Mobile legal research is finally maturing thanks to a rapidly expanding selection of high-quality iOS apps.
John Edwards, Law Technology News
December 31, 2014 | 2 Comments
Editor's note: This story, originally published on March 28, has been republished this holiday season to list LTN magazine's most read stories in 2014. We wish you a safe and memorable holiday season and a happy new year.
If you don't view iOS as a serious platform for legal research, you obviously haven't browsed through the iTunes App Store recently. Once you do, you'll discover a rapidly expanding library of legal research apps covering an impressive range of territory usefully and deeply.
While it's not yet time to start chucking conventional law books into the trash, it would be a mistake not to take advantage of the many high-quality legal research apps now available to
Apple’s iPad and iPhone users at prices ranging from affordable to free.
Among the growing number of iOS legal research apps, here are a dozen to review:

Black's Law Dictionary (pictured left, click image to enlarge): Although a relatively expensive app, the iOS edition of Black's Law Dictionary is certainly a lot easier to carry than the traditional printed version. The iOS version helps users find precise legal definitions anytime, anywhere and without straining any arm or back muscles. The ninth edition, which the iOS app is based on, is generally regarded as one of the definitive legal reference resources. Price:
$54.99.
Cite-Checker (pictured left, click image to enlarge): A handy, "on-the-go" quick reference guide to formatting citations for legal memoranda and briefs and other documents.
Cite-Checker offers user-friendly and concise explanations of Bluebook citation forms. The app also shows the application of various rules with easy-to-understand examples. Price: $2.99.
Court Directory (pictured left, click image to enlarge): An app that presents detailed contact information for the nation’s judges and clerks, Court Directory also provides extensive details on the structure of federal, state and territorial courts. Price: $9.99.
Courtroom Objections (pictured left, click image to enlarge): A quick guide to making and meeting objections in court, Courtroom Objections provides a list of common objections and related responses. Users can conveniently review material by objection category (form of question or admissibility). Price: $2.99.
Fastcase (pictured left, click image to enlarge): A reference guide that contains cases and statutes from all 50 states and the federal government, Fastcase users can search by citation, keyword (in Boolean or natural language) or browse entire statute collections. Price: Free.
HeinOnline (pictured left, click image to enlarge): Providing access to the world’s largest image-based (PDF format) legal research database, HeinOnline lets iPhone and iPad users access content by citation, browse by volume, navigate a volume via a table of contents, and use full advanced-searching techniques. Price: Free.
LawBox (pictured left, click image to enlarge): A combination legal reference and search utility, LawBox promises the fastest full-text legal search engine available on any mobile device.
A built-in library allows users to download state statutes (from Arizona, California, Delaware,

Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas) and federal codes. LawBox's developer promises to continue adding states. Price: Free.
LawStack (pictured left, click image to enlarge): Billed as "a legal library in your pocket" (an experience many iPad users might find uncomfortable), LawStack includes the text of the U.S. Constitution, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure,
Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure. Additional federal and state documents are available for downloading within the app. Price: Free (additional documents range in price from $1.99 to $9.99).
Nolo's Plain English Law Dictionary (pictured left, click image to enlarge): If you find
Black's Law Dictionary uncomfortably dense and/or cryptic, give Nolo's Plain English Law
Dictionary a try. The app includes hundreds of legal terms, all described in plain language. The app also provides explanations of many noteworthy cases and statutes, such as New York Times v. Sullivan and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. An A-to-Z slider on the right side of the display helps users quickly jump to a specific term. This app is particularly useful when one needs to quickly explain a complex legal term or concept to a nonlawyer. Price: Free.
OpenRegs (pictured left, click image to enlarge): With OpenRegs, iOS device users can take the Federal Register with them wherever they go. The app lets users conveniently view recently issued notices of proposed and final rulemaking. Listings can be browsed by agency or comment periods (closing soon or recently opened). The app also offers the ability to mark individual regulations with a star for easy future reference. Regulations can also be emailed to colleagues and others. Price: Free.
RuleBook (pictured left, click image to enlarge): Designed to provide a fast and convenient way of viewing federal and state court rules, RuleBook lets users take downloaded information anywhere they go and to quickly access the material without the need for an Internet connection. Specific court rules can be downloaded as in-app purchases. The app's content is updated whenever rules are amended while still preserving its user's notes and highlights. The
Bluebook is available as a $39.99 in-app purchase .
Price: Free (additional documents range in price from $1.99 to $24.99).
TrialEvidence (pictured left, click image to enlarge): A reference guide for reviewing the courtroom evidentiary foundations used to admit items into evidence. The app covers a wide range of evidence areas, including handwriting, signatures, photos, audio recordings, and video content. Price: $1.99.

John Edwards is a freelance writer based in Arizona. E-mail: jedwards@gojohnedwards.com.
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