Announcing the New vLex Fastcase for NCBA Members
The North Carolina Bar Association has offered Fastcase legal research as a benefit to NCBA members since 2012. Recently Fastcase merged with international legal research provider vLex. This merger resulted in an enhanced and upgraded legal research platform, which is now being rolled out to NCBA members starting November 19, 2024.
In 2023, Fastcase merged with vLex, a global legal intelligence company. The combined vLex Fastcase is as committed as ever to democratizing the law and providing the best in legal research. The improved “vLex Fastcase” service will provide free access to extensive primary law collections, including case law, statutes, regulations, and constitutions. NCBA materials are especially well represented, with a complete collection of North Carolina caselaw, including Statutes, the Constitution, Attorney General Opinions, Administrative Code, and court rules. Simply search by citation, keyword or natural language query and instantly retrieve the legal authorities you need.
In addition to primary law, members will have access to a rich selection of treatises, practice guides, legal forms, and secondary sources. NCBA specific guides cover civil procedure, foreclosure law, legal malpractice, and trust and estate practice. National materials on bankruptcy, employment law, and intellectual property will also be available, providing valuable analysis and practical guidance.
What’s New?
New Homepage
Custom news feeds tailored to specific practice areas or jurisdictions, along with Featured Libraries, highlight relevant secondary content right on your homepage. vLex Fastcase allows you to discover new content and information you might not have thought of searching. vLex Fastcase offers a unique repository for NCBA publications. This exclusive access provides members with a significant advantage in research and case preparation.
Cert Negative Citator
A key feature of the upgrade is the new Cert citator, which flags negative treatment and other citing references to a case. Cert is a major improvement over Fastcase’s previous citation service, Bad Law Bot, with vastly more extensive coverage and more types of negative treatment. The real advantage of Cert is the review by editorial experts that was missing in Bad Law Bot.
AI Case Analysis
The new version also includes skills from Vincent AI, vLex’s award-winning AI research assistant. Members will have free access to automated headnotes, case summaries, and the ability to find similar legal materials using Vincent.
Alerts and Saved Documents
vLex Fastcase’s streamlined tools and interface make finding documents easier than ever. Enter a citation in the search bar and select the document from the suggested list. Filters help narrow searches by jurisdiction and content libraries for relevant results. The interactive outline allows browsing and searching individual sections of statutes, regulations, and practice guides. Tag frequently used documents for quick access later.
The platform’s alert system keeps you updated on new developments in your area of interest. Sign up to receive notifications on the latest rulings and updates affecting clients, ensuring no critical developments are missed. This feature is particularly useful for staying current without manual searches.
Word and Chrome Integrations
Seamlessly integrate vLex Fastcase with Microsoft Word and Google Chrome so that it aligns with your drafting and initial research workflows. These integrations provide easy access to vLex Fastcase features directly within your daily tasks.
How to Access vLex Fastcase
On November 19, 2024 sign into Fastcase as you normally would when logging in through the NCBA website. You will then be given the option to access the upgraded platform, vLex Fastcase, or continue to the existing Fastcase 7 service. All current subscriptions will automatically transition from Fastcase 7 to vLex Fastcase. You will be able to transfer any notes, folders, and favorites to the new platform.
Timeline
November 19, 2024 – Transition/Soft Launch:
On this date, a button will be added to the Fastcase site for users to access vLex.
December 19 – vLex | Fastcase Official Rollout:
NCBA members will land on the vLex Fastcase homepage, but there will be an option to return to Fastcase 7 under “Account Settings”.
Learn More
Want to learn more about the new platform? Watch this introductory video:
There will be a live webinar on November 14, 2:00 ET from vLex Fastcase. Register today for free.
Learning Objectives: Introduction to vLex Fastcase
(December 11, 2024, 12 to 1 p.m.) Register Now!
Fastcase has been upgraded to vLex Fastcase; this webinar is your first look at the all new legal intelligence platform brought to you in partnership with the North Carolina Bar Association. vLex Fastcase offers a plethora of legal research tools and content, plus many new features including a custom news feed, a citator called Cert, and AI-driven features including Case Analysis with Headnotes. Dive into the new platform with T.J. Diggins, your customer success representative with vLex!