Is your iPhone App really free? What’s the catch?
Is the Fastcase App synced with my Fastcase online account?
Why do I need to register for Fastcase’s free App?
How do I search for a case by the reporter citation?
How do I search for a case using a phrase or keywords?
Which Boolean operators does the Fastcase App recognize?
How do I locate a statute section by citation?
How do I locate a statute section by phrase or keyword?
Can I adjust the number of results displayed per page?
Can I adjust the way my search results are displayed?
Can I adjust the font size used to display caselaw and statutes?
How do I access my recent searches?
How many recent searches does Fastcase save?
Can I save caselaw and/or statutes on Fastcase?
How do I access my saved documents?
How many documents can I save?
Can I print or e-mail a case or statute section with the Fastcase App?
Is your iPhone App really free? What’s the catch?
Yes, there is no charge to download or register the Fastcase App for iPhone.
Registration and Accounts
When I tried to register, I got an error indicating that there was already a user with my e-mail address. What’s going on?
We only allow one password per e-mail address – so if you are already a Fastcase subscriber or if you signed up for a free trial with us in the past, then you already have a password, and you can just use that one. If you have forgotten your password and need to retrieve it, click the Retrieve Password link below and your password will be sent to the e-mail address you used to register with Fastcase.
I already have Fastcase access through my bar association and I login through my bar association’s website. What do I need to do to get the Fastcase App?
Just click the link below to register for the Fastcase App and then download it from the App Store. Then register as a new user, log in, and you’re ready to go.
Is the Fastcase App synced with my Fastcase online account?
No, or at least not yet. For the time being your Fastcase App account and Fastcase online account are separate. So even though you may use the same credentials (username and password) to access both, your search history, saved, cases, etc. from Fastcase App will not be available when you login in to Fastcase online – and vice versa. Look for a desktop sync edition in a later release. If you would like to be notified via e-mail when such a feature is available, please send an e-mail to iphone@fastcase.com.
Why do I need to register for Fastcase’s free App?
Like our desktop application (www.fastcase.com), the Fastcase App for iPhone offers a number of customizable features such as the ability to save decisions and statute sections for later reference, access to a personalized search history. In order to offer these customizable features, we need to register each user with a unique account.
Searching for Cases
How do I search for a case by the reporter citation?
On the homepage, tap the Search Caselaw button and then type the volume number, reporter abbreviation, and first page number of the case into the search box at the top of the screen.
Example: To pull up Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), you would type in: 347 U.S. 483.
How do I search for a case using a phrase or keywords?
On the homepage, tap the Search Caselaw button and then type in your search query.
Example: To search for cases discussing the legal doctrine of breach of contract, you could try the following searches:
breach w/3 contract
or
“breach of contract”
Which Boolean operators does the Fastcase App recognize?
Fastcase recognizes the following Boolean operators:
AND, & Example: copyright AND preemption yields cases with both the words “copyright” and “preemption”
OR Example: landlord OR lessor yields cases with either the word “landlord” or “lessor”
NOT Example: chemical waste NOT management cases with the words “chemical” and “waste” but not “management”
( ) Example: (security OR pledge) AND assignment cases with either “security” or “pledge”, and also the word “assignment”
” “ Example : “felony murder” cases containing the exact phrase “felony murder”
w/3, /3 Example: capital w/3 punishment cases in which the word “capital” appears within 3 words of the word “punishment”
* Example: termin* wildcard – cases containing variations of the stem, such as “terminal”, “terminate”, “terminator”
Searching/Browsing for Statutes
How do I locate a statute section by citation?
Follow these steps to locate a statute by citation:
- On the homepage, tap the Search Statutes button.
- When you get to the Search Statutes screen select the Citation option.
- Tap the orange Search arrow at the top left hand side of the screen to return to the Search Statutes screen.
- Tap the Source button and select the appropriate jurisdiction (or the U.S. Code) from the list. Note that those jurisdictions that appear in gray are not yet integrated in Fastcase.
- Tap the orange Search arrow at the top left hand side of the screen to return to the Search Statutes screen.
- Now type in the statute citation and tap the green Search button.
Example: To pull up 42 U.S.C. § 1983, you would type in: 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983.
How do I locate a statute section by phrase or keyword?
Follow these steps to locate a statute by keyword:
- On the homepage, tap the Search Statutes button.
- When you get to the Search Statutes screen select the Keyword option.
- Tap the orange Search arrow at the top left hand side of the screen to return to the Search Statutes screen.
- Tap the Source button and select the appropriate jurisdiction (or the U.S. Code) from the list. Note that those jurisdictions that appear in gray are not yet integrated in Fastcase.
- Tap the orange Search arrow at the top left hand side of the screen to return to the Search Statutes screen.
- Now type in the keyword or phrase and tap the green Search button.
Example: To pull up statute sections dealing with the appointment of bankruptcy judges, you could type in: appointment w/10 bankruptcy.
How do I browse a statute?
Follow these steps to browse a statute:
- On the homepage, tap the Browse Statutes button.
- When you get to the Browse Statutes screen, select the appropriate jurisdiction (or the U.S. Code) from the list. Note that those jurisdictions that appear in gray are not yet integrated in Fastcase.
- Tap the edition of the code you wish to browse.
- This will bring you to an expandable outline of the statute. To expand any level, tap the title.
Adjusting Settings
Which settings can I adjust?
You can adjust any of the following settings:
- Number of results displayed per page (10, 25, or 50).
- Type of information displayed in the results list (title, title plus first paragraph, or title plus most relevant paragraph).
- Document font size (small, medium or large).
- Number of recent searches or saved documents that can be stored (10, 25, or 50).
- Document Display Style (static scaling or dynamic scaling) and
- Local Storage Capacity (10MB, 50 MB or 250 MB)
Can I adjust the number of results displayed per page?
Yes. You can choose to display 10, 25, or 50 results per page. Just tap the settings icon at the bottom of the screen and then select the appropriate option under Results Per Page. After making your selection, tap the orange Back arrow.
Can I adjust the way my search results are displayed?
Yes. You can choose whether to display just the title of the decision or statute section, the title plus the first paragraph, or the title plus the most relevant paragraph on your results list. Just tap the settings icon at the bottom of the screen and then select the appropriate option under Display in Results List. After making your selection, tap the orange Back arrow.
Can I adjust the font size used to display caselaw and statutes?
You can choose a small, medium or large font size. Just tap the settings icon at the bottom of the screen and then select the appropriate option under Document Font Size. After making your selection, tap the orange Back arrow.
Recent Searches
How do I access my recent searches?
Tap the Recent icon at the bottom of the screen. This will bring you to the Recent Searches window where your recent searches are displayed. Just tap the one you want and the Fastcase App will automatically re-run the search for you.
How many recent searches does Fastcase save?
By default, the Fastcase App will store your last 10 searches. You can expand this to up to 50 results by adjusting your settings.
Saved Searches
Can I save caselaw and/or statutes on Fastcase?
You can save documents, whether they be judicial opinions or statute sections. Just tap the red Save button at the top right-hand side of the screen. And then tap the gray Save button to confirm. This will bring you to the Saved Documents screen where your saved documents are displayed. Just tap the one you want and the Fastcase App will automatically re-run the search for you.
How do I access my saved documents?
From the homepage, tap the Recent icon at the bottom of the screen. This will bring you to the Recent Searches screen where your saved documents are displayed. Just tap the one you want and the Fastcase App will automatically pull up the documents for you.
How many documents can I save?
By default, the Fastcase App will allow you to save 10 documents. You can expand this to up to 50 documents by adjusting your settings.
Printing and E-Mail
Can I print or e-mail a case or statute section with the Fastcase App?
At the moment, you will not be able to print or e-mail a case or statute section using the Fastcase App, but watch for a desktop sync version in a later release. If you would like to be notified via e-mail when such a feature is available, please click below.
In the meantime, you can sign up for a free 24-hour trial of Fastcase online to get access to our full suite of services and features (including printing and e-mail).