Alternatives to the “big”Legal databases

You do have options:

Some are accessible from the Widener library

Some come with professional memberships

Some subscriptions must be purchased

Library databases available on-cite:

Loislaw• Fed & State Cases• Fed & State Statutes• Fed & State Regs• Limited 2ndary

Sources SmartLitigator

• US Supreme, 3rd Circuit & Pa state Cases

• United States Code• Pa state & county

Rules• Practicioner Q & A’s• Forms• Verdicts &

Settlements

Databases part of memberships:

Casemaker comes with Pa Bar Assoc. membership

• $126 a year for newer attorneys• Up to $315 for veteran attorneys

Fastcase comes with Jenkins Law Library membership

• $180 per attorney local• $140 per attorney if 50 miles outside

Philly.• HeinOnline, LLMC, ProQuest

Congressional, LegalTrac, Pa Legal Forms, Nolo publications, etc.

Database Cost & Comparison:

Casemaker Fastcase SmartLitigator VersusLaw

Cost $60 month$95 month includes digest updating service

$65 month$95 month includes Fed Dist Crt casesIncluded w/ Jenkins

$108 month$195 month w/ verdicts

$39.95 a month for state & federal cases. $13.95 month for Fed. App.

Fed. Cases Yes, and crt of claims, bankruptcy, IRS rulings

Yes 3rd Circuit & Pa Dist. Crt. Yes, US Supreme, Circuit, District, and Tribal

Fed. Statutes Yes, and session laws Yes Yes Yes

PA Cases Yes, and all other states Yes Yes Yes, appellate level of all states

PA Statutes Yes, and current session laws

No No No

CFR Yes Yes No Yes

PA Code No No No No

Secondary Sources & additional features

Provides citing case information, ability to save search results, and assign client ID

Provides citing case information

Forms, Verdicts, Practice Q & A articles

No

Legal Research Apps!

*Currently these mobile apps are FREE

Casemaker App:Home page Statute

section

Casemaker App (continued)

Case search results Opinion

Fastcase App:Home page Search screen

Fastcase App (continued)

4 cited opinions

within case, 9 cases citing

case.

Case search results

Opinion

Fastcase App (continued)USC search results USC section