The Transition from Casemaker to Fastcase: What you need to know

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

WEBCAST

Erin Page is Senior Law Librarian and Outreach Manager with Fastcase. Erin is a graduate of the William and Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law, where she received honors in Legal Practice. She also received a BA in Classics from St John's College, Annapolis, and a Master's degree in Legal Library Science from Catholic University. Prior to working with Fastcase, Erin worked for 8 years as an attorney with Convergent in Insurance Mediation and as company trainer/ CLE coordinator.

Samantha Peacoe is a senior trainer at the Fastcase/Casemaker merge. Prior to that, Samantha was training coordinator and assistant manager of Casemaker's customer support team. She has been conducting Casemaker training sessions regularly for over 11 years and is continuing in that role at Fastcase. Samantha has extensive experience in working with customers and helping them find answers to their questions and problems in a quick and efficient manner. Samantha understands the daily challenges an attorney faces of time and resources and she takes pride in providing the members the most viable solutions.

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Casemaker Legal to Fastcase 7 A Transition Guide

This document intends to assist you in transitioning from the legal research platform you know – Casemaker

Legal – to Fastcase 7. This document also has a short videos playlist companion available on the Casemaker

and Fastcase YouTube channels.

Each section contains screenshots from Casemaker, pointing out items you are used to using, as well as

Fastcase, directing you to where these items and features are located.

The Home Page:

The Fastcase homepage has a clean, streamlined look. There is a single (1) search bar for all of your needs

located across the center of the screen, with the (2) jurisdiction selector to the right of the bar followed by the

search button. Below the search bar you will find the large blue (3) browse button to access the various

libraries and materials within Fastcase. Above the search bar in the upper right corner of the screen you will

find the tools icons with the (4) account menu in the farthest right corner position.

Selecting a jurisdiction:

The Jurisdiction & Sources menu provides check box options similar to what you are used to in Casemaker –

jurisdictions on the right, data types on the left. Choose your jurisdiction first, then select your data type. Click

Save & Continue at the top of the menu to make your selection.

Casemaker Legal:

Fastcase:

Setting your default jurisdiction:

In Casemaker you would be able to set your default jurisdiction by clicking the Save To My Settings button on

the jurisdiction menu. In Fastcase you can set your current jurisdiction selection as your default choice by

clicking the Star icon next to the menu title Search Scope Selector at the top of the Jurisdictions & Sources

menu.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Searching:

The Fastcase search bar gives you the opportunity to enter party names, citations, section numbers, keywords,

and even natural language searches in one convenient space.

Casemaker Legal search bar:

Fastcase search bar:

The Fastcase search bar has a predictive feature called “Type Ahead” that predicts the document you may be

trying to locate and provides a direct link to it, allowing for quick jumping to documents you need.

Fastcase predictive search feature examples:

Search Tips:

Fastcase also uses the Boolean search operators that you are familiar with from Casemaker.

Casemaker search tips:

Fastcase Boolean search tips:

Filtering and sorting results:

Fastcase offers similar faceting and sorting options. You can use the (1) sort by option at the top of the list of

results to re-order the results to your preference. On the results page you can scroll the (2) left menu for

options to narrow your results further. Through Fastcase you can narrow your results by court and view a

specific data type. You can also collapse the menus on the left for easier access.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

When you scroll down you can see the additional options for filtering your search results, including filtering by

date range. Fastcase also offers suggested terms that may be relevant to your research, as well as an

opportunity to access briefs, pleadings, motions, and orders through an integration with Docket Alarm.

Casemaker: Fastcase:

Saving a Search:

Both Casemaker and Fastcase offer the opportunity to save your searches. You can save your current search in

Fastcase by using the drop down arrow in the search bar, then clicking Save This Search. You can then access

your saved searches later. In Fastcase you can access your saved searches through the My Libraries icon at the

top right of the screen in the tools menu. Simply click the search from the list to access the results.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Search and Document History:

You can access your search history and document through the My Libraries menu as well. After clicking the

clock icon on any screen you can use the Search History and Document History tabs to review those items.

Simply click on an item from the list to recreate the search or access the document.

Creating an Alert:

While Casemaker Legal does not have this feature, it is certainly worth noting. In Fastcase you can create

search alerts. These alerts will notify you by email anytime a document is added to the system that meets your

search criteria. You can create an alert from any search by clicking the drop down arrow in the search bar,

then clicking Add as Alert. You can make changes to your alerts through the My Libraries icon at the top right

of the screen in the tools menu. Simply select the pencil icon next to the alert you need to make changes to.

You can make changes to your alert name and the

frequency at which you receive your alerts. You can

also choose what happens if there are no new

results for your alert, and any additional recipients

you would like to receive your alerts.

Next to the pencil icon on your library page is a

trash can icon. You can click this icon to delete your

alert.

Citing Cases and Negative Treatment Citator:

Our support team often gets calls asking how to find out if a case is still good law. In Casemaker we direct you

to CaseCheck+. In Fastcase we will be directing you to Authority Check. Both are negative treatment citator

services. Authority Check is run by Fastcase’s Bad Law Bot and provides you with a simple red or black and

white flag in the upper left corner of the case to indicate if you should review the citator further.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

In Casemaker Legal you would click the Negative Treatment tab to review the negative treatment, then the

Citing References tab to review the other citing cases. In Fastcase you can simply click the flag icon to load the

full list of citing cases, with the negative treatment loaded at the top under the red banner and the remaining

cases loaded under the gray banner.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Printing and Downloading:

In Casemaker Legal you can print and download documents through the icons located in the document toolbar

at the upper right corner of the document. Fastcase offers a single download icon for downloading to PDF or

Word, or simply use your browser’s print function to print the document. You can use the keyboard shortcuts

CTRL and P (Command and P), right click the screen and choose print, or select Print from the browser menu.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Emailing Documents:

You can email documents directly from Casemaker by clicking the Email icon from the document tool bar at

the top right corner of the document. You can also email documents directly from Fastcase. Just click the

Share icon from the top right corner of the document and choose Email.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Shareable Links:

You can also share documents with anyone, even those who are not Casemaker or Fastcase users, including

hyperlinking in your documents through our Public Link option. In Casemaker the public link tool is in the

document toolbar at the upper right corner of the document. In Fastcase the public link tool is accessible

through the Share icon in the upper right corner of the document.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Browse:

You have the ability to browse through various document types to review and access the content that is

available. In Casemaker Legal the browse area is available on the homepage, simply select your state then

your data type. In Fastcase you just need to click the blue Browse button, you will be placed on your default

state page (though you can go to other states as well) and can choose your data type from there.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Archived Statutes:

While browsing through content you can retrieve archived versions of documents such as statutes. In

Casemaker this is available by choosing Archive from the browse mode, or by choosing the archive tab within

a document. In Fastcase the archive is always accessible from the outline, either while browsing, searching, or

viewing a document.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Personalizing Your Settings:

You can change the system’s default settings to your own personalized preferences. In Casemaker you would

do this from the My Settings menu under My Account on the homepage. In Fastcase you can access these

settings by clicking on the orange circle in the top right corner, then choosing Settings.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

There are more tools, tips, and tricks to enhance your Fastcase experience. Check out our webinar series and

the full Fastcase user guide to learn more!

Casemaker 4 to Fastcase 7 A Transition Guide

This document intends to assist you in transitioning from the legal research platform you know – Casemaker 4

– to Fastcase 7. This document also has a short videos playlist companion available on the Casemaker and

Fastcase YouTube channels.

Each section contains screenshots from Casemaker, pointing out items you are used to using, as well as

Fastcase, directing you to where these items and features are located.

The Home Page:

The Fastcase homepage has a clean, streamlined look. There is a single (1) search bar for all of your needs

located across the center of the screen, with the (2) jurisdiction selector to the right of the bar followed by the

search button. Below the search bar you will find the large blue (3) browse button to access the various

libraries and materials within Fastcase. Above the search bar in the upper right corner of the screen you will

find the tools icons with the (4) account menu in the farthest right corner position.

Selecting a jurisdiction:

The Jurisdiction & Sources menu provides check box options similar to what you are used to in Casemaker –

jurisdictions on the right, data types on the left. Choose your jurisdiction first, then select your data type. Click

Save & Continue at the top of the menu to make your selection.

Casemaker 4:

Fastcase:

Setting your default jurisdiction:

In Casemaker you would be able to set your default jurisdiction by clicking the Save To My Settings button on

the jurisdiction menu. In Fastcase you can set your current jurisdiction selection as your default choice by

clicking the Star icon next to the menu title Search Scope Selector at the top of the Jurisdictions & Sources

menu.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Searching:

The Fastcase search bar gives you the opportunity to enter party names, citations, section numbers, keywords,

and even natural language searches in one convenient space.

Casemaker 4 search bar:

Fastcase search bar:

The Fastcase search bar has a predictive feature called “Type Ahead” that predicts the document you may be

trying to locate and provides a direct link to it, allowing for quick jumping to documents you need.

Fastcase predictive search feature examples:

Search Tips:

Fastcase also uses the Boolean search operators that you are familiar with from Casemaker.

Casemaker search tips:

Fastcase Boolean search tips:

Filtering and sorting results:

Fastcase offers similar faceting and sorting options. You can use the (1) sort by option at the top of the list of

results to re-order the results to your preference. On the results page you can scroll the (2) left menu for

options to narrow your results further. Through Fastcase you can narrow your results by court and view a

specific data type. You can also collapse the menus on the left for easier access.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

When you click the Search Within Results menu in Casemaker, or scroll down in Fastcase, you can see the

additional options for filtering your search results, including filtering by date range. Fastcase also offers

suggested terms that may be relevant to your research, as well as an opportunity to access briefs, pleadings,

motions, and orders through an integration with Docket Alarm.

Casemaker: Fastcase:

Saving a Search:

Both Casemaker and Fastcase offer the opportunity to save your searches. You can save your current search in

Fastcase by using the drop down arrow in the search bar, then clicking Save This Search. You can then access

your saved searches later. In Fastcase you can access your saved searches through the My Libraries icon at the

top right of the screen in the tools menu. Simply click the search from the list to access the results.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Search and Document History:

You can access your search history and document through the My Libraries menu as well. After clicking the

clock icon on any screen you can use the Search History and Document History tabs to review those items.

Simply click on an item from the list to recreate the search or access the document.

Creating an Alert:

While Casemaker 4 does not have this feature, it is certainly worth noting. In Fastcase you can create search

alerts. These alerts will notify you by email anytime a document is added to the system that meets your search

criteria. You can create an alert from any search by clicking the drop down arrow in the search bar, then

clicking Add as Alert. You can make changes to your alerts through the My Libraries icon at the top right of the

screen in the tools menu. Simply select the pencil icon next to the alert you need to make changes to.

You can make changes to your alert name and the

frequency at which you receive your alerts. You can

also choose what happens if there are no new

results for your alert, and any additional recipients

you would like to receive your alerts.

Next to the pencil icon on your library page is a

trash can icon. You can click this icon to delete your

alert.

Citing Cases and Negative Treatment Citator:

Our support team often gets calls asking how to find out if a case is still good law. In Casemaker we direct you

to CaseCheck+. In Fastcase we will be directing you to Authority Check. Both are negative treatment citator

services. Authority Check is run by Fastcase’s Bad Law Bot and provides you with a simple red or black and

white flag in the upper left corner of the case to indicate if you should review the citator further.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

In Casemaker 4 you would click the Negative Treatment tab to review the negative treatment, then the Citing

References tab to review the other citing cases. In Fastcase you can simply click the flag icon to load the full

list of citing cases, with the negative treatment loaded at the top under the red banner and the remaining

cases loaded under the gray banner.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Printing and Downloading:

In Casemaker 4 you can print and download documents through the icons located in the document toolbar at

the upper right corner of the document. Fastcase offers a single download icon for downloading to PDF or

Word, or simply use your browser’s print function to print the document. You can use the keyboard shortcuts

CTRL and P (Command and P), right click the screen and choose print, or select Print from the browser menu.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Emailing Documents:

You can email documents directly from Casemaker by clicking the Email icon from the document tool bar at

the top right corner of the document. You can also email documents directly from Fastcase. Just click the

Share icon from the top right corner of the document and choose Email.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Shareable Links:

You can also share documents with anyone, even those who are not Casemaker or Fastcase users, including

hyperlinking in your documents through our Public Link option. In Casemaker the public link tool is in the

document toolbar at the upper right corner of the document. In Fastcase the public link tool is accessible

through the Share icon in the upper right corner of the document.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Browse:

You have the ability to browse through various document types to review and access the content that is

available. In Casemaker 4 the browse area is available on the homepage, simply select your state then your

data type. In Fastcase you just need to click the blue Browse button, you will be placed on your default state

page (though you can go to other states as well) and can choose your data type from there.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Archived Statutes:

While browsing through content you can retrieve archived versions of documents such as statutes. In

Casemaker this is available by choosing Archive from the browse mode, or by choosing the archive tab within

a document. In Fastcase the archive is always accessible from the outline, either while browsing, searching, or

viewing a document.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

Personalizing Your Settings:

You can change the system’s default settings to your own personalized preferences. In Casemaker you would

do this from the Settings menu under My Account on the homepage. In Fastcase you can access these settings

by clicking on the orange circle in the top right corner, then choosing Settings.

Casemaker:

Fastcase:

There are more tools, tips, and tricks to enhance your Fastcase experience. Check out our webinar series and

the full Fastcase user guide to learn more!