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
Outdated
Why can’t we access Precision or PracticalLaw on the app? It’s almost mid-21st century. We should be able to access all features via mobile devices.
Still no improvements.
Still going strong without a single improvement in 10 -years.
The app crashes constantly
This app has some amazing features. Unfortunately, it is incredibly slow, it crashes constantly, and it has limited information compared to the online version of westlaw’s database. It’s a shame
Constant error messages
The app had been working fine. However, over the past few weeks, the app will provide an error message and urges me to “try again”. Trying again never works. The only solution is to restart the app, re-set-up the search, and hope that the problem does not recur. It continues to happen more frequently, rendering the app largely unusable.
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Time waster
It has taken less than a day to download, use and delete. The functionality is too narrow; the app does not appear to allow me to sort cases (say by highest court/newest).
It returns content that does not meet my search terms. Example, I search for A and B; I get content with A but not B, vice versa, and neither!
The ability to go from one document to the next in the results list seems slow to me.
It returns content that does not meet my search terms. Example, I search for A and B; I get content with A but not B, vice versa, and neither!
The ability to go from one document to the next in the results list seems slow to me.
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No support for UK Westlaw.
UK westlaw is poorly usable on mobile devices through the website. I thought the app would be better only to find out it’s US-only.
Dark Mode
Please, for the love of God (and every young, embryonic attorney who is burning the midnight oil to stay caught up and pass exams)—enable dark mode. Please.
Otherwise, the app is great. Anyone complaining about doing “extensive research” on their phone is comical. But for reading cases at night while in law school—it gets the job done. My only complaint is the bright white light hitting the back of my retina at the wee hours while I’m trying to read cases in bed before crashing into my pillow.
Dark mode. Please. Thank you.
One more time for giggles—Dark mode!! 📚💤
Otherwise, the app is great. Anyone complaining about doing “extensive research” on their phone is comical. But for reading cases at night while in law school—it gets the job done. My only complaint is the bright white light hitting the back of my retina at the wee hours while I’m trying to read cases in bed before crashing into my pillow.
Dark mode. Please. Thank you.
One more time for giggles—Dark mode!! 📚💤
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Waste of storage
I cannot use my UK institutional log in. I have seen a review where Thomson Reuters replied to a review and I think there needs to be UK support as well as US support. It would be helpful! Until this happens, it’s a one star review from me. Not impressed in the slightest.
Nonfunctional
The app will not allow me to download courses I’ve purchased.
Not Compatible with Westlaw UK
There is no app available if you use Westlaw UK which is a big let down as I am a UK law student and regularly use Westlaw. Would definitely suggest to the developers that a version compatible with Westlaw UK is needed.
No dark mode
Plus, it’s mission impossible to pull up 1.163(j)-4(b). I even tried Treas Regs 1.163(j)-4(b)
Good for students in a pinch
If you don’t have access to a computer, this app works perfectly fine. I would not advise highlighting or making notes, but in terms of accessing cases and adding them to designated folders there’s really no difference between this and the regular website other than this being slower to navigate.
Response from developer
Thank you – we appreciate the feedback!
Current issues
1. Cannot adjust font size
2. Must set citation format *each time* you copy.
2. Must set citation format *each time* you copy.
Response from developer
Thank you – we appreciate the feedback! FYI, in the iPad app, you can change the text size by tapping on the 3-dot Tools menu located in the top right corner of any document and then selecting Set Display Options.
Use your web browser instead
I used this app for nearly a year and conducted extensive legal research on it. I have deleted it and will go back to accessing Westlaw via a web browser. It is a shame, as I really wanted to keep this app.
There are some benefits to using this app over a web browser:
- Login is a cinch.
- App loads relatively quickly.
The shortfalls are numerous:
- Citations are limited. Though you get full citations on the web, this app limits case citation to a single one. For those of us following local rules or who wish to use the Bluebook, this makes legal research very inefficient.
- Following procedural history is nearly impossible. While analyzing a case, you may wish to review a lower court's disposition, such as to learn more about the facts or understand the reasoning. This app is frequently unable to load that case. Instead, one is met with an error page and an 800-number.
- Following stare decisis is nearly impossible. Same reason as above. One clicks on a case cited in an opinion and is disappointed by the 800-number.
- Same issue as above with statutes and statutory history.
- Trying to select text is a headache. As we all know, Westlaw imposes a popup when text is selected. On a web browser, it is easy to work around. On this app, it frequently blocks selected text and the popup even becomes selected itself.
So, goodbye, Westlaw app.
There are some benefits to using this app over a web browser:
- Login is a cinch.
- App loads relatively quickly.
The shortfalls are numerous:
- Citations are limited. Though you get full citations on the web, this app limits case citation to a single one. For those of us following local rules or who wish to use the Bluebook, this makes legal research very inefficient.
- Following procedural history is nearly impossible. While analyzing a case, you may wish to review a lower court's disposition, such as to learn more about the facts or understand the reasoning. This app is frequently unable to load that case. Instead, one is met with an error page and an 800-number.
- Following stare decisis is nearly impossible. Same reason as above. One clicks on a case cited in an opinion and is disappointed by the 800-number.
- Same issue as above with statutes and statutory history.
- Trying to select text is a headache. As we all know, Westlaw imposes a popup when text is selected. On a web browser, it is easy to work around. On this app, it frequently blocks selected text and the popup even becomes selected itself.
So, goodbye, Westlaw app.
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Response from developer
We’re sorry to hear you’re experiencing some issues with the Westlaw app. There are no known issues at this time with document linking or selecting text, and parallel citations are available in the “All Citations” section of each case within the app. Thousands of Westlaw users rely on the award-winning Westlaw app for their legal research on the go, and we’d love to get to the bottom of what’s happening with your sessions. Please contact Technical Support at 1-800-WESTLAW (1-800-937-8529).
I way to log in?
Can not log in using institution?
