Used to be mediocre, but now basically doesn’t work
In my experience, this app has gone way down hill on the backend. Three years ago was a passable-if-inferior version of Westlaw’s web browser that you could use for long trips to the bathroom or on the go. Now it’s basically non-functional. Logging in takes me multiple tries — I’ll input my username and password, get taken to a totally separate login screen for my specific government branch, input my login credentials again, get taken to a separate screen asking which of my two plans I want to use, then get taken to the main page, only for it to immediately say “your session has expired,” forcing me to do all of the above AGAIN. If that weren’t annoying enough, when I try to search a case by it’s reporter — literally the easiest way to find the exact case you’re looking for — the app spends a minute or two trying to load search results before taking me to a page saying “your browser isn’t properly configured for Westlaw. Try a different browser instead.” I’m literally using the Westlaw app, how is the browser not right? In fairness, there will be a little link in the corner saying “looking for Westlaw Advantage Mobile?” But when I click the link, it doesn’t load anything. Basically, it takes forever to log in and then won’t let me search a single case by reporter number. This app is broken, full stop.
^The funniest thing: I tried submitting everything I wrote above through the app’s “Feedback” feature, but it said “error submitting feedback” and then logged me out 💀 Also, there’s tons of other substantive issues I haven’t even mentioned (app logs you out of westlaw on computer; search filters are way less accessible than on web browser for seemingly no reason; no ability to open different “tabs” like you can on a web browser, etc.). Westlaw could be a thousand times more convenient if it had a working phone app, but instead they gave us a wildly inferior version of the website and have apparently let it rot to the point of uselessness. Please improve your app. We all want it.
^The funniest thing: I tried submitting everything I wrote above through the app’s “Feedback” feature, but it said “error submitting feedback” and then logged me out 💀 Also, there’s tons of other substantive issues I haven’t even mentioned (app logs you out of westlaw on computer; search filters are way less accessible than on web browser for seemingly no reason; no ability to open different “tabs” like you can on a web browser, etc.). Westlaw could be a thousand times more convenient if it had a working phone app, but instead they gave us a wildly inferior version of the website and have apparently let it rot to the point of uselessness. Please improve your app. We all want it.
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Worse Than Useless
The app is incapable of saving my login info, which means I have to reenter every time. Unbearably slow once you actually get into it. Continually crashes or shows blank pages. It’s faster and easier for me to use Google searches on my phone to look up statutes and regs than this app. I’ll likely be deleting the app and then proceeding as if it doesn’t exist, which seems to be how the company is treating it, too.
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Smoldering Garbage Heap
This app is active trash. It patently refuses to remember my login, which is a problem since it makes me login twice. Attempting to access account info will often direct you to pages which you cannot exit out of and have to force quit to return to the home page (where then have to login again 🤣). Navigation to specific statutes or cases is fine, but forget trying to research since case synopses are often no more two or three words. For the cost of their product, this app ought to be the most sophisticated on my phone. Instead, I’m constantly debating deleting it so I don’t have to look at it and be reminded of how useless it is. Rant complete.
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Practical Law doesn’t load
You can’t use browse content to view the materials on Practical Law. I’ve reached out to support but their only advice was to “clear cookies and cache” (I’m not sure how browser settings would implicate issues with the app)
Outdated
This app is outdated and slow, making it not a particularly useful tool. For the price, it seems like Westlaw should have a modern app that is usable
