Legal Research Using WESTLAW [Paperback]

Judy A. Long (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0766813371 | ISBN-13: 978-0766813373 | Edition: 1

"Legal Research Using WESTLAW" is an ideal resource for any student preparing for a career in law. The entire text is devoted to WESTLAW and teaches students all of the intricacies of this popular research vehicle. Fully illustrated, it acquaints the student with the look and feel of WESTLAW and provides tutorials that enhance understanding of the material. End-of-chapter exercises present problems similar to those found in real law offices. This text also includes ten free hours of the program for qualified adaptors of the text in qualified schools. This access provides students with the opportunity to try this research vehicle first hand.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

B.S., M.S. in business; J.D.; National Dean’s List; Law Review in law school; Honors Moot Court Assistant law school

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning; 1 edition (January 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766813371
• ISBN-13: 978-0766813373
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,312,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Trivial content at an outrageous price, February 12, 2002

By 

Julian P Killingley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legal Research Using WESTLAW (Paperback)

This book is a first for me - it's the first book to which I have ever given a one star rating. Believe me, if I could have given it no stars I would have done so.

Judy Long's book is, in every sense of the word, a slight work. It is only a modest xi + 114pp including its index and has generous whitespace and includes plenty of screenshots. Neither the editorial reviews on Amazon nor the book's back cover indicate that the book is aimed at paralegals - but I assume that such is its target market. It covers Westlaw legal research, KeyCite and Westlaw via WestMate - all at a pretty basic level.

In terms of basic accuracy and general cover I have no problem with this book. However, I do vigorously question the need for its existence. There is nothing in this book that is not covered as clearly and more comprehensively in West's own publications: Winning Research Skills (170pp), Using WestMate (29pp) and Using Westlaw.com (41pp). However, the one overwhelming advantage the West publications enjoy is that they are FREE to those who are registered as Westlaw users. On the other hand, gentle reader, Ms Long demands $38.95 for the privilege of you reading her inferior product.

I understand that West's publications are only available to Westlaw users - however, Ms Long's book assumes that you are a user. Indeed any course, whether for paralegals or law students, using this book would need Westlaw access and therefore could provide the West guides I have mentioned.

There are some books out there that really do add value to West's own guides to its products - but this book is not one of those. Perhaps the only people who might have need for a book of this kind would be non-legal casual Westlaw users, e.g. politics or history students. However, even they would be disappointed as their interface with the system would probably be through WestDoc - and this is not dealt with in the book.

Anyone contemplating buying this book should think long and hard before blowing good money on it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Really?, July 5, 2010

By 

R. Kubler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legal Research Using WESTLAW (Paperback)

Why pay for something you get for free with interactive tutorials? Yes, westlaw took a long time to get with Lexisnexis's tutorials, but this product is now dated.