Westlaw is on the verge of introducing its biggest innovation in thirty years: Westlaw Next. The new research system is designed to offer more intuitive searching tools and to provide a more complete research process. One of the biggest changes from the current Westlaw system is the new search box. Westlaw Next provides one simple search box, in which the researcher can type keywords, citations, questions in plain language, or Boolean searches, without first choosing a database. The system will automatically recognize the format. After selecting a jurisdiction, the system will return the most relevant results, including documents that may not even contain the precise search terms entered. These results may then be filtered and sorted into cases, statutes, administrative materials, etc., or by topic. Further, browsing documents is made easier with Westlaw Next’s new case summaries.
Westlaw Next also offers countless customization options. For instance, folders can be created to organize research by issue, client, or topic. Whole documents or snippets of text can be dragged into the folders for quick access in the future. The new system also allows the researcher to highlight text and attach personal notes to documents. Further, visual indicators save time by revealing whether the researcher has already viewed the document (eyeglasses icon), saved the document to a folder (folder icon), or added personal notes to the document (note icon). The system also provides a new copy and paste feature that automatically includes the document’s citation, in conformance with official citations, including The Bluebook and ALWD. Westlaw Next promises to make legal researching faster and more complete so that attorneys can quickly move on to their next challenge of lawyering.
For more information, see www.westlawnext.com.
Posted on
Monday, March 22, 2010
by Mary Kate Walters