Bridge the Gap: Research Alerts and Updates

March 26, 2014

Andrew Winston

I. Alerts

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Uses of Alerts

Receive regular, automatic updates on legal and/or news developments on issues

Be notified of new citations to a case

Be notified of pending legislation that affects an existing statute

Receive articles on a topic from a specified publication

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Example

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A. Lexis Advance

Search Alert Shepard’s Alert Specific Publication Alert Pending Legislation Alert Topic Alert

More Information: http://info.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/westlawnext/about/awareness/alerts/default.aspx

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1. Search Alert

Run search Refine using filters to retrieve desired results Click the Alert icon above results to set up an Alert; select

content type, delivery method, and other recipients

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1. Search Alert

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2. Shepard’s Alert

Shepardize an item Click the Alert icon above results to set up an Alert to be

notified of new negative or other analysis of the item

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3. Specific Publication Alert

Select a publication using Browse Sources and add to search Enter search terms and run search Click the Alert icon above results to set up an Alert for articles

in that publication that meet search criteria

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4. Pending Legislation Alert

Retrieve federal or state statute by citation (or otherwise) Click the Alert icon to set up an Alert for pending legislation that

could amend or repeal that statute

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5. Topic Alert

Select Browse Topics Search for particular topics and select relevant practice areas

from search results Click on a subsection and set an Alert

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6. Manage Alerts

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B. WestlawNext

Set up various alerts via WestlawNext’s Alerts Center (or when viewing particular search results): WestClip KeyCite Alert Court Wire Alert Docket Alert Publication Alert

More Information: https://info.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/pdf/wln2/L-381793_Alerts_brochure2.pdf

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B. WestlawNext

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B. WestlawNext – Alert Center

Create new Alert

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1. WestClip

Name the Alert

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1. WestClip

Select type(s) of materials

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1. WestClip

Set search terms

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1. WestClip

Specify delivery

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1. WestClip

Schedule Alert

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2. Other Alerts on WestlawNext KeyCite – monitor new negative and other citations to cases,

statutes, and regulations Court Wire – monitor new cases in multiple courts based on

specified criteria Docket – receive updates on new filings on a specified case Publication – receive alerts on new documents from a specified

publication that meet search criteria

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3. Manage Alerts

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4. Westlaw Classic

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4. Westlaw Classic – Alert Center

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C. Bloomberg Law

Search Alerts Citation Alerts

More Information: http://www.bloomberglaw.com/help/AL_Saved_Searches___Alerts_Overview.htm

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1. Example – Docket Alert

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1. Example – Docket Alert

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2. Example – Legislative Search Alerts

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3. Example – Citation Alerts

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4. Manage Alerts

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D. CCH Intelliconnect

Trackers – daily news updates on particular topics via email or RSS reader

More Information: http://support.cch.com/productsupport/solution.aspx?id=rp2275&prodpath=%2FTopics%2Fproduct_support%2Fintelliconnect&prodname=CCH%20IntelliConnect

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D. CCH Intelliconnect

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D. CCH Intelliconnect

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D. CCH Intelliconnect

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E. Bloomberg BNA

Email alerts on various Bloomberg BNA newsletters

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1. Bloomberg BNA

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1. Bloomberg BNA

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1. Bloomberg BNA

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2. Bloomberg BNA on Bloomberg Law

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2. Bloomberg BNA on Bloomberg Law

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F. Some Other Databases Offering Alert Services

Law360 Index to Legal Periodicals LegalTrac JSTOR SSRN

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II. Legal Blogs

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A. Some Examples

SCOTUSBlog FCPA Blog Concurring Opinions Prawfsblawg Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s VLW Blog

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B. Finding Other Legal Blogs

ABA Journal’s Blawg Directory Justia’s BlawgSearch Law Professor Blogs Search with Google Review blogrolls of

other blogs

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C. RSS Readers

Some examples: Feedly Digg GR2Reader NewsBlur The Old Reader

Note: Many blogs also post links to new posts on Twitter.