VIP Review: Comparison of LexisLibrary and Westlaw
Jinfo Blog

By Diane Raper

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It is a difficult time in all sectors of the legal market justifying what seems like huge expenditure on the major legal databases. We all have to look very carefully at what we spend our budgets on. Is it really necessary to have both of the major legal online services?

VIP Magazine No.79 (June) includes a side by side comparison of Lexis®Library and Westlaw UK. The review highlights how the two main players have moved on and what they still need to do to bring on board the real users – lawyers of different generations. Both services have a wide range of material aimed at slightly differing markets, but both need to remember that look and feel make a big impression on the end user. Law databases are not just about technical content; lawyers have to feel confident that they can use them.

It is well worth watching what users have difficulty with. Westlaw UK currently seems to be further down this path and have dropped the print legacy and are developing a very clear interface that links different parts of their data offering well. By making it easier for lawyers to navigate they will feel happier about dropping the print legacy. LexisLibrary still clings to the old way of presentation that assumes that lawyers know about all the print sources. Many lawyers just will not have easy access to the print so may find this assumption offputting. Legal online databases need to nurture their users even more than they do at present. Too many lawyers now risk an easier option – Googling and hoping it will be ok.

It’s good to have access to these services with their wealth of material – there is nothing worse for an infrequent user than having to go into different services for different material and wasting time learning to read the screen. However lawyers will only get the best from them if they devote a little time to getting to know their features. It is good to see that both services are now developing short video guides to help them.

Purchase the VIP Report: Comparative Review of LexisLibrary and Westlaw UK, from the FreePint Shop. Or save money by purchasing VIP Magazine No.79, which includes the VIP Report: Product Review of Debtwire.

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