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