There’s no denying that smartphones and tablets have revolutionized the way modern professionals live their lives, and the legal system is no exception to this rule. There are plenty of apps that any business person on the go can take advantage of, like Dropbox (for file sharing), Penultimate (which makes your iPad a virtual notebook), the oddly named Circus Ponies Notebook (for wrangling your many notes into an organized and accessible collection), and even Square (to let you swipe credit cards with your iPhone or iPad). And there are even a few that are specific to those operating in the field of law, like Trial Pad (which helps litigators to prepare courtroom presentations). But while most legal professionals can get by without these apps, any lawyer, legal aid, or clerk worth his salt would be hard pressed to deny the benefits of adding Fastcase to his or her app list.

The first thing you should know about this app is that it is free. Although there is a paid version that you can upgrade to, pretty much everyone seems to agree that you don’t need to do so to get the most of this app. So what does it do? In short, it puts the American legal system at your fingertips. Cited as a “law library and legal research” app, the service provided is nothing short of miraculous. While even ten years ago a lawyer might have sent clerks to the nearest law library to look up legal precedents from across the country, this app puts the information within easy reach, anytime and anywhere.

It begins with a library of American cases and statutes that can be searched by name, keyword, and citation. You can either browse or customize your search criteria, and the results will populate with the most relevant cases at the top of the list, as well as a display of the number of cases that fit your particular citation search. On top of that, you can jump directly to the most relevant portion of any case document you open to glean immediate information on highlights and rulings. And you can save and organize favorite cases for later viewing.

Suppose you are in court and you can’t seem to find the printout of a case you would like to use for reference (or that you would like to cite the ruling of). If you save it on your iPad in the Fastcase app you can simply pull it up. Even if you haven’t saved it, you could search and find it in a matter of moments if you know what you’re looking for. In short, it’s like having a virtual law library with a speedy clerk by your side in court. Best of all, the app is updated daily to include new rulings at both the state and federal level so you always have access to the latest legal information.

So whether you’re a criminal, civil, or even Jones Act Lawyer, you shouldn’t hesitate to download this freebie for your iPad, which users seem to overwhelmingly recommend. It will not only come in handy for law students and practicing professionals alike, but it could just save you in a high-pressure courtroom situation. And that’s something everyone in the field of law can get behind.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

Fastcase
Developer: Fastcase

Rated: 4+

Price: free Download

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•