Benefits Of Low Cost Databases vs. Free Resources; Lower Cost Resources & Free Legal Research Resources - Cost Effective Legal Research: Bridging the Gap - From Backpacks to Briefcases

Lower Cost Resources vs. Free Resources

Benefits of Low-Cost Databases vs. Free Resources?

Often better search mechanisms
Often better coverage
May be more current
Trustworthiness
Aggregated - one-stop shopping

Examples of Low-Cost Databases

Fastcase (now part of vLex)
- Free trials available
- If you are in the Illinois State Bar Assn (ISBA) you will have access with your membership
Decisis
PACER
- $.10 per page
- Cost capped at $3.00 per document

Examples of Free Resources

Free Government Research Resources

Federal Government Resources

GovInfo.gov (Federal Legal Materials)

Congress.gov (Federal Legislation)

SupremeCourt.gov (US Supreme CT)

CA7.USCourts.gov (7th Circuit CT Apps)

ILND.USCourts.gov (N. Dist. of Illinois)

Illinois Government Resources

Free Illinois Government Resources

ILGA.gov

IllinoisCourts.gov

Google & Google Scholar

Search Engines

Google & Google Scholar

Google and Google Scholar can help find cursory information when doing legal research

Strengths:

1. Finding basic background information about legal concepts and topics

2. Finding related terms

3. Locating online Legal Research Guides (example search: "Intellectual Property" "research guide"). You will need to evaluate these "Research Guides" for timeliness (i.e., currency), ease of use, accuracy and authoritativeness (of institution or author), comprehensiveness (breadth, depth, purpose...etc.) and handiness (printable...etc.)

Weaknesses:

1. Results are either limited to cases and articles (via Google Scholar) or not limited at all (Google)

2. There is no guarantee of currency

3. Lacks consistent annotations