Costs of Getting Cases

1
Costs of Getting Cases

• Shaunna Mireau
• Field LLP

2
CALR

• Computer ASSISTED legal research
• Not step 1 of the research process
• Cases are only part of research gathering
• Best way to find cases is to note up other cases

http//www.llrx.com/features/ca.htm
http//legalresearch.org/essential.html
3
costs of cases retrieved online

• Internet - recent free
• NRS online (Maritime Law Book) free/4
• LexisNexis Quicklaw 2-3
• WestlaweCARSWELL 3.50
• Lexis Get Print 5-10
• CaseImage 12
• Taxnet.pro 20

The above assumes you are looking for an known
case with an exact citation not full text
subject searching.
4
the internet etc.

• Internet especially good for
• government information
• recent court decisions
• statutes (check dates!)
• info from boards and agencies
• info from associations
• statistics (check sources!)

http//www.scc-csc.gc.ca/information/index_e.asp
5
NRS from Maritime Law Book

• Free access to cases that your firm subscribes to
  in paper (i.e. A.R.s)
• Reading cases outside your paper subscription are
  4 each but searching is FREE

6
cost-effective NRS

• Use the appropriate database
• Match your query to the database
• Use the classification system
• Remember to enter your client ID (it doesnt ask)
• If you read online for a PPV document, print it
  or save it too (pay once!)

7
LexisNexis Quicklaw

• Your client is probably charged 235 per hour
• options for retrieving cases
• LexisNexis Quicklaw (per hour)
• Check out your firms policy for disbursements

8
cost-effective LexisNexis Quicklaw

• Dont read online
• Formulate you search for the narrowest results
• Match your query to the database (fields)
• View results for skimming
• Use Help to pause the time charges
• Use the Find command for specific documents

9
WestlaweCARSWELL

• Suggested disbursement prices with flat rates are
  (Canadian materials only)
• 25 for EACH search (depending on info type)
• 3.50 for each document request (find by
  citation)
• 7 for each note-up
• Cases outside your subscription are expensive and
  printing those is not free

10
cost-effective WeC

• Use the appropriate access (Browse or Find vs.
  Search)
• Use the Abridgment language and links and
  classification
• Use broad searches and Locate to limit search
  results without editing your search. A locate
  does not incur additional costs

11
Lexis Get Print

• Transactional so time is money
• 5 to 10 is the usual cost per case

12
cost-effective Lexis

• Use the appropriate access
• GetPrint if you know the cite
• GetPrint is picky with citation format
• Look at the title list before searching
• Printing or downloading is an additional charge
• Alternative to printing or downloading
• Use the narrowest search you can

13
cost-effective Lexis
14
Case Image

• Canada Law Books collection of reported and
  unreported decisions
• Free to search pay 12.00 for the decisions
  retrieved

15
cost-effective Case Image

• Know the data available from Canada Law Book
• Dominion Law Reports, Labour Arbitration Cases,
  Ontario Reports (usually on QL/WeC too)
• ACWS, CLAS, DRS digests will usually appear full
  text on Case Image, however you should check the
  jurisdictional databases on QL first (i.e.AJ)
• Only use this if you have to

16
pause

• Demo of Case Image
• http//www.caseimage.ca

17
Taxnet.pro etc

• Specialized data sources have unique costs
• Ask what the client charges are
• Always formulate your search and alternatives
  BEFORE you begin
• Dont forget textbooks and articles as sources of
  case law

http//www.taxnetpro.com/taxnet.pro
18
vendor training

• Advantages
• very experienced at using system
• aware of all new features

• Disadvantages
• dont always recognize our restraints re money
  and time
• dont ask questions the same way
• knowledge limited to own system

Training is NEVER a waste of time
19
cost of cases retrieved in a book

• Grabbing a case that you know the citation for
  from a book that you have is fast and free it
  has been paid for already

Footnotes lead to cases if you are already in
the library grab the book
20
noting up

• Studies show conclusive evidence that you MUST
  use more than one citator service
• Be consistent and use a checklist

21
final thoughts

• Research is brain work.so
• Write out your search terms in advance
• Have a plan of attack
• Which database?
• Which electronic service first, second?
• How much time? Money?
• What is the output (electronic copy, print) that
  would work best do I need to cut and paste or
  pass on?
• Keep a detailed sources consulted list

22
final final thoughts

• When all you own is a hammer, every problem
  starts looking like a nail.
• - Abraham H. Maslow
• Multiple tools are available to approach a legal
  research question, use them all