Cost-Effective Legal Research Tools for Saving Clients Money

Most clients — as rational consumers — want the best product available, for the least amount of money. While associates cannot control the rates for which their time is billed, they can control another price factor: the cost of their research. After receiving an assignment from a partner, most associates instinctually start researching the issue on Westlaw or LexisNexis, incurring considerable charges that are passed onto the client.

There are, however, many free resources available online that associates can, and should, first consult. Kicking the instinctual habit to immediately turn to Westlaw or Lexis will save the client money, which will in turn please the partner for whom you are working. Moreover, these free resources often locate cases or sources that searches on Westlaw or Lexis may not yield. At the very least, one can use these free resources to get acquainted with a new area of the law, or to find a few leading cases for a particular topic. Beyond that, featuring one’s ability to think outside the box, while also displaying compassion for a client’s concerns over costs, are sure ways to become noticed by partners in your firm. The following are some free online legal resources and search tips that should be used before running expensive searches on Westlaw or Lexis.

Specialized Searches