An article in City Pages traces the history of West and the value and expertise that West and Thomson Reuters provide through their professional legal research and reference products.
Erin Carlyle conducted interviews with several leaders within the legal businesses of Thomson Reuters, including President & CEO Peter Warwick.
City Pages is a weekly newspaper in Minneapolis/St. Paul, covering news and entertainment in the Twin Cities and Minnesota.
Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters
This is true even for popular titles, and even among college graduates. Meanwhile, online sellers are eroding book sales in stores, and the used book market is stronger than ever. With the recent advent of the Amazon Kindle, even the physical manifestation of the book seems to be in a state of flux.
If you’re an attorney researching a witness or doing any type of investigative research, you probably are familiar with the myriad resources for public records information.
It’s all out there … you might spend a few hours checking different sources, in the end compiling a report customized with the information you need.
West recently launched Westlaw PeopleMap – a new tool that will change how lawyers are doing public records research. According to Brian Knudsen, senior director of Marketing for West, “Westlaw PeopleMap is one of the biggest products we’re launching in 2009. It’s built on significant data architecture changes that make public records research more accurate and comprehensive for the researcher.”
We talked with Brian and Kevin Appold, senior director of Product Development. See them discuss the development of Westlaw PeopleMap and how it’s different from other public records research tools in this video:
Most litigators find the written word just isn’t enough when it comes to really understanding what transpires in the courtroom.
How the expert witness physically responds to a question – do they look anxious, upset, or uncomfortable while providing their testimony – is the difference between an honest expert and someone who is being paid to support the case to the watchful eyes of a jury.
In an interview with Tim Nixon, director of Litigation Content Operations at West, part of Thomson Reuters, we discussed how the new capability of viewing court transcripts – via the on-demand streaming video through Westlaw Court Transcripts – is a critical step in preparing for court.
Watch a portion of our interview with Nixon to better understand how Westlaw Court Transcripts works:
“The words can all be spot on, but if a witness’s body says I’m really uncomfortable with my position, the expert can immediately undermine a case,” says Nixon.
The video features on Westlaw Court Transcripts can be the difference between success and failure when used as a vetting tool for selecting witnesses, and it can also serve as a critical learning tool for new litigators.
It is also important to see how the courtroom is handled – how the judge enables the litigators to present their case, or if he or she possibly impedes the normal flow of the courtroom, Nixon says.
Is the judge one who is sitting forward and truly engaged or sitting back and viewing the case? Does the tone of their voice or facial expression lend you to believe they are upset with an approach or comfortable with the way the case is presented?
These are key to understanding the courtroom dynamic and determining a best approach for a specific judge.
“Seeing the court transcript fully synched and side-by-side with video, where you can click on the court transcript and immediately see what is transcribed, is really critical from both a vetting and a time-and-billing perspective,” says Nixon.
Westlaw subscribers can see the latest courtroom video additions, here.
Posted by Gretchen DeSutter, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters
The global launch of Westlaw China has given legal practitioners in the U.S. and U.K. greater access to Chinese legal information and accurate translation.
We now have some new video clips available that explain the current demands for Chinese legal research and the law in China. They feature Stephen Yao, president and chief executive officer of Westlaw China, and are posted on the West Web site and our YouTube channel.
In addition to those clips, this short video interview with Yao we posted to our YouTube channel in October features his thoughts on the demand for information on Chinese law among lawyers in the United States.
Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters
Last October, West launched the Headnote of the Day as a way to highlight West headnotes that are especially “humorous, profound or interesting.”
Using the text of the headnote – plus, an illustration especially suited to it – the Headnote of the Day is designed to offer a diversion during a legal professional’s day.
Headnotes, of course, summarize points of law in judicial rulings. They are written by West attorney editors and classified within the exclusive West Key Number System®.
The Headnote of the Day is the brain child of Al Maleson, a senior copywriter at West, who in addition to writing advertising during his workday also gets to choose which headnotes to publish.
But it’s not easy.
“I am continually trolling for headnotes,” Maleson says. “I go into ALLCASES on Westlaw and enter various search terms in the Headnote (HE) field. I enter search terms likely to dredge up headnotes that are amusing, serious or profound. I also enter random combinations of words. My goal is to bring up a wide variety of issues thus increasing the odds that I will find a variety of interesting headnotes.”
Maleson says a good Headnote of the Day has one or more of the following qualities – though, obviously, no single headnote will have them all:
It is clear and easy to understand
It is amusing
It states a fundamental principle or value of American law
It has strong appeal to a specific segment of the population (Californians, baseball fans, bankruptcy lawyers, etc.), which might encourage people to forward the headnote
It lends itself to a good illustration
It doesn’t deal with matters that are especially morbid, depressing, violent or otherwise likely to be offensive or upsetting to readers
Maleson estimates he’s received between 75 and 100 suggested headnotes from West customers and fellow West employees. Most months, he uses up to five of these suggested headnotes.
Illustrations for the Headnote of the Day are done by Curt McAloney.
When the United States Supreme Court issued its ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller in June, striking down a ban on gun possession in D.C., a team at West went to work to get this landmark case loaded to Westlaw, complete with the insight and analysis that is critical to legal researchers.
The West editorial process involves specific steps, including fact-checking, headnoting and classification. This Westcast video podcast highlights that process. The result is a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the skills and trusted editorial experience involved in the daily work here at West.
Please take a few minutes to watch this Westcast and let us know what you think:
Incidentally, West’s Tom Trenkner, who you saw at the end of the podcast, had a unique interest in the Heller case. He was among several colleagues from West and Thomson Reuters who were invited to attend the oral arguments in the Heller case when it was before the Supreme Court.
Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters
China’s booming economy, the expansion of western business operations into the country and China’s developing legal system offer great opportunities to law firms and in-house legal staff who understand China’s importance to the future of their businesses.
With the global launch of Westlaw China, legal practitioners in the U.S. and U.K. now have access to Chinese legal information and accurate translation on a familiar and effective legal research platform.
Westlaw China is up-to-date, practical and conveniently organized into digests, giving attorneys a more complete view of the issues affecting their clients and their business.
“Westlaw China’s successful launch – and its potential as an important resource for global law firms, corporations doing business in China and law schools – is an important step in the growth of Westlaw as a truly global resource,”said Peter Warwick, president and chief executive officer, Thomson Reuters Legal.
In this short video interview, Stephen Yao, president and chief executive officer of Westlaw China, talks about the demand for information on Chinese law in the United States:
You can learn more about Westlaw China and its familiar user interface, intuitive search tools and editorial enhancements on the Westlaw China Web page.
In addition to all the resources above, you also can watch a video interview about China’s legal landscape with Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson, who recently traveled to China to learn more about the country’s legal and education systems.
Justice Anderson also discusses the interest in American law among the people he met, including judges, government officials, and students and law professors at the top five national law schools in China:
Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters
Legal professionals in Kansas can now access the state’s statutes and constitution with better accuracy and ease with the release of Kansas Statutes Annotated from West.
It includes more than 133,000 organized headnotes with topical indexing, editorial features and enhancements.
The full-text collection is being released for the first time in a complete 45-volume hardbound set, West’s Kansas Statutes Annotated also is available on Westlaw®.
Are you familiar with the Westlaw “Stress toy abuse” video?
Launched on YouTube about a year ago, the video pokes fun at legal researchers forced to take out their frustrations on their stress toys – abusive behavior that could all be avoided if they just used Westlaw to do their research! (Watch the original Westlaw Stress Toy video)
Well, Westlaw’s marketing team is back with a second episode about stress toy abuse. But this time, the stress toys are in paradise, recovering at the “Legal Research Stress Relief Center.”
This month, Sue Barry is getting some extra attention as she works as a Reference Attorney trainer at West’s Eagan, Minnesota headquarters - she’s celebrating her 25th year with the company.
Barry teaches new Reference Attorneys on how best to help customers use Westlaw to do legal research. She also trains West’s customers, sales force and reference attorneys on patents, Delphion, and advanced Westlaw searching.
When asked what’s changed the most at West during her 25 years, Barry says “I suppose it is the size of the company and the impact of our Westlaw product.”
“When I started in Westlaw sales our large law firm customers were using about three hours of Westlaw per month,” Barry says. “The most interesting changes are the iterations of Westlaw – or really how we access Westlaw – from a customized terminal named WALT, to WestMate, to WestMate for Windows, to Westlaw.com. Yet, I recently told a group of new Reference Attorneys that even though Westlaw has changed so much, if you knew how to search it years ago you could still search it today.”
Barry says her work gives her an interesting perspective on the importance of her West colleagues to people working in the legal profession.
“It gives me great satisfaction that our customers understand how valuable the Reference Attorneys are to their legal research projects,” Barry says. “It is so rewarding to have customers say time and time again that they need help with their legal issue and together we research on Westlaw and solve that legal issue. I learn so much about so many different areas of law this way.”
A letter from Peter Warwick, president and CEO of West and Thomson Reuters North American Legal.
To our customers:
Everyone at West is moved by the devastation and loss suffered by the communities and victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. It’s only now, as people begin to return to their homes and offices, that we’re hearing about the true extent of the damage in human terms. And though there are sure to be difficult times ahead, there is also hope that life will again return to normal for you – our customers, friends and colleagues along the Gulf Coast.
West is committed to helping customers affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike restore their practice and business as soon as possible. To assist in the rebuilding effort, we’ve set up a dedicated hotline.
If you have been displaced by the disaster, please contact West Customer Service at 1-800-328-4880, ext. 67281, to let us know that you’re safe and what your needs are. When you’re ready to get back on your feet, we’re ready to help.
West is proud of its heritage and longstanding partnership with attorneys and the courts, and we are proud to stand with you throughout your process of recovery and rebuilding. Please know that our thoughts are with you and that we are here to help.
Very best wishes,
Peter Warwick
President and CEO
West and Thomson Reuters North American Legal
None of us can truly know when nature will strike our lives, homes and businesses. So, in this digital age, planning for disaster is critical to a company or law firm’s future.
Disaster recovery and data hosting are at the heart of Managed Technology Services, part of Thomson Reuters. Todd Hauschildt, vice president and the head of this unit, was at ILTA.
He told us he was spending much of his time in back-to-back meetings with law firm CIO’s and directors of technology, explaining how Managed Technology Services can provide stable, reliable and cost-effective data hosting, leveraging the considerable resources and expertise of the West data center facility in Eagan, Minn.:
Were you affected by Tropical Storm Fay? If so, West can help. Let’s hope you never have to call on us, but we’re here if disaster strikes – whether it’s a building fire, hurricane or other disaster.
West can provide you with disaster recovery services including: a special disaster recovery team; Westlaw temporary passwords and proactive alerts from our customer service representatives; contact with local bar associations to communicate availability of products and services to disaster-affected customers; a hold on mailings of subscriptions; order and direct mail if your address is undeliverable; assistance in recovering damaged print and CD-Rom titles should it be needed.
We hope all our customers are and remain safe and secure. But when the unthinkable happens, trust West to help you recover from the disaster, and get back to business.
As always, please feel free to call or email me with your comments.
The presidential race in the United States is heading down the home stretch. Just in time for the election season, West is providing some new election resources on Westlaw. They’re free to subscribers, through the national elections.
A new Elections tab, which users can customize on their Westlaw interface, provides access to informatin like voter identification and campaign financing laws, and election-related news and legal filings.
Also, ”Election-2008″ content within the Elections tab provides researchers with trial filings relevant to election law – such as the right to vote and ballot validity – filed in state and federal courts, as well as court motions, memoranda, pleadings, trial briefs, non-expert depositions, discovery and non-expert affidavits, proposed court orders, agreements, verdicts, settlements and other trial filings.
Westlaw subscribers also will be able to review election-related topics as covered in daily newspapers, magazines, journals and transcripts.
Again, the Election-2008 database within the new Westlaw Elections tab is available free beginning today, and through the national elections, to all Westlaw subscribers.
This blog, discontinued and moved to LegalCurrent.com in May 2009, presented commentary and information about the practice and business of law, and the products and services of the legal businesses of Thomson Reuters.
This is a guest post to WestBlog from Peter Jackson, chief scientist and vice president at Thomson Reuters in Eagan, Minn.:
Were you affected by Tropical Storm Fay? If so, West can help. Let’s hope you never have to call on us, but we’re here if disaster strikes – whether it’s a building fire, hurricane or other disaster.
