A case law database is a digital collection of court decisions, often provided by legal publishing companies. They are organized by jurisdiction and may include additional legal materials. Researchers can search using citations, party names, or key terms. Access may be free or require payment, with different pricing plans available. Publishers may offer special services such as case summaries and customer support.
A case law database is an organized collection of court decisions or court opinions stored in a digital format. Legal publishing companies often provide access to this database via the Internet. In addition to court cases, publishers maintain databases containing a wide variety of materials. Some websites allow free access while others charge fees for database research. Lawyers, judges, paralegals, and law students often use a law database for legal research.
Legal websites or legal publishers typically organize case law materials based on jurisdiction. For example, in the United States, each state has its own judicial system, so there is a case law database for each state. At the national level, the US federal court system is organized by circuits covering a particular region, so a database is provided for each circuit. Separate databases allow people to buy access to specific compilations that they frequently use to look up cases that are binding authority in their jurisdiction. Publishers usually also provide a database containing all state and all federal courts for broader searches.
Access to a law database isn’t the only service a law editor provides. A wealth of additional information is available such as statutes, regulations, law journals, law journal articles, legal forms, and legal encyclopedias. Legal professionals rely on this type of information to conduct legal research. Some publishers also provide databases containing public records such as ownership privileges. The information may also include newspapers, magazines and a variety of other materials.
To search a case law database, a researcher may use a specific citation from the case, the name of a plaintiff or defendant, or key terms. A case citation is a combination of abbreviations and numbers that identifies an individual case. If the citation is unknown, an investigator can use the name of a party involved in the case. Another good way to search a law database is to use key terms. For example, typing a search for drunk driving displays all court cases that contain those terms. The search can be further refined by focusing on a particular jurisdiction.
Some publishers or websites allow free access to their law database, while others have different pricing plans. Anyone who needs frequent access can enter into a contract that specifies access fees, if any. The publisher then issues a password to every person authorized to use the service. Instead of unlimited access, a researcher can alternatively choose to pay through research. Rates vary and depend on the databases searched, the amount of time spent in a database, and whether the information is downloaded or printed.
Database publishers that charge fees usually provide special services or benefits that aren’t available through other websites that offer free access to a law database. For example, publishers often provide a service that indicates whether a specific court case remains valid or whether a higher court has reversed a particular court decision. These editors also summarize cases by key points, which makes complex decisions easier to understand. Customer service representatives can be available around the clock to answer questions and help people conduct research.
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