Westlaw Classic

Thomson Reuters Training & Support

Overview

FAQ

Read through a list of frequently asked questions from our customers and prospects.

General questions

What are the System Requirements for Westlaw Classic?

Supported operating systems

  • Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10
  • Windows Vista®
  • Mac® OS 10.5 or later

Internet browser

  • Internet Explorer 11 or later (Windows only)
  • Mozilla Firefox current version or Extended Support Release version
  • Safari 5.0 or later
  • Chrome current version

Mobile apps

  • iPhone (iOS 9.0 or later, iPhone 4S or later)
  • iPad (iOS 9.0 or later, iPad 2nd generation or later)
  • Android (4.0 or later, Android 4.0 or higher)

Other requirements

  • 1024x768 or higher screen resolution recommended
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or later (some print functionality is lost with older versions)
Why does Westlaw Classic not remember my login details when I log on from a phone or tablet and have ticked remember my username & password?

If you have your phone or tablet set to Private Browsing the cookies that are used to save your username & password will not be saved or honoured. Click here to see how to turn off Private Browsing.

Why does Westlaw Classic make me logon again when I already have a live session on my phone or tablet?

If you have your phone or tablet set to Private Browsing the live session will not be saved or honoured. Click here to see how to turn off Private Browsing.

Where can I find Westlaw International or WestlawNext?

Westlaw International was decommissioned and replaced by WestlawNext in 2012.

WestlawNext was renamed Thomson Reuters Westlaw in January 2016.

Thomson Reuters Westlaw was renamed Westlaw Classic in October 2020.

You can still access Westlaw from all of the following web addresses:

What is the timeout period for Westlaw Classic?

The inactivity time out period is 120 minutes. Before timing out a message will be displayed.

When I create an alert the “But Not” field is greyed out. Any idea what I am doing wrong?

The “Additional Terms” search box only becomes active when a Smart Term is selected.

Can we automate contact group creation or upload contact groups using excel?

No. Groups need to be created manually in Westlaw.

What is OPML in Alert Settings?

OPML is a file format used by feed aggregates.

How long is the alert history available for?

90 days.

Is there a remove duplicates option like in Westlaw Watch when searching or creating alerts?

Westlaw will automatically de-dupe when searching or alerting on multibases. If individual news sources are selected and searched, results will not be de-duped from the individual sources.

Is there a remove duplicates in Newsletters?

No, alerts can not be de-duped against each other.

How can resources be found by database name?

There are 3 different methods for locating a database.

  • Global Search - Go to homepage and type in the database name or identifier e.g. AMJUR or American Jurisprudence.
  • My Content - Go to homepage click the Tools tab then select My Content. Search or browse the list.
  • Browse - Go to homepage and select a tab or link. Continue browsing the pages to find a database.
Is there a limit on the number of words you can enter into an advanced search field?

Yes, the maximum number of characters is 600.

How do we create integrated solutions like deep links into databases, documents, and search box's in intranets?

Select the Tools tab from the homepage and click Portal Manager. You can then select from Find & Print, Search, Content Links or Party Name. Note: You must have logged on with a Username and Password to access the Portal manager. If you are an IP user click here for a list of common deep links or contact your administrator.

Do scope icons still exist in Westlaw Classic?

Yes, they are available from various jurisdiction and content pages.

How can I see a list of the content that we subscribe to?

Click on Tools from the homepage then select "My Content" for a list of content your organisation subscribes to.

Can we pre-load Client ID’s for users to select from in a drop down instead of each user having to enter them in individually?

Client ID’s cannot be pre-loaded, but any client ID entered is saved and can be selected using a drop-down when singing on or when creating an alert. An ID only needs to be entered once. Admins will see all client ID’s used across the firm. 

You could log in and from the client ID drop down continue to change client Ids until you’ve added them all at once, then they would be stored for future use. 

Can you share a Custom Page with colleagues?

Yes. Use the “Manage Page” drop down menu on the custom page to "email copy"  to another user. Note: you and the recipient must have OnePass access.

Are there any limits on the number of search results and documents that can be delivered?

Yes.

10,000 is the maximum number of results that can be displayed. You can Filter or Refine your search to reduce the results.

1000 is the number of results that can be downloaded at a time. 

500 is the number of full documents that can be downloaded from a results list at a time.

What is the maximum number of citations you can enter into the global search box?

The character limit is 600 characters which is likely to equate to around 20 citations. You can use the find and print function to retrieve up to 100 citations.

Product questions

Can you enter multiple sources into the NewsRoom advanced search form?

Yes, you can enter multiple sources with AND or OR operators.

Where can I find currency and coverage information for NewsRoom with Reuters content?

NewsRoom currency and coverage information can be found in two ways:

  1. By browsing to the source in Westlaw Classic and clicking on the scope I icon.
  2. By searching the NewsRoom Publication Directory.

Click here to link to the NewsRoom Publication Directory.