsuits. Generalists are lawyers that specialize in both. The "Big Law" attorney is perhaps the best-known example. He or she practices at large firms, and is able to handle many different types cases. Generalists could be either transactional, or litigation lawyers.
Transactional attorneys handle all kinds of legal matters such as divorces. These lawyers are often paid a contingency basis. That means they get paid only if their client wins the case. If the client loses, the lawyer doesn't get paid. These lawyers are commonly referred to "trial lawyers", because they have had to go through trials in order for their cases to be won.
Litigation lawyers handle lawsuits. They may represent clients in courtrooms, administrative hearings, and other venues. Some litigators are also skilled in transactional work. Some litigators may even draft documents for clients. A company can employ litigation lawyers to defend against a lawsuit brought against it by another firm. One person may hire them to sue another person (the victim). Some law firms are solely focused on personal injury cases. Others concentrate on commercial disputes. Others specialize in commercial disputes.
Lawyers who work in litigation need to be able argue and present evidence in front of juries and judges. They need to be familiar with the rules of civil procedure as well as other aspects of law that govern litigation. They must be able research and analyze facts and issues. They must be skilled negotiators.
What is the difference between a personal injury lawyer and a civil rights lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers represent victims of injuries that were not their fault. These injuries could include car accidents or slip-and fall, dog bites, or any other type of injury.
Civil rights lawyers represent those whose constitutional rights have been violated. Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability, or any other factor is an example.
Is it possible to become a lawyer without attending law school?
Yes, you can!
A non-lawyer college degree will suffice if your knowledge of the legal system is good. You need to learn how laws are interrelated and what makes them different.
You must know how to read and interpret statutes, regulations, court decisions, and case law. You should understand the basic concepts of constitutional law, administrative law, contract law, property law, criminal law, civil procedure, evidence, torts, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and employment law.
You must pass the bar examination to practice law. The bar exam is designed to test your legal knowledge and ability to apply it to real-life situations. It is a test of both your general knowledge and your ability analyze and write briefs.
There are two parts to the bar exam: the oral and written sections. The written part consists of multiple choice questions. Simulated trials are the oral part. Before taking the bar exam you need to have studied for several months.
In addition to passing the bar exam, you will need to obtain admission to the state where you wish to practice law. The requirements for admission vary by jurisdiction. Check with the State Bar Association to find out more.
What kind of job opportunities are there once I graduate?
Graduates have the option of three main career paths: public interest or private practice. Public interest positions include working as a lawyer at a nonprofit organization, or as a Judge. Private practice positions may include solo practitioner, partner in a company, or corporate counsel. One of the many government service positions is as a defense attorney, prosecutor, or judge.
How can a lawyer make 7 figure income?
A lawyer needs to be knowledgeable about how the law affects business transactions. They need to be able understand how businesses function and what makes them tick. This knowledge allows them advice clients on legal issues from start-to-finish.
They should be able and willing to negotiate contracts. A lawyer must be able to write briefs and other documents in court proceedings. Lawyers must also be able to deal with people and build relationships.
To earn $7,000 an hour, you must be able to communicate well with colleagues, clients, employees, or customers. Also, you will need to have a good time management skill to meet deadlines. Finally, you must possess good organizational skills and the ability to multitask.
What is the difference between a paralegal and a legal assistant?
Paralegals are trained to perform specific tasks such as typing, filing, or researching. Attorneys might need legal assistants to prepare pleadings or drafting motions. Both types of professionals aid attorneys in completing their workload.
Statistics
- According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average annual wage of a lawyer is $144,230. (legal.io)
- Just 59.2 percent of 2015 law school grads held full-time, long-term jobs as lawyers 10 months after graduation, according to data from the American Bar Association (ABA). (rasmussen.edu)
- A Johns Hopkins study of more than 100 professions found lawyers the most likely to have severe depression—four times more likely than the average person. (rasmussen.edu)
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for lawyers in 2020 was $126,930. (stfrancislaw.com)
- The median annual salary for lawyers in 2016 was $118,160, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (rasmussen.edu)
External Links
How To
How to become an attorney
How to become a lawyer? When you are considering becoming a lawyer, the first thing you need to do is decide what type of law you wish to practice. There are many types and styles of law. A specific type of law is required if you wish to become a specialist. For example, if your goal is to become a specialist on family law, then you must complete Family law courses at the university. You will also need to pass exams. This will allow you to learn how to deal with cases in this field. After passing these tests, you can apply for admission to a school where you can get training on how to work in this field. This can take a while so make sure you're really interested in becoming a lawyer.
Another option is to major in law while at college. In this case, you will receive a bachelor's degree in law. You can then start your career as a paralegal/legal assistant. A person who works as a paralegal helps lawyers prepare their documents and files. A paralegal collects client data and prepares contracts. An administrative task performed by a legal assistant is filing paperwork and answering phones. Because it is extremely rewarding, many college graduates choose to become lawyers. However, there are many other ways to become a lawyer besides going to college. A lot of people make the decision to become a legal professional without any formal education. They simply read about the law and try and figure out how to become one. It is not easy for someone to become lawyer without attending college. Most states require applicants to have a law degree. Many judges prefer candidates who have completed law school.
If you don’t know what type of law suits you best, you might consider your interests. Do you enjoy helping others? Are you interested in politics? You might be more interested in politics than you are in arguing against them. You can use any interest to become an attorney, regardless of what they are.
Joining a law office is another option to becoming a lawyer. Most lawyers join law firms because they love their job. They love arguing cases, and helping people. But, if you don't want to spend your life doing something you hate, you should consider another option. You might consider opening your own office instead of joining an existing law firm. Perhaps you could hire someone to assist. Either way, you will still be able to help people.
You can also become a lawyer without graduating from college. You can choose to enroll in an online legal school or pursue an associate's program in law. Both will equip you with the necessary knowledge to become an attorney. Online law schools offer flexible schedules and classes that fit your busy schedule. An associate's degree gives you more practical experience and hands-on learning.
You must be willing to work hard, regardless of whether you are a lawyer or not. You will need to learn every day, pass exams and complete internships. Even though it may not be your favorite thing to do, you will eventually enjoy the benefits of being an attorney.