Law school students engage in copious research and reading while attempting to understand and learn the intricacies of the legal system. There are many viable and useful resources available to law students, which we will briefly explore.
Westlaw: One of the most popular resources available to law students is WestLaw. It is an extremely comprehensive database that allows students to research many different legal aspects. There are subtopics that cover practical law, Westlaw UK, and Westlaw Edge UK for advanced research. You are easily able to find all cases under a particular category or filtered search. It even allows lawyers to attain certifications through the platform.
LexisNexis: Along with Westlaw, LexisNexis is the other prominent database used by many universities and professionals in the legal field. Much like its competitor Westlaw, LexisNexis offers a comprehensive database with trusted legal, news, and public records sources. There is also a Newsdesk feature that monitors legal news in the media, plus a full collection of legal titles, including Ebooks from trusted publishers.
The Lawyer Portal: This online portal has a plethora of free resources, including legal blogs, a newsletter, and materials about how to pursue a career in law. Paid resources include test preparations, workshops, mock trials, and personal statement reviews for those attempting to gain acceptance into law school. The platform collaborates with top firms and universities for material and trainings.
vLex: The vLex platform now boasts an even more comprehensive set of tools after acquiring competing legal website Justis.com. With its combined resources, vLex offers materials for students, a librarian guide, video walkthroughs, and training webinars on a variety of law topics. This platform is a great option for research and education, as it has a global community of over two million users.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar is a fantastic research tool for articles or academic or law journals regarding a particular topic. This is an easy and free tool that may be easier to access for all than specific legal databases, even if it is not as comprehensive or case-specific.
E-lawresources.com: This website lacks the comprehensiveness of some of the stronger databases, but it is a free tool that can be useful. One feature that is a good starting point for a search is the Cases tab, where one can immediately locate a brief summary of the facts of the case, the decision or outcome of the case, and additional applicable legal principle.
There are many resources available to law students or those seeking to find legal advice. Be sure to verify and validate any online materials with a credible source such as a certified lawyer in that area of expertise.