Legal Research II (Professor Crane)

What is Fastcase? 

Fastcase is a low-cost alternative to services like Lexis and Westlaw. The Pennsylvania Bar Association, like most state bar associations, offers members free access to Fastcase. 

What information is on Fastcase? 

Fastcase includes both primary law materials and secondary sources. In particular, several excellent Wolters Kluwer treatises are included in our Fastcase subscription. 

Does Fastcase have a citator? 

Yes, but it is not as good as KeyCite or Shepard's. Fastcase's Authority Check looks for case citations, including negative treatment. If Fastcase identifies a Bluebook citation that indicates that a case has been vacated or overturned (or something similar), that case will be flagged by Fastcase as having negative treatment. However, the entire process is automated. There is not a person who reads Case A and decides that it overturns Case B. While the information provided by Fastcase is useful, I would recommend running cases through Shepard's or KeyCite before relying upon them.