Tempting as free research is, the case for professional research is compelling. The non-billable hours you save searching online can pay for a subscription in weeks. The confidence you have in your information means confidence in your case and the reputational risks of presenting false information to clients, barristers and judges all add up to make free research something no lawyer can afford.
Professional Legal Research v Free Legal Research
You be the judge
Cost
While free research wins on cost, with annual subscriptions from under $3,000 p.a., LexisNexis® professional research isn’t out of reach as you may think (especially with three months free on new subscriptions).
Time
With professional research, you can find complex legal information in seconds. On Google, it can take hours; non-billable hours any lawyer can better use elsewhere.
Accuracy
Are you happy to base your client’s case on something from Google or ChatGPT? There’s unbelievable free stuff online, but some of it is unbelievable for a reason.
Reputational risk
Would you tell paying clients you only use free research? Would you tell a judge the mainstay of your case is from AI?
The verdict
There will always be some small law firms who think free research is worth the downsides, but do you want to be one of them?
If you use FREE resources, you’ll love this.
You’ll get 3 months FREE* with a new subscription before 29 Dec; if you want to try before you buy, register for a 7-day FREE trial; or if you want a deeper dive into free v professional research, download our Free v paid whitepaper.
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*The offer is available to small law customers with up to 10 fee earners only. Offer valid to 29 December 2023. Offer valid on new subscriptions only. The offer includes gratis access for a period of 90 days prior to the commencement of a 12-month paid subscription (total subscription period of 15 months). Additional terms and conditions apply here.
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