Fastcase
Fastcase is a comprehensive legal research software providing access to a massive library of primary law, including case law, statutes, and regulations to help you build stronger legal arguments.
Trellis
Trellis is a legal research and analytics platform that provides access to state trial court records and judicial data to help you build stronger litigation strategies.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Fastcase | Trellis |
|---|---|---|
| Website | fastcase.com | trellis.law |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $65/month | $99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 24 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1999 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., USA | Los Angeles, USA |
Overview
Fastcase
Fastcase is a modern legal research platform designed to help you find the law you need without the complexity of traditional legacy systems. You can search through an extensive database of federal and state case law, statutes, regulations, and court rules. The platform uses smart sorting technology to surface the most relevant results first, saving you hours of manual filtering through dense legal documents.
You can visualize search results using interactive maps to see how cases relate to one another and identify the most influential precedents quickly. Whether you are a solo practitioner or part of a large firm, the software provides the tools to track your research history and organize your findings into folders. It integrates directly with many state bar associations, often providing you with premium access as a member benefit.
Trellis
Trellis gives you a window into state trial courts, providing access to millions of searchable court documents, dockets, and judicial rulings. Instead of guessing how a judge might rule, you can analyze their past decisions and track how similar cases have performed in specific jurisdictions. This helps you move beyond high-level legal theory into the practical reality of how local courts operate daily.
You can use the platform to research opposing counsel, vet expert witnesses, and monitor new litigation filings in real-time. By surfacing data that was previously trapped in fragmented county systems, Trellis allows you to draft more persuasive motions and make data-driven decisions about whether to settle or head to trial. It is designed primarily for litigators, paralegals, and legal researchers at firms of all sizes.
Overview
Fastcase Features
- Forecite Research Discover important cases that your keyword search might have missed by identifying decisions frequently cited by your search results.
- Interactive Timeline View your search results on a visual map to quickly spot the most seminal cases and see how the law has evolved.
- Authority Check Generate a list of other cases that cite your current document to ensure your legal authority remains valid and persuasive.
- Mobile Sync Access your saved folders and research history on the go with native apps that sync across your desktop and mobile devices.
- Advanced Filtering Narrow your results by jurisdiction, date, or document type using intuitive filters that help you pinpoint specific legal points.
- Cloud Folders Organize your research into custom folders and share them with your colleagues to keep your entire firm on the same page.
Trellis Features
- Smart Search. Search across millions of state trial court documents, including motions, orders, and final judgments, using simple keywords or phrases.
- Judicial Analytics. View detailed biographies and ruling histories for judges to understand their tendencies and how they typically handle specific motions.
- Opposing Counsel Research. Analyze the track record of opposing attorneys to see their experience with similar cases and identify their common legal strategies.
- Legal Alerts. Stay informed with automated notifications whenever new documents are filed in cases or jurisdictions you are currently tracking.
- Expert Witness Vetting. Review past testimony and court appearances of expert witnesses to prepare more effective cross-examinations or verify their credentials.
- Document Downloads. Access and download original court PDFs directly from the platform to use as exhibits or templates for your own filings.
Pricing Comparison
Fastcase Pricing
- Federal and State Case Law
- Statutes and Regulations
- Interactive Timeline
- Authority Check tool
- Mobile app access
- Unlimited printing
- Everything in Appellate, plus:
- Briefs and Pleadings
- Expert Witness profiles
- Advanced data analytics
- Expanded secondary sources
- Priority customer support
Trellis Pricing
- Unlimited searching
- Judicial analytics
- Opposing counsel research
- State trial court coverage
- Email alerts
- Document previews
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Multiple user seats
- Shared research folders
- Centralized billing
- Dedicated account support
- Custom onboarding
Pros & Cons
Fastcase
Pros
- Often free for members of participating state bar associations
- Intuitive visual search tools help identify key cases quickly
- Clean interface is easier to navigate than legacy competitors
- Mobile app allows for effective research while in court
- Excellent customer support and live training webinars
Cons
- Secondary source library is less extensive than Westlaw
- Search syntax can occasionally feel less flexible than competitors
- Loading speeds can vary when handling very large documents
Trellis
Pros
- Access to hard-to-find state trial court documents
- Intuitive search interface similar to modern search engines
- Valuable insights into specific judge ruling patterns
- Saves hours of manual searching on county websites
Cons
- Coverage varies significantly by state and county
- Monthly subscription cost is high for solo practitioners
- Occasional delays in updating the most recent dockets