Why I love LexisNexis, and it’s not for their high prices.
In Law School, both Lexis and Westlaw try to indoctrinate you with their research databases. Students are given almost unlimited access to the most comprehensive legal databases in the world. For free.
The dreamworld of legal research as a law student comes to a screeching halt in the real world. $275 a click for that? Oops, I misspelled the word. $3000 for that search? I only needed Missouri law. Costs add up quickly.
Thankfully, there are low cost alternatives (rather, supplements) to the Wexis dynasty. For example, FastCase HD has a free basic search app. Court records are, after all, public record. Bloomberg is also entering the market with a business focus to legal research, but I have yet to try it 
With the economy as it is, and the demand for legal services declining lawyers are being forced to find ways to reduce costs. Legal research is certainly one area that cost can be lowered while even increasing thoroughness of research.
If I were to pay my attorney $1000 to solve a case and his fee were divided by motion drafting, legal research time and legal research cost, I would certainly want to put more of my money into the quality of the writing and the thoroughness of the research. Not, as some would have it, into the hands of the database company. It’s a gold mine that is running dry.
So back to why I love Lexis. Simply put, they treat you with class while you’re in law school. Meetings about how to learn their product served over pizza, the distribution of “points” (more on that later), and “certifications” I can fluff my resume with. They see the value in you succeeding and figure they can bring you up a step while you’re in development. I approve.
Back to the points: they’re great! As good as money, literally. I took advantage of many of their big point scoring opportunities as a 1L and found myself with a lot of points in my second year. I was also attending the Business Law’s ABA Fall Meeting in Washington, DC, hosted at the Ritz.
How am I going to “ball” (as the kids would say) with securities lawyers at the Ritz? Fortunately, Lexis was there when I needed them. Through their points system, I was able to find myself the proud recipient of a $100 AMEX Gold (gift card) that so happened to work at the Ritz. In the tone of Mylie Cyrus from SNL, “It was pretty cool.” This card got me into morning breakfast (which was damn near $50) with some of the lawyers and a chance to say hey before the meetings. This is where I needed to be.
I am still waiting for the day when, as a law student, I can buy some important attorney a drink and offer them and comment how Lexis is floating the tab tonight. One day.
Lexis treats law students how they deserve to be treated, and I am loyal for it.
No related posts.