In coordination with Fastcase, the Illinois State Bar Association has offered a free legal research member benefit since 2006, providing access to cases, statutes, and regulations. In 2023, Fastcase merged with vLex, a global leader in legal intelligence, raising questions about the future of this essential service. But rest assured: vLex Fastcase remains committed to democratizing the law and enhancing legal research tools. This member benefit has been substantially upgraded with enhanced features, while keeping the service completely free for ISBA members. This important member benefit is sponsored by the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company.

ISBA members will enjoy free access to a comprehensive legal research platform that includes a vast library of primary legal sources: case law, statutes, regulations, and state-specific legal materials. You can expect seamless access to state court opinions, statutes, Attorney General opinions, and more. Whether you're searching by citation, keyword, or natural language, vLex Fastcase delivers quick and accurate results.

In addition to primary law, the service offers a wealth of secondary materials, including practice guides, legal forms, and treatises on topics ranging from employment law to intellectual property. These resources provide invaluable insights and practical advice, tailored to Illinois’s legal professionals.

A key feature of this enhanced service is the Cert citator, which flags negative treatment and other citations to cases. Cert goes beyond Fastcase’s previous citation service, Bad Law Bot, by offering editorial oversight, improving accuracy and delivering more comprehensive legal research.

Also included are advanced capabilities from Vincent AI, the award-winning research assistant from vLex. ISBA members will benefit from automated headnotes, case summaries, and Vincent's ability to identify similar legal documents included in their benefit. Premium features, such as 50-state surveys and argument drafting, are available via a member-discounted subscription.

The intuitive interface of vLex Fastcase makes navigating legal research a breeze. With an easy-to-use search bar and smart filters, finding the right documents is quicker than ever. Members can also save frequently used documents for future reference and receive alerts on the latest legal updates affecting their practice areas.

Best of all, this cutting-edge service is offered completely free for ISBA members — a resource that costs over $1,000 annually for non-members. For small and solo practices in Illinois, this provides an incredible opportunity to leverage the same technology used by larger firms, leveling the playing field.

With vLex Fastcase and Vincent AI at your fingertips, your firm can increase efficiency and competitiveness, keeping costs down while enhancing the quality of service to clients.

Explore the improved vLex Fastcase benefit by visiting the ISBA website. Simply log in with your member credentials and discover the powerful tools available to you as of October 22, 2024.

For more information and to access the platform, visit the vLex Fastcase page.