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Best Free Alternatives to Westlaw
Stop paying $115-$582/mo. Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Legal ResearchVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
vLex Fastcase
FREEBest Professional Alternative
Why we like it
Available for free through nearly all U.S. state bar associations; includes a negative citator (Authority Check) and AI-enhanced search; covers 100M+ documents.
Keep in mind
Citator 'Authority Check' is algorithmic and lacks the human-editor precision of Westlaw's KeyCite red/yellow flags.
Casetext (CoCounsel)
Best for AI Research
Why we like it
Features 'CoCounsel', an agentic AI that can draft research memos and find missing authority; uses 'Parallel Search' to find cases based on facts rather than keywords.
Keep in mind
Recently acquired by Thomson Reuters (Westlaw's parent), leading to price increases and tighter integration with the paid Westlaw ecosystem.
CourtListener
Best for PACER/Federal Access
Why we like it
100% free and open-source; provides 'RECAP' which allows you to view federal court dockets for free; massive database of millions of opinions.
Keep in mind
Lacks secondary sources (treatises) and has a more basic search interface compared to premium suites.
Google Scholar (Legal)
FREEBest for Quick Case Lookup
Why we like it
Fastest search engine for case law; provides state and federal opinions since 1923; completely free with no registration.
Keep in mind
No citator indicators (Shepard's/KeyCite equivalents) to tell you if a case is still good law; no statutes or regulations.
Caselaw Access Project
Best for Historical Data
Why we like it
Digitized 360 years of U.S. case law; provides an API for developers; excellent for deep historical research and bulk data analysis.
Keep in mind
The search interface is utilitarian; not designed for daily practice or keeping up with new 'slip' opinions.
Justia
FREEBest for Statutes & Codes
Why we like it
Excellent free access to the U.S. Code, state statutes, and administrative regulations; provides daily newsletters on new court opinions.
Keep in mind
The search experience is heavily ad-supported; citator tools are not as robust as KeyCite.
LII (Legal Information Institute)
FREEBest Legal Encyclopedia
Why we like it
The 'Wex' encyclopedia provides the best plain-English explanations of complex laws; official online home of the U.S. Code.
Keep in mind
Lacks a case law search database; primarily a statutory and educational resource.
Decisis
FREEBest for Simplicity
Why we like it
A streamlined alternative provided to several state bars; focuses on 'Google-like' search simplicity for small firm practitioners.
Keep in mind
Smaller library of secondary sources compared to Westlaw; only available if your bar association partners with them.
Judicata
Best for Data Precision
Why we like it
Maps the 'Legal Genome' to provide incredibly precise search filters; excellent for California practitioners specifically.
Keep in mind
Jurisdictional coverage is not as broad as Westlaw (national); recently acquired and shifting its focus.
FindLaw for Professionals
FREEBest for Practice Overviews
Why we like it
Great for quick summaries of practice areas; includes a searchable database of Supreme Court cases since 1760.
Keep in mind
Owned by Thomson Reuters (same as Westlaw), it serves mostly as a 'lite' marketing-heavy gateway to their paid products.
Ross Intelligence
Historical Note
Why we like it
Pioneered natural language legal search; many of its innovations now live on in modern tools like Casetext and vLex.
Keep in mind
Shut down due to legal disputes with Westlaw; no longer available as a standalone tool.
GovInfo
FREEBest Official Source
Why we like it
The official U.S. government portal for the Federal Register and Congressional bills; the highest level of data authenticity.
Keep in mind
Very technical and slow interface; not a research platform for case law.
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