Testing the Limits of WestlawNext

Abstract

WestlawNext was launched in 2010 after five years of research and development at a cost that reportedly exceeded a hundred million dollars. WestlawNext is a dramatic departure from the traditional Westlaw.com interface. Researchers are no longer required to choose a specific database or use terms and connectors search logic. Instead, researchers simply enter the text of a query into a simple “google style” search box. WestlawNext has been adopted by over 35,000 organizatons and most law schools have provided their students with access to WestlawNext. Thomson Reuters, Westlaw’s parent company, has indicated that it eventually plans to phase out Westlaw.com and will only offer the WestlawNext platform.

WestlawNext is not simply a new interface to existing Westlaw content. WestlawNext is “powered” by an advanced search algorithm called WestSearch. WestSearch uses crowdsourcing technology to examine the searches run by all non-academic WestlawNext users. The most popular searches and search results are given preference in the algorithm and appear higher in future search results.

This study will examine the impact of WestlawNext on the research process, the ability of law students to learn to conduct legal research, and on the future development of the law. To date only a few short articles have discussed the impact of WestlawNext using anecdotal evidence.