[blindlaw] Westlaw Edge

Thu Jul 12 18:14:15 UTC 2018

Hi everyone,

I have used the classic Westlaw and the newer WestlawNext that came out in around 2014. I've found Westlaw to deliver a fairly good experience. There hasn't been anything I can't do using the site (unlike CCH Tax and Securities, none of whose links worked). My irritation, which we should address if we ever do make contact with the accessibility personnel, is more in the line of usability. There is just so much going on in every page you visit, and nothing to break it up like headings or regions, that the experience is overwhelming. When you read a case, it isn't even marked up with proper heading styles. In fact, if there are tables, they usually read out as one cell followed by another, as though they were separate paragraphs. Most case views start off with a lengthy list of cases cited, and I wish that could be hidden by default. My final gripe is in the endless parallel citations. I wish I could set it to display only a neutral citation, if one exists, and omit all of its database-specific citations as well as citations to weekly case digests. Again, these aren't really accessibility concerns, but they impact usability.

Graham Hardy | Lawyer  604-608-2043 | ghardy at harrisbrun.com 

HARRIS & BRUN LAW CORPORATION - Barristers & Solicitors
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-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tai Tomasi via BlindLaw
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2018 11:02 AM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Cc: Tai Tomasi
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Westlaw Edge

Thanks, Nikki. Can yu give us contact information for the other reference attorney familiar with JAWS? I will save Stephanie's info.

Ms. Tai Tomasi, J.D.
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-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Singh, Nandini via BlindLaw
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2018 12:53 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Singh, Nandini <NSingh at cov.com>
Subject: [blindlaw] Westlaw Edge

Tai and Others,

I reached out to Stephanie at Westlaw. She is one of two reference attorneys who knows how well the platform performs with JAWS. See her message below. If you find something that does not work as well, let her know.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rust-Small, Stephanie (Legal) [mailto:stephanie.rust-small at thomsonreuters.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2018 1:48 PM
To: Singh, Nandini
Subject: RE: Westlaw Edge

Hi Nikki,

Accessibility considerations were included in the development of Westlaw Edge and in general most of it works well with a screen reader. We are continuing to work with developers to identify potential issues and work on resolving whatever issues we may find.

Warm Regards,

Stephanie 

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Stephanie Rust-Small
Reference Attorney

Thomson Reuters
the answer company

Phone: 1-800-328-4880

stephanie.rust-small at tr.com

tr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Singh, Nandini [mailto:NSingh at cov.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2018 9:25 AM
To: Rust-Small, Stephanie (Legal) <stephanie.rust-small at thomsonreuters.com>
Subject: Westlaw Edge

Stephanie,

I hope you are doing well. I recently heard about Westlaw Edge. Do you know how well this interacts with JAWS?

Regards,
Nikki

Nandini Singh

Covington & Burling LLP
One CityCenter, 850 Tenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-4956
T +1 202 662 5113 | nsingh at cov.com
www.cov.com

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