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Westlaw Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find Westlaw to be extremely easy to use, appreciating its simple navigation and helpful resources. (3 mentions)
Users find Westlaw's complete searches and AI tools extremely helpful for fast and easy legal research. (3 mentions)
Users appreciate the organization of Westlaw, finding legal research easy and crucial information readily accessible. (2 mentions)
Users appreciate the organized formatting of Westlaw, making case details obvious and easily accessible for decision-making. (1 mentions)
Users find Westlaw's document management straightforward and commend its helpful secondary sources for efficient searching. (1 mentions)
Users find the complexity of the tools challenging when transitioning from different research programs to Westlaw. (1 mentions)
Users find the lack of affordable options for Westlaw to be a significant drawback in their experience. (1 mentions)
Users find the inefficient workflow in Westlaw frustrating due to inconsistent search results and limited data management options. (1 mentions)
Users find limited service functions on Westlaw, wishing for a broader range of options to enhance their experience. (1 mentions)
Users desire more options for refining searches in Westlaw, as the current features feel limited and inconsistent. (1 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of Westlaw

1. Ease of Use
Users find Westlaw to be extremely easy to use, appreciating its simple navigation and helpful resources.
See 3 mentions

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Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlaw is the top of the top"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Westlaw is extremely helpful in everyway. Their new AI tool is so great. Research is simple, fast, and easy with WL.

Verified User
U

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Go to for legal research"

What do you like about Westlaw?

It's got EVERYTHING, and is super easy to navigate. Not only that, it's just so familiar from law school.

2. Helpful
Users find Westlaw's complete searches and AI tools extremely helpful for fast and easy legal research.
See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Alexis B.
AB

Alexis B.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlake is extremely user friendly and provided me with the most complete records I have requested."

What do you like about Westlaw?

The most helpful is the complete searches that are provided.

Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlaw is the top of the top"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Westlaw is extremely helpful in everyway. Their new AI tool is so great. Research is simple, fast, and easy with WL.

3. Organization
Users appreciate the organization of Westlaw, finding legal research easy and crucial information readily accessible.
See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you like about Westlaw?

I like the formatting, it's easy to take in a decision or appeal and the details of each case study are organized in such a way that crucial informati

Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2.5/5

"It has been a fairly good experience"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Its helpful for legal research and is well-organized

4. Accessibility
Users appreciate the organized formatting of Westlaw, making case details obvious and easily accessible for decision-making.
See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you like about Westlaw?

I like the formatting, it's easy to take in a decision or appeal and the details of each case study are organized in such a way that crucial informati

5. Document Management
Users find Westlaw's document management straightforward and commend its helpful secondary sources for efficient searching.
See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Westlaw is great and easy to use"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Westlaw is incredibly easy to use. Searching is made simple and the secondary sources are a tremendous help at times.

5 Cons or Disadvantages of Westlaw

1. Complexity
Users find the complexity of the tools challenging when transitioning from different research programs to Westlaw.
See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Alexis B.
AB

Alexis B.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlake is extremely user friendly and provided me with the most complete records I have requested."

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

The least helpful thing is the complexity of the tools they have if you are switching fron a different research program.

2. Expensive
Users find the lack of affordable options for Westlaw to be a significant drawback in their experience.
See 1 mentions

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Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlaw is the top of the top"

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

While there are few things that I dislike about Westlaw, the fact that there is not many inexpensive options is a bummer.

3. Inefficient Workflow
Users find the inefficient workflow in Westlaw frustrating due to inconsistent search results and limited data management options.
See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

The search feature is not always consistent. I wish there were more options to refine a search, and more choices to sort and save the data which comes

4. Limitations
Users find limited service functions on Westlaw, wishing for a broader range of options to enhance their experience.
See 1 mentions

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Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2.5/5

"It has been a fairly good experience"

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

It could sometimes offer a greater variety of service functions.

5. Limited Options
Users desire more options for refining searches in Westlaw, as the current features feel limited and inconsistent.
See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

The search feature is not always consistent. I wish there were more options to refine a search, and more choices to sort and save the data which comes

Westlaw Reviews (190)

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Reviews

Westlaw Reviews (190)

View 1 Video Reviews
4.4
190 reviews
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AS
Internship Trainee
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"The Perfect Legal Research Toolkit for Lawyers"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

I started using west law when I in my Law college. Other Legal research tools were very complicated and we had to take training to learn them but on the other West Law was much easier to use. It has been made by Thomson Reuters and as the parent organization, West law is one of the most trusted legal databases there is. The best thing about West Law is the Case Law research even though it's a

foreign database it works just fine for Finding Indian Case Laws. Other Thing I like about West Law is the the Docket Search It makes the job actually easy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

I have no problem with the working of this database. But the biggest drawback is the customer service. They keep transferring the call from one department to another and I feel they aren't interested in retaining the customer aswell. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services
UL
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Winning with Westlaw"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

I like the integrated content of Westlaw with Practical Law, KeyCite, citing references all tied into the case law, and digest arrangement of the Key NumberKey Number digest system. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

I dislike the cost! It is hard to pay $142 for one court document! When I use the analytics tools, the price to review court filings liked to the report is still very high. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services
UL
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"WestLaw is my preferred way to conduct legal research. It is intuitive and quick."
What do you like best about Westlaw?

The search features and ability to focus searches. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

Sometimes the resources you need are not available or only available for an additional price Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Emily B.
EB
Unemployed
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Westlaw Review"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

It is easy to use and saves the cases so that they are easy to access when going back to read them again Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

Some cases don't have supplemental material Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

BL
Attorney
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Great Legal Research"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

We are able to use Westlaw for a number of different things. We can research legal cases, public records, investigate auto insurance coverage, etc. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

There needs to be a more efficient way to narrow searches down at times, but other than that I cannot complain about Westlaw products. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services
UL
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Westlaw is the best"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

I prefer this to Lexis because the UI is considerably more user friendly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

I would like to see Westlaw improve some of its search functions like the Lexis case map search Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Tara N.
TN
Caregiver
"Westlaw Review"
Devin K.
DK
Executive Secretary
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Westlaw delivers its core function nicely with a nice search capability"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

I like that Westlaw has the most intuitive search capabilities of the various legal research options I have utilized. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

I dislike that it lacks some of the secondary sources that other applications, like Alexis Advance, have. So there are pluses and minuses. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

John S.
JS
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Expensive but useful"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

I liked how extensive the library of cases and other legal research source were that they had. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

It is not cheap by any means and there are no free options that I am aware of. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

KT
Law Clerk
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Reliable and Fantastic Legal Software"
What do you like best about Westlaw?

Westlaw by Thomson Reuters will never let you down. The software has always been popular with legal professionals because it is reliable. You always feel like you get the best search results with Westlaw, and you do not have to worry that you are missing something. Additionally, they recently updated their software, and it now has a very modern look that is pleasing to the eye. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

As is the case with all legal softwares, Westlaw is pricey. Additionally, unlike LexisNexis, Westlaw does not offer any sort of rewards program for using their legal software. This is unfortunate because LexisNexis allows you to accumulate points and redeem those for gift cards or other merchandise. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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