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What are the key differences between LexisNexis and Westlaw for legal research and which one is best for law students and professionals?
LexisNexis and Westlaw are the two most widely used legal research databases, with 74% and 61% of law firms using them respectively.
Both platforms provide access to a vast collection of case law, statutes, regulations, and other legal materials.
LexisNexis has a basic subscription starting at around $50 per month, while Westlaw's basic subscription starts at around $75 per month.
LexisNexis offers a tool called "Lexis Advance," which ties case headnotes into a new Topic Index, allowing users to create alerts or view topics in an index.
Westlaw's "Key Number Outline" provides a unique way to search by key number, linking to other decisions on the same issue.
Westlaw's "Citing References" for a particular case or statute will take users to other decisions on the issue, while LexisNexis' "Citing Decisions" provides a list of cases that have cited the relevant case or statute.
Reviewers have found Westlaw easier to use and administer, but LexisNexis easier to do business with overall.
LexisNexis claims to have a significant advantage in legal content, granting access to 17 more federal case law and 10 more state case law than Westlaw Edge.
Westlaw may charge an additional communication cost per minute, while LexisNexis does not.
There is a charge to run a Shepard's or Keycite report on LexisNexis and Westlaw, which can add to the overall cost of legal research.
LexisNexis uses AI analytics and visualization to help attorneys formulate arguments and stay ahead of the law.
Westlaw's "Citing References" tool can help users find other relevant sources on the same issue, while LexisNexis' "Citing Decisions" provides a list of cases that have cited the relevant case or statute.
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