LegiMatch Blog

Practical, sourced guides on legal research for US solo and small-firm attorneys. Research information, not legal advice.

How it works · October 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Can AI find a case from its facts alone? A published test of similar-case search
We rewrote 80 real court decisions in plain words, removed every name and citation, and measured how often LegiMatch Case Match finds the exact original among 4.7 million U.S. court decisions - with the method, so anyone can repeat it.
How it works · October 21, 2026 · 2 min read
Cases you may have missed - finding authority your brief doesn't cite
After LegiMatch checks your brief, one click runs a fact-based search on the brief itself and lists strong matching decisions you haven't cited - how it works, what it costs and how to use the results.
How it works · October 21, 2026 · 10 min read
How accurate is LegiMatch Brief Check? A blind test on real court documents
Our blind test of the brief checker, with a detection rate for each kind of citation mistake - wrong court, year, pin cite, case name, quotation, invented case, wrong volume, swapped citations and statutes - plus how often it wrongly flags correct citations, measured on real court decisions and U.S. Supreme Court briefs nobody had used before.
Guides · October 21, 2026 · 2 min read
How to find which case a legal quote comes from
A practical method for tracing a quotation back to the court opinion it came from - exact-phrase search, what to do when it fails, how to confirm the source - with free and paid options, including LegiMatch's phrase search.
How it works · October 21, 2026 · 3 min read
Is that the right statute section? How LegiMatch checks statute citations in a brief
A wrong statute section number that still exists passes every "does it exist" check. LegiMatch's AI reads the sentence each section is cited for and flags a mismatch - with real examples from court filings and our measured detection rate.
Buying guides · October 21, 2026 · 7 min read
LegiMatch vs Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law, vLex, Harvey, Paxton and BriefCatch - compared on tested numbers
What Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law, vLex, Harvey and LegiMatch each offer for checking a brief and finding cases, what each has measured and published about accuracy, how each lets you try it, and what each costs - from the vendors' own pages.
AI & research · October 18, 2026 · 7 min read
We gave 5 AI chatbots a 22-citation brief with 8 planted errors. They caught between 3 and 8.
Part 2 of our AI citation test. ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot and Perplexity each checked the same full brief - 22 case citations, 5 quotations, 8 planted errors. One caught all 8; others skipped citations, missed errors, or called real cases fake. Full results, the test brief and the answer key.
Buying guides · October 17, 2026 · 5 min read
Brief citation checkers compared - Quick Check, Brief Analysis, Brief Analyzer, BriefCatch and LegiMatch
What each brief-checking tool does - Westlaw Quick Check, Lexis+ Brief Analysis, Bloomberg Law Brief Analyzer, BriefCatch RealityCheck and LegiMatch Brief Check - who it suits, which publish accuracy numbers, and how to choose one for a small firm.
Guides · October 17, 2026 · 6 min read
How to check a brief for fake or AI-invented citations before you file
A practical pre-filing routine for catching invented cases, wrong case names, bad pin cites, misquotes and overruled authority in a brief - by hand or automatically - and what courts expect from attorneys now.
Research skills · October 17, 2026 · 3 min read
How to find a case by its citation (free case lookup for US case law)
How to read a US case citation and look the case up - free and paid sources, what to do when a citation doesn't resolve, and how to check a whole list of case references at once.
AI & research · October 17, 2026 · 4 min read
LegiMatch vs ChatGPT for checking legal citations in a brief
Why a general AI chatbot isn't a reliable way to verify case citations, how checking against the actual court opinions differs, and when to use each - a side-by-side comparison for attorneys.
Research skills · October 17, 2026 · 4 min read
Table of authorities - what it is, the rules, and how to build one fast
What a table of authorities is, when courts require one, how to format it (cases, statutes, rules, "passim"), the mistakes that get briefs bounced, and the fastest way to build and verify one.
AI & research · October 17, 2026 · 9 min read
We tested 5 AI chatbots on brief citations and quotes. Two confirmed a wrong pin cite.
ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot and Perplexity checked the same 10 case citations and 6 quotations, with planted errors - invented cases, a wrong case name, a bad pin cite, a wrong year and altered quotes. What each caught, what each got wrong, and what it means before you file.
Buying guides · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
10 best Westlaw alternatives for solo and small firms in 2026
Paid and free alternatives to Westlaw for small law firms - Lexis+ AI, Bloomberg Law, vLex Vincent AI, Fastcase, LegiMatch, CourtListener, Google Scholar, Justia and more - with what each does best and how they're priced.
Buying guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
CoCounsel pricing in 2026 - plans, Westlaw bundles and what small firms pay
CoCounsel Legal from Thomson Reuters is priced by quote and often bundled with Westlaw. What the plans include, what third parties report about cost, and questions to ask before you sign.
Research data · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Georgia slip-and-fall appeals - superior knowledge, Robinson v. Kroger and 341 decisions analyzed
An analysis of 341 Georgia slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall decisions (1989-2017) - how often superior knowledge, constructive knowledge and the distraction doctrine come up, how appeals were decided, and the cases cited most.
Buying guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
How much does Westlaw cost in 2026? Plans, prices and what small firms actually pay
Westlaw's published online prices for small firms (Westlaw Advantage from $256.75 a month), multi-year discounts, who can buy online, what's quoted separately, and how to estimate your real cost.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Alabama law firms - Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile
A guide for Alabama lawyers in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile to the state's courts, what binds whom, Alabama's negligence rule, citations, the Code of Alabama 1975, the federal courts and the Eleventh Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Alaska law firms - Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau
A guide for Alaska lawyers in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau to the state's courts, what binds whom, Alaska's negligence rule, citations, the Alaska Statutes, the federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Arkansas law firms - Little Rock, Fayetteville and Fort Smith
A guide for Arkansas lawyers in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Fort Smith to the state's courts, what binds whom, Arkansas's negligence rule, citations, the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Atlanta and Georgia law firms - courts, binding precedent and citations
A guide for Atlanta and Georgia lawyers to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of Georgia, when a Court of Appeals opinion is binding, Georgia's trial courts, the O.C.G.A., the three federal districts and the Eleventh Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Boston and Massachusetts law firms - SJC, Appeals Court and Rule 23.0
A guide for Massachusetts lawyers to the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court, citing unpublished Rule 23.0 decisions, the Trial Court departments, the General Laws, D. Mass. and the First Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Legal research for California law firms - Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento
A guide for California lawyers to the state's appellate districts, the rule on unpublished opinions, citation formats, the 29 codes, federal courts in each region, and finding cases with similar facts.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Legal research for Chicago and Illinois law firms - courts, Rule 23 orders and citations
A guide for Chicago and Illinois lawyers to the First District and other appellate districts, when Rule 23 orders can be cited, Illinois public-domain citations, ILCS, the Northern District and Seventh Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Connecticut law firms - Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Bridgeport
A guide for Connecticut lawyers in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Bridgeport to the state's courts, what binds whom, Connecticut's negligence rule, citations, the General Statutes of Connecticut, the federal courts and the Second Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Delaware law firms - Wilmington and Dover
A guide for Delaware lawyers in Wilmington and Dover to the state's courts, what binds whom, Delaware's negligence rule, citations, the Delaware Code, the federal courts and the Third Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Denver and Colorado law firms - courts, public-domain citations and the Tenth Circuit
A guide for Colorado lawyers in Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder and Fort Collins to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Colorado's public-domain citations, Denver's special courts, the C.R.S., the District of Colorado and the Tenth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Detroit and Michigan law firms - Court of Appeals, MCR 7.215 and the Sixth Circuit
A guide for Michigan lawyers in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Ann Arbor to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, which decisions bind under MCR 7.215, the MCL, the two federal districts and the Sixth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Florida law firms - Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville
A guide for Florida lawyers to the six District Courts of Appeal, when another district's decision binds you, PCA decisions, citations, Florida Statutes and the federal courts - plus finding cases with similar facts.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Hawaii law firms - Honolulu, Hilo and Kahului
A guide for Hawaii lawyers in Honolulu, Hilo and Kahului to the state's courts, what binds whom, Hawaii's negligence rule, citations, the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Idaho law firms - Boise, Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls
A guide for Idaho lawyers in Boise, Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls to the state's courts, what binds whom, Idaho's negligence rule, citations, the Idaho Code, the federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Indiana law firms - Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend
A guide for Indiana lawyers in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend to the state's courts, what binds whom, Indiana's negligence rule, citations, the Indiana Code, the federal courts and the Seventh Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Iowa law firms - Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport
A guide for Iowa lawyers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport to the state's courts, what binds whom, Iowa's negligence rule, citations, the Iowa Code, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Kansas law firms - Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City and Topeka
A guide for Kansas lawyers in Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City and Topeka to the state's courts, what binds whom, Kansas's negligence rule, citations, the Kansas Statutes Annotated, the federal courts and the Tenth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Kentucky law firms - Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green
A guide for Kentucky lawyers in Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green to the state's courts, what binds whom, Kentucky's negligence rule, citations, the Kentucky Revised Statutes, the federal courts and the Sixth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 7 min read
Legal research for law firms in every major US city - your courts at a glance
For lawyers and law firms in 30+ US cities - New York to Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle and more - the federal district, federal circuit and state appellate court that shape your research.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Louisiana law firms - New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette
A guide for Louisiana lawyers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette to the state's courts, what binds whom, Louisiana's negligence rule, citations, the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Civil Code and Code of Civil Procedure, the federal courts and the Fifth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Maine law firms - Portland, Bangor and Augusta
A guide for Maine lawyers in Portland, Bangor and Augusta to the state's courts, what binds whom, Maine's negligence rule, citations, the Maine Revised Statutes, the federal courts and the First Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Maryland law firms - Baltimore, Rockville, Annapolis and Columbia
A guide for Maryland lawyers in Baltimore, Rockville, Annapolis and Columbia to the state's courts, what binds whom, Maryland's negligence rule, citations, the Annotated Code of Maryland, the federal courts and the Fourth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Minnesota law firms - Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth
A guide for Minnesota lawyers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth to the state's courts, what binds whom, Minnesota's negligence rule, citations, the Minnesota Statutes, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Mississippi law firms - Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg and Oxford
A guide for Mississippi lawyers in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg and Oxford to the state's courts, what binds whom, Mississippi's negligence rule, citations, the Mississippi Code of 1972, the federal courts and the Fifth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Missouri law firms - St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield
A guide for Missouri lawyers in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield to the state's courts, what binds whom, Missouri's negligence rule, citations, the Revised Statutes of Missouri, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Montana law firms - Billings, Missoula, Bozeman and Great Falls
A guide for Montana lawyers in Billings, Missoula, Bozeman and Great Falls to the state's courts, what binds whom, Montana's negligence rule, citations, the Montana Code Annotated, the federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Nebraska law firms - Omaha and Lincoln
A guide for Nebraska lawyers in Omaha and Lincoln to the state's courts, what binds whom, Nebraska's negligence rule, citations, the Revised Statutes of Nebraska, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Nevada law firms - Las Vegas, Reno and Henderson
A guide for Nevada lawyers in Las Vegas, Reno and Henderson to the state's courts, what binds whom, Nevada's negligence rule, citations, the Nevada Revised Statutes, the federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for New Hampshire law firms - Manchester, Nashua, Concord and Portsmouth
A guide for New Hampshire lawyers in Manchester, Nashua, Concord and Portsmouth to the state's courts, what binds whom, New Hampshire's negligence rule, citations, the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA), the federal courts and the First Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for New Jersey law firms - Newark, Jersey City, Trenton and Camden
A guide for New Jersey lawyers to the Supreme Court and Appellate Division, the strict rule on unpublished opinions (R. 1:36-3), the Law and Chancery Divisions, N.J.S.A., the District of New Jersey and the Third Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for New Mexico law firms - Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces
A guide for New Mexico lawyers in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces to the state's courts, what binds whom, New Mexico's negligence rule, citations, the New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978, the federal courts and the Tenth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Legal research for New York City law firms - courts, citations and a faster workflow
A practical guide for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island lawyers - which New York and federal courts bind you, how New York citations work, free official sources, and how to find similar cases from your facts.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for North Carolina law firms - Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Durham
A guide for North Carolina lawyers in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Durham to the state's courts, what binds whom, North Carolina's negligence rule, citations, the General Statutes of North Carolina, the federal courts and the Fourth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for North Dakota law firms - Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks
A guide for North Dakota lawyers in Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks to the state's courts, what binds whom, North Dakota's negligence rule, citations, the North Dakota Century Code, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Ohio law firms - Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati
A guide for Ohio lawyers to the twelve district courts of appeals, which districts cover Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio's web citations and rule that all appellate opinions since 2002 can be cited, the Ohio Revised Code and the Sixth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Oklahoma law firms - Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman
A guide for Oklahoma lawyers in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman to the state's courts, what binds whom, Oklahoma's negligence rule, citations, the Oklahoma Statutes, the federal courts and the Tenth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Oregon law firms - Portland, Salem, Eugene and Bend
A guide for Oregon lawyers in Portland, Salem, Eugene and Bend to the state's courts, what binds whom, Oregon's negligence rule, citations, the Oregon Revised Statutes, the federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Pennsylvania law firms - Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg
A guide for Pennsylvania lawyers to the Superior and Commonwealth Courts, when non-precedential decisions can be cited, Pennsylvania statutes, the three federal districts and the Third Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Phoenix and Arizona law firms - Court of Appeals divisions and memorandum decisions
A guide for Arizona lawyers in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa and Scottsdale to the two Court of Appeals divisions, citing memorandum decisions under Rule 111(c), the A.R.S., the District of Arizona and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Rhode Island law firms - Providence, Warwick and Cranston
A guide for Rhode Island lawyers in Providence, Warwick and Cranston to the state's courts, what binds whom, Rhode Island's negligence rule, citations, the General Laws of Rhode Island, the federal courts and the First Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Seattle and Washington State law firms - Court of Appeals divisions and GR 14.1
A guide for Washington lawyers in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Bellevue to the three Court of Appeals divisions, citing unpublished opinions under GR 14.1, the RCW, the two federal districts and the Ninth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for South Carolina law firms - Charleston, Columbia and Greenville
A guide for South Carolina lawyers in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville to the state's courts, what binds whom, South Carolina's negligence rule, citations, the Code of Laws of South Carolina, the federal courts and the Fourth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for South Dakota law firms - Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Pierre
A guide for South Dakota lawyers in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Pierre to the state's courts, what binds whom, South Dakota's negligence rule, citations, the South Dakota Codified Laws, the federal courts and the Eighth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Tennessee law firms - Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga
A guide for Tennessee lawyers in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga to the state's courts, what binds whom, Tennessee's negligence rule, citations, the Tennessee Code Annotated, the federal courts and the Sixth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Legal research for Texas law firms - Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth
A guide for Texas lawyers to the two high courts, the courts of appeals by city (including the Fifteenth), transfer cases, citation formats, Texas codes and federal courts - plus a faster way to find cases with similar facts.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Utah law firms - Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden and St. George
A guide for Utah lawyers in Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden and St. George to the state's courts, what binds whom, Utah's negligence rule, citations, the Utah Code, the federal courts and the Tenth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Vermont law firms - Burlington, Montpelier and Rutland
A guide for Vermont lawyers in Burlington, Montpelier and Rutland to the state's courts, what binds whom, Vermont's negligence rule, citations, the Vermont Statutes Annotated, the federal courts and the Second Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Virginia law firms - Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Fairfax and Arlington
A guide for Virginia lawyers in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Fairfax and Arlington to the state's courts, what binds whom, Virginia's negligence rule, citations, the Code of Virginia, the federal courts and the Fourth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Legal research for Washington, DC law firms - local courts, the D.C. Circuit and M.A.P. v. Ryan
A guide for DC lawyers to the D.C. Court of Appeals and Superior Court, which D.C. Circuit decisions still bind local courts, the D.C. Code, the District Court for D.C. and the federal circuits that sit in Washington.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for West Virginia law firms - Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown
A guide for West Virginia lawyers in Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown to the state's courts, what binds whom, West Virginia's negligence rule, citations, the West Virginia Code, the federal courts and the Fourth Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Wisconsin law firms - Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay
A guide for Wisconsin lawyers in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay to the state's courts, what binds whom, Wisconsin's negligence rule, citations, the Wisconsin Statutes, the federal courts and the Seventh Circuit.
Local guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal research for Wyoming law firms - Cheyenne, Casper and Jackson
A guide for Wyoming lawyers in Cheyenne, Casper and Jackson to the state's courts, what binds whom, Wyoming's negligence rule, citations, the Wyoming Statutes, the federal courts and the Tenth Circuit.
Buying guides · October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Lexis+ AI pricing in 2026 - what small firms should expect to pay
Lexis+ AI with Protégé is priced by quote. Here's what third-party sources report, how base plans and AI add-ons fit together, contract terms to negotiate, and how to compare total cost.
Research data · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
New York Labor Law 240(1) appeals by the numbers - 1,534 Scaffold Law decisions analyzed
An analysis of 1,534 New York Labor Law § 240(1) decisions (1989-2018) - how often sole proximate cause, recalcitrant worker and falling objects come up, how appeals were decided, and the Court of Appeals cases cited most.
Research data · October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
New York's "serious injury" threshold in 3,828 appeals - what the data shows
An analysis of 3,828 New York no-fault "serious injury" decisions under Insurance Law § 5102(d) (1989-2018) - which categories courts discuss, how often orders were reversed, and why Gaddy v. Eyler and Toure v. Avis dominate.
Buying guides · October 16, 2026 · 5 min read
The best AI legal research tools for small law firms in 2026 - an honest comparison
Westlaw with CoCounsel, Lexis+ AI, Bloomberg Law, vLex Vincent AI (Clio), Google Scholar and LegiMatch compared for solo and small firms - what each does best, citators, AI features, pricing models and how to choose.
Research data · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Title VII retaliation appeals in the federal circuits - 4,069 decisions analyzed
An analysis of 4,069 federal court of appeals decisions on Title VII retaliation (2000-2018) - how often pretext, temporal proximity and causation come up, how appeals were decided, and the Supreme Court cases cited most.
Research data · October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
What 1,580 New York slip-and-fall appeals show - notice, summary judgment and the cases courts cite most
An analysis of 1,580 New York slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall decisions (1989-2018) - how often constructive notice, storm in progress and trivial defect come up, how appeals were decided, and the authorities cited most.
How it works · October 15, 2026 · 3 min read
Find the statute that covers your question - the U.S. Code and state codes
How LegiMatch's statute finder works - describe a topic in plain words and see the official sections that may be relevant, with their full text and the decisions that cite them. Coverage, updates and limits.
Research skills · October 15, 2026 · 3 min read
How to read a statute section - a plain guide for legal research
A step-by-step way to read a U.S. or state statute section - its citation, place in the code, definitions, subsections, cross-references, effective dates and history notes - and how to check how courts have applied it.
How it works · October 15, 2026 · 3 min read
The Research Librarian - a free research assistant inside LegiMatch
What LegiMatch's Research Librarian does - finds cases, statute sections and help articles from a short question, hands you to a person when needed - what it does not do, and how it handles your information.
Buying guides · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
12 questions to ask before buying legal research software
A due-diligence questionnaire for law firms evaluating legal research and AI vendors - data handling, security, coverage, contract terms and exit - with what a good answer looks like.
Ethics & risk · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
ABA Formal Opinion 512 on generative AI - a practical summary for lawyers
What the ABA's 2024 ethics opinion on generative AI requires in practice - competence, confidentiality, client communication, candor, supervision and fees - with a checklist you can adopt today.
AI & research · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
AI legal research for paralegals - what you can do and where the lines are
How paralegals can use AI research tools well - suitable tasks, a verification routine, the supervising lawyer's duties under Model Rule 5.3, and how to stay clear of the unauthorized practice of law.
Ethics & risk · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
AI-invented case citations - the court sanctions every lawyer should know
Courts have sanctioned attorneys for filing briefs with citations invented by AI. What happened in the leading cases, what courts expect now, and a short checklist to make sure it never happens to you.
Ethics & risk · October 14, 2026 · 5 min read
Client confidentiality and AI tools - a checklist for lawyers
A practical checklist, based on ABA Model Rule 1.6(c), Formal Opinions 477R, 498 and 512 and state bar guidance, for reviewing an AI or cloud research tool before you put client information into it.
Research skills · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Free and low-cost sources of US case law - a practical guide
Where to find US court decisions for free or at low cost - CourtListener, the Caselaw Access Project, Google Scholar, govinfo, court websites, PACER and bar-provided databases - and what each is best for.
Research skills · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Google Scholar for legal research - strengths and limits
What Google Scholar's case law search covers, the features that make it useful for lawyers (How cited, star paging, court filters), and the gaps to plan around before relying on it.
AI & research · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
How AI legal research works, in plain English
Embeddings, retrieval, re-ranking and "grounding" explained without jargon - and why the architecture of an AI research tool decides whether it can invent a citation.
How it works · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
How LegiMatch search works - from your facts to real, linked court decisions
What happens when you give LegiMatch a matter - what it reads, what you can edit, how results are scored and shown, and the guarantees that come with every result.
Buying guides · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
How to evaluate an AI legal research tool - a checklist for solo lawyers
A step-by-step checklist for testing an AI legal research tool before you pay - coverage, how results are produced, verification, pricing terms, workflow fit and a simple scoring sheet.
Guides · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
How to find cases with similar facts - a case-matching method for US attorneys
Five ways to find precedent that matches your client's facts, when each one works, and a step-by-step workflow that combines them, from keyword searches to AI fact-pattern matching.
Research skills · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Shepardize or KeyCite a case without Westlaw or Lexis (check good law for free)
A step-by-step manual method for confirming a US case hasn't been reversed, overruled or superseded, using free sources such as CourtListener, Google Scholar and court websites, and what the method can miss.
Research skills · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
How US case law and citations are organized - reporters, courts and publication
A plain guide to how US court decisions are published and cited - the regional reporters, federal reporters, confusing state court names, public-domain citations, and the rules on citing unpublished opinions.
How it works · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
How we test LegiMatch's search accuracy (and our current results)
The four tests we run on every ranking change, our latest numbers, what they mean, and their limits - published so attorneys can judge AI case search on evidence rather than marketing.
AI & research · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Is ChatGPT safe for legal research? What lawyers should know in 2026
Where general-purpose chatbots help lawyers, where they fail at case research, the confidentiality questions to settle first, and a safe way to use them alongside tools built for legal research.
Guides · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Researching constructive notice in premises liability cases
How to research notice in slip-and-fall and premises cases - actual notice, constructive notice, the time-notice rule, and the mode-of-operation approach - with leading state cases and search strategies.
Research skills · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Terms and connectors vs natural language search - when to use each
How Boolean terms-and-connectors searching works in legal databases, the Westlaw and Lexis connector syntax side by side, and when a plain-English or fact-based search finds better cases.
Ethics & risk · October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
The duty of technology competence for lawyers - what Rule 1.1 Comment 8 requires
Where the duty of technology competence comes from (ABA Model Rule 1.1, Comment 8, added in 2012), how states have adopted it, what it means for AI and research tools, and practical ways to meet it.
How it works · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
The match score explained - what a 78% match means in AI case search
How LegiMatch's match score is built from five visible factors, why strong matches usually score 70-90% rather than 100%, and how to read the score when choosing which cases to read first.
Buying guides · October 14, 2026 · 3 min read
What legal research costs a small firm in 2026 - and how to budget for it
The cost components of legal research for solo and small firms - subscriptions, contracts, per-use fees and attorney time - with a simple budgeting method and ways to lower the total.