WSBA Member Benefit: Free Legal Research
Your legal research platform is transitioning. Learn about the new vLex Fastcase.
In October 2024, Fastcase 7, WSBA's free legal research platform for members, transitioned to vLex Fastcase. The upgraded platform includes everything Fastcase 7 offers plus unique features to enhance your productivity and provide you with greater insights into legal matters. For a limited time, you’ll have access to both platforms to ensure a smooth transition. We’ll notify you when Fastcase 7 is set to be fully retired, so you have time to adjust.
For additional resources and information, please visit vlex.com/vlex-fastcase.
How to Access vLex Fastcase
- Log into your myWSBA account: Visit myWSBA.org and sign in with your credentials.
- Select the Free Legal Research Tool: Once logged in, scroll down and click on “Free Legal Research Tool - vLex Fastcase.”
Log in to your myWSBA account to be automatically redirected.
vLex Fastcase Features
- Comprehensive Legal Resources: Access U.S. case law, statutes, regulations, and more.
- Cert Citator: Identify cases with negative treatment to support your legal arguments.
- User-Friendly Interface: Navigate legal materials faster with a simplified layout and search features.
- Workflow Integration: For those who find it useful, vLex Fastcase integrates with Microsoft Word and Google Chrome.
Important Transition Details
- No Action Required: You do not need to make any immediate changes. Your access to Fastcase will continue uninterrupted during the transition.
- New Features: Expect a user-friendly interface with advanced research tools, such as personalized news feeds and enhanced document navigation.
- Access Deskbooks: Continue to access WSBA deskbooks, available as subscriptions via vLex Fastcase, or purchase print/eBook versions through LexisNexis®.
vLex Fastcase Overview
WSBA members can access these vLex Fastcase features as part of their benefits:
- Comprehensive U.S. and international legal content: Access a vast collection of case law, statutes, regulations, journals, and news. With more than 1 billion searchable documents, conduct thorough research on one platform, eliminating multiple subscriptions. U.S.-based WSBA members retain Fastcase access and can purchase additional vLex Fastcase content if needed.
- Enhanced access to exclusive WSBA deskbooks: Access WSBA deskbooks, a unique resource not found elsewhere, giving members an advantage in research and case preparation.
- Citator: Cert, the advanced citator tool, helps identify cases treated unfavorably in later decisions, offering clarity on a case's precedential value.
- Word and Chrome integrations (free): Integrate vLex Fastcase with Microsoft Word and Google Chrome for seamless drafting and research workflows.
- New interface: The modern, user-friendly interface lets you browse content by type and jurisdiction for faster access. Enhanced navigation includes a linked table of contents for quick access to specific sections.
- AI case analysis: Understand cases quickly with auto-generated header notes, legal issue summaries, and key insights.
- Tech-powered legal information: vLex Fastcase's innovation helps lawyers find essential information quickly.
Enhanced Features
Enjoy these enhancements with vLex Fastcase:
- Improved user experience: Navigate a more intuitive interface for quick browsing by content type and jurisdiction, with direct links to specific sections.
- Stay informed of relevant content: Custom news feeds tailored to your practice areas and jurisdictions keep you updated, while the Featured Libraries section highlights key content on your homepage.
- Research within your daily workflow: Use vLex Fastcase features directly in Microsoft Word and Google Chrome to research while drafting or browsing.
What can you search for on vLex Fastcase?
Access everything from Fastcase 7, plus:
- Comprehensive U.S. coverage: Access a national law library from your desktop, including cases, statutes, regulations, court rules, bar publications, and more.
- Featured libraries: Get exclusive access to WSBA deskbooks through vLex Fastcase, a unique resource that gives bar members an edge in research and case prep.
- International content: Search materials beyond your subscription and outside the U.S., with legal info from over 100 countries. Upgrade your subscription for additional content.
Free vLex Fastcase Webinars
vLex Fastcase provides free live training webinars that will walk you through all the most important tools and features. These webinars provide an extensive overview of the platform and tips and tricks to getting the most out of your research.
Troubleshoot Issues with vLex Fastcase
If myWSBA is preventing your access to the tool:
- Make sure you are logging into myWSBA with your WSBA license number (instead of your email address).
- Try using a different web browser.
- If you are still encountering a log-in error, contact the WSBA at LegalResearch@wsba.org.
For general assistance and inquiries about your membership benefits, please contact vLex Fastcase Customer Support toll-free at 1-866-773-2782 (available 8 a.m.–9 p.m. EST Monday–Friday, excluding holidays) or email helpdesk-us@vlex.com.
For additional resources, visit our support center at https://support.vlex.com.
Send Us Your Feedback
If you have any other questions or feedback about Fastcase, please contact us.
WSBA Deskbooks
Subscriptions to online version available through vLex Fastcase
You can purchase annual subscriptions to online, word-searchable versions of WSBA deskbooks, as individual deskbooks, collected into practice area libraries, or in a comprehensive “all-publications” library, through vLex Fastcase. Find pricing, including discounted and group pricing here. Log in to vLex Fastcase via your myWSBA.org account and select “Browse Libraries.” Under “Treatise and Books” select “Washington State Bar Association” to see a list of deskbooks. Expand each deskbook title to review an outline of its contents. To Subscribe, contact vLex Fastcase Customer Support Toll-Free at 1-866-773-2782 (available 8 a.m–9 p.m. EST Monday–Friday, excluding holidays) or email helpdesk-us@vlex.com.
Print and eBook versions available through LexisNexis®
Through a joint publishing relationship, WSBA deskbooks are available in print and eBook formats through LexisNexis.® View WSBA deskbooks on the LexisNexis bookstore.
Other Resources for Legal Research
The Washington State Law Library offers limited reference assistance across the state. To learn more, review the law library policy on research and advice.
Free and Low-Cost Research
The following external links include other legal research tools that may help you in your practice:
Washington Pattern Jury Instructions | Published by Thomson Reuters
LLRX | Law and Technology Resources for Legal Professionals
Seattle University School of Law | Law Library Guides
University of Washington Law School | Legal Research Guides
Cornell Law School | Legal Information Institute
Law Library of Congress | The World's Largest Law Library
Yale Law School | The Avalon Project, Ancient and Medieval Legal Resources
Lending Library
The WSBA Lending Library offers over 300 titles to borrow for free, regardless of your geographic location. You can order books online and have them shipped to you for free. The following legal research books are available:
- The Lawyer's Guide to Fact Finding on the Internet
- Internet Legal Research on a Budget: Free and Low-Cost Resources for Lawyers
You can also view a list of all of our secondary law material.
Get Started
To start borrowing books, you can register online through myWSBA. Browse books and place holds at wsba.libib.com.
To learn more, visit the lending library page.
Not seeing what you're looking for? Send us an email.