Having that “unsure” feeling of how to get started or how to complete the work can take a while to overcome.

If you are a new associate, you might be working with a partner who will want to know, “What’s a quick answer to this question? What are the key factors?”

Not only do you want to get an answer back to the partner quickly, who in turn is going to respond to the client, but you also want to be make sure you are getting to the answer efficiently and cost-effectively.

Some of you may be in that position now.

Do you ever wish that there was something that could help you feel confident in the tasks that you are assigned?

Something that helps you get up and running and contributing right away?

According to Katy O’Leary, a litigation associate at Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP “WestlawNext…makes it that much easier to be given a research assignment, hop online, get it done, and present it to the partner and be confident that what you’re presenting is accurate. The way it’s set up is essentially the way you’re supposed to do legal research.”

She adds that what “contributes to that feeling is the ability to see all the different resources available – from cases to pleadings, to statutes, to journal articles – right off the bat. You can see what’s there and peruse each of the resources to make sure you haven’t missed anything in your research.”

Watch the video below to hear more about what Katy has to say about WestlawNext and how it has made her more efficient and confident in her legal research.

Traveling to the courthouse by train, Jessica used the app to carefully review legal authority pivotal to the contested issues.  She is always excellently prepared, so she checked the pertinent case/matter folder within the app, confident that all the legal authority she had saved there was automatically updated with the most recent KeyCite® (good/bad law) status indicators.  

During the hearing, opposing counsel, Mark, cites a case to support a particular proposition.  In mere seconds, Jessica finds the case using her WestlawNext iPad app and immediately discovers that it was overruled for that proposition earlier that same day.  She notes the changed status of the law to the judge.  Mark is only just made aware that he has cited overruled authority to the court.  He feels unprepared and a bit embarrassed.

The judge asks to see this case. 

Within the app, Jessica highlights the relevant section(s) and also adds a note to the case, specifically referencing its overruled status.  Then, using the e-mail delivery feature, Jessica immediately sends all relevant authority with her notes and highlighting to the judge and to Mark.  She also saves that case in a personalized folder for future reference.   If she wishes to review the document later in an area where she does not have a wireless connection, she can save the document to her offline folder within the app before she goes offline.

Jessica prevails at the hearing based on the law and the judge rules in her favor.  Big reasons for her win include:   Solid preparation, excellent research skills, and her savvy use of the WestlawNext iPad app.

While many in the legal community are cautious about being early adopters of the latest technology solutions, Jessica defines the significant change we are seeing in Enterprise.  Recent news reports note that some major law firms in the United States have deployed iPads throughout their organizations in an effort to increase the productivity and efficiency of their lawyers who use their iPads to log client time, edit, store and deliver documents, conduct WestlawNext research on the go, and so much more. 

The WestlawNext app is beautifully optimized for the iPad with touch-screen navigation and is always synchronized with the main desktop application and other mobile devices.  It is the only app that can leverage the incredible power of WestSearch™, the world’s leading legal search engine which enables you to locate content sources, research issues, find documents, and access KeyCite results.  Whether you need to browse, search and filter within content pages or you desire quick access to your research History and Favorites, it’s all easily done on the WestlawNext iPad app while you are on the go. 

We are continually enhancing the WestlawNext iPad app for you.  Look for recent updates of our app at the Apple® iTunes® store.  You’ll be glad you downloaded the app to your iPad.  Like Jessica, you will love using it! 

Do you have any success stories using the WestlawNext iPad app?  If so, we would appreciate hearing your story.

Consider setting up a demo session with your West Account Manager on how to leverage the power of the WestlawNext iPad app.  Need more help?  Our licensed Reference Attorneys are ready to help 24-7-365.  Please call them at 1-800-REF-ATTY.  As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions.  Thanks for using the WestlawNext iPad app!

On WestlawNext, you can sort your research history by client ID and by date.

After clicking “My Research” in the upper right, choose “All History” and a range of options will appear on the left for narrowing your research history.

A client ID will only show up if you have selected a date range that includes sessions in which you conducted research under that client ID number.

• Playing bass in a rock band?
• Studying quantum physics?
• Collecting campaign buttons?

Has using WestlawNext saved you time in your research? Has access to premier legal resources put you above the competition?

Thomson Reuters wants to know how WestlawNext has helped you pursue your interesting hobbies.

Answer the questionnaire below for a chance to be featured in a WestlawNext practice area ad!!

Click here to submit your story

Whether you share with a colleague down the hall or with outside counsel on the other side of the country, sharing research folders on WestlawNext will increase your efficiency, improve your results, and help you lower the cost of legal services.

Save time. Save space. Save money.

• Start new projects by reviewing pre-populated folders created by experts on your research team
• Quickly expand on saved research by linking directly to related documents
• Use secure WestlawNext technology to save shelf and server space
• Reduce costs – everyone within your organization can access each document in folders free for one year after the initial document view

Stay up to date

• Real-time updating means team members have instant access to shared documents from any computer
• KeyCite^® citator flags alert you to the current status of any case, statute, or regulation saved in a folder
• Newly added research is clearly marked so you know when and what your team members have contributed

Delivering value through shared knowledge and information

• Easily collaborate with clients, co-counsel, experts or other outside colleagues by sharing research that relates to common matters and issues
• Make research projects more transparent by allowing for easier client review
• Maximize your time by sharing research directly with instead of mailing or emailing documents
• Create stronger partnerships with corporate clients or the outside counsel your organization hires
• Gain a competitive advantage over organizations that are not using WestlawNext by promoting increased efficiency and reduced costs

Contact your West Representative for a WestlawNext demonstration or visit the folder sharing page on WestlawNext.com for more information.

Suppose you are drafting paperwork for a motion.

Suppose further you want to look at a motion and related memorandum currently on file in the court system for guidance.

Will any old motion do?

Of course not!

You’d need a particular type of document, e.g, a motion to dismiss or a motion for remand.

That’s why you’d turn to the new Advanced Search template linked to the Pleadings, Motions, and Memoranda category page.

The Advanced Search template now features a Document Types section containing check boxes you can use to restrict your search to any of 34 document types. (The Document Types section in WestlawNext closely resembles the Motion Types section of various search templates on Westlaw.)

To access the Advanced Search template on WestlawNext, click Pleadings, Motions & Memoranda on the All Content tab.  On the Pleadings, Motions & Memoranda category page that is displayed, click advanced.

In addition, Westlaw introduces the release of the new Advanced Search template—with convenient check boxes you can use to restrict your search to any of 34 document types—for all PMM pages.

This includes PMM pages specific to all federal and state jurisdictions and topical areas (e.g., Family Law) available in WestlawNext.

To access a jurisdiction- or topic-specific Advanced Search template, click Pleadings, Motions & Memoranda on the All Content tab. On the Pleadings, Motions & Memoranda page that is displayed, click a link to a jurisdiction- or topic-specific page.  On the next page that is displayed, click advanced.

Q: Is there an easier way to identify key numbers relevant to my issue without having to sort through the thousands of key

A: Yes, there at least two ways.

If you are already viewing a relevant case, you will likely see a key number under which the relevant point of law is classified.

• To retrieve a list of similar headnotes from other cases, simply click the West topic or key number in the case.
  • If you decide you need headnotes from different jurisdictions, click Change at the top of your results.

If you want key numbers for case retrieval but are not viewing a relevant case, click West Key Number System on the Tools tab.

• Next, type a term (e.g., pollution) in the Title Search text box in the right column and click Search.
• A list of key numbers is displayed.
• To retrieve a list of headnotes classified under a key number on the list, click the key number.

Note: This is not a “bridge page,” but rather, a content category in WestlawNext. As a result, your search is simple and straightforward, thanks to the no-frills WestSearch search  engine and a variety of WestlawNext filters to zero in on relevant dockets. You can even use a jurisdiction- or topic-specific advanced search template, if you prefer.

Search example

Suppose you want federal court dockets from Texas in which the Enron Corporation appeared as a party.

• Click Dockets in the All Content tab at the WestlawNext home page.
• The Dockets category page is displayed. Click advanced.
• The Advanced Search: Dockets search template is displayed.
  • Type enron in the Participant Name text box and click Advanced Search.

To narrow your result to U.S. district and bankruptcy courts in Texas, click Select Multiple Filters, then browse the federal districtcourt and bankruptcy court filters under Jurisdiction in the left column.  Select the Texas district and bankruptcy courts using the check boxes. Then click Apply Filters.

Q: Is there a way to jump to a specific part of a case I’m viewing?

A: Yes.

With WestlawNext, it’s easy to jump to a specific part of the case you are currently viewing.

The Go to menu allows you to directly skip to sections such as Synopsis, West Headnotes, Attorneys and Law Firms, Opinion, or Parallel Citations, depending on the case.

Additionally, as of February 11, the Page # and Skip to buttons have been replaced with the Go to menu.

The interface is intuitive. Click Go to, and a single menu containing the options from the former Page # and Skip to buttons is displayed.

To jump to a specific page number from the print reporter, type the number in the Page # text box on the menu and click Go.  To jump to any other option on the menu, simply click the option name.

Note: To jump to specific terms in the document, you still need to click the Search text in this document (magnifying glass) icon.

To access legislative history materials on WestlawNext, do one of the following: 

• At the WestlawNext home page, click Statutes and Court Rules in the All Content tab.  The Statutes and Court Rules page is displayed. Click Legislative History under Tools & Resources. Links to category pages are displayed for all federal and state legislative history materials currently available. Click the link to the appropriate category page, then browse the result or type a search in the text box and click Search.

• When viewing a statutory section for which you need legislative history materials, click the History tab. Then click one of the options available on the menu, e.g., Reports and Related Materials.