LexisNexis UK have launched a couple of new iPhone apps for 2012 under the Lexis Library banner, which go beyond the traditional eBook format.
On the Case
This is basically "case law on the go". You can search for cases by the names of the claimant and/or defendant and browse the keywords, case digest and citations.
The search seems to be relatively flexible rather than needing painfully exact matches (a search for Russell v Northern brought up Russell v Northern Bank Development Corporation Limited and also Northern Assurance Co v Russell).
I didn't try out any particularly esoteric case law, but it seems like a good tool for accessing key case law on the move.
Legal Terms
This is a supercharged legal dictionary. A search for a legal term gives you:
- A brief definition of the term
- Relevant statutes in which it was defined
- Key cases concerning the use of the term
- Key definitions from practitioner texts
- Links to related terms
It seems to have a few gaps (a search for "disclosure" returns definitions relating to disclosure of documents in litigation rather than disclosure against warranties in share purchase agreements), but generally it seems fairly comprehensive.
The mobile dimension
Both apps seem to operate without requiring any Internet connection, which is a real bonus for mobile use where WiFi or reliable 3G may not always be available.
I presume this means that updates will be needed from time to time to keep them current.
The searches do take a couple of seconds to come back, but I guess that there is a lot of material to search through (although the downloads are not particularly large).
What's the cost?
Only existing LexisNexis subscribers need apply, as you need a valid login to use the apps.
The apps themselves are free downloads so if you are a subscriber you may as well give them a test drive.