Lexis is a pivotal online resource for legal research worldwide. It provides access to a vast repository of legal and public records, legislative, regulatory, and legal precedents, making it a go-to for legal professionals, scholars, and institutions. Lexis is part of the LexisNexis suite of information services, renowned for pioneering legal technology and content for years.
What is Lexis?
Lexis, often referred to as LexisNexis, is a powerful research-focused information service that aggregates extensive legal documents, including case law, statutes, regulations, and secondary legal materials such as law reviews and journals. This platform is designed to facilitate thorough legal research and provide streamlined access to critical legal information.
Key Features of Lexis
- Comprehensive Legal Databases: Lexis offers access to a vast array of legal documents, including U.S. Federal and State cases, codes, and regulations.
- Advanced Search Capabilities: The platform provides sophisticated search mechanisms, including Boolean, natural language queries, and filters to fine-tune searches.
- Analytical Tools: Tools such as Shepard’s Citations Service help users determine the precedential value of cases and statutes.
- Cross-Jurisdictional Access: Comprehensive coverage across multiple jurisdictions and international resources.
- User-Friendly Interface: Includes features like highlighting, note-taking, and document storage for efficient research management.
Types of Information Available on Lexis
- Case Law: Detailed records and opinions from court cases.
- Statutory Law: Collections of statutes from various jurisdictions.
- Regulations: Regulations and administrative codes from different governmental agencies.
- Secondary Sources: Law reviews, journals, and commentary articles to support legal theories and practices.
- Public Records: Business profiles, financial records, and personal public records for background checks and investigations.
Historical Context
Lexis began in the early 1970s as a groundbreaking venture to compile legal texts digitally. It was among the first services to offer full-text searching capabilities, simplifying and revolutionizing legal research. Over the decades, Lexis has continually evolved, integrating advanced technology and expanding its global reach.
Applications in Legal Practice
Lexis is indispensable in:
- Legal Research: Aiding attorneys and legal scholars to substantiate arguments and explore case law.
- Due Diligence: Crucial for conducting comprehensive background checks and financial due diligences.
- Litigation: Assisting in the preparation of legal documents, including briefs and memoranda.
- Compliance: Helping corporations stay compliant with regulations by providing up-to-date legal and regulatory information.
Comparisons with Westlaw
While Lexis is a leading service in legal research, Westlaw, its main competitor, offers similar resources with slight differences:
- User Interface: Westlaw is often preferred for its user-friendly interface.
- Content: Both services have comparable content, but some users find certain resources unique to each.
- Citation Tools: Lexis has Shepard’s, whereas Westlaw has KeyCite, both providing similar case validation tools.
Related Terms
- Shepardize: Process of checking a case’s subsequent history and treatment to ensure it remains good law.
- Boolean Search: A type of search allowing combinations of keywords with operators such as AND, OR, NOT to produce relevant results.
- Secondary Sources: Non-primary legal materials such as annotations, commentaries, law reviews, and treatises.
FAQs
What is the difference between Lexis and Lexis Advance?
How accurate is the information provided on Lexis?
Can Lexis be used internationally?
References
- “LexisNexis Legal Research Tools.” LexisNexis, www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/home.page.
- “Shepard’s Citations Service.” LexisNexis Support, www.support.lexisnexis.com.
- “Legal Research and Writing Tools.” American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org.
Summary
Lexis stands as a cornerstone in the legal research landscape, facilitating access to indispensable legal documents and analysis tools. With constant technological advancements and broadened coverage, Lexis positions itself as a future-proof resource for legal professionals and researchers globally. Whether for litigation, compliance, or academic exploration, Lexis provides the foundation for informed legal practice and decision-making.
