Fastcase Launches Free Legal Research App for iPad
Universal App Doubles as Upgrade for iPhone and Completely New iPad App
Washington, D.C. (July 7, 2010) — Legal publisher Fastcase debuted its free mobile legal research app for the iPad yesterday in a preview for industry professionals. Like Fastcase’s award-winning iPhone app, the new iPad edition is a free download, and gives free access to the company’s nationwide law libraries of state and federal case law and statutes.
And like the iPhone app, Fastcase’s iPad app is the first of its kind for legal research on the go. The app will be available to the general public in the iTunes App Store in a few days.
The new iPad app is similar to the popular Fastcase iPhone app, but it also provides users with additional features made possible by the larger screen. Among other new features, the iPad includes new results lists on a side panel in the document screen, as well as a new navigation environment for browsing statutes.
Fastcase, the leader in mobile legal research, continues to provide smarter tools for legal researchers. Fastcase for the iPad is a “universal” app, which doubles as an update for the iPhone app and an all-new app for iPad, all in the same application. When opened on the iPhone, it will be an updated version of the iPhone app. When opened on the iPad, the application detects the different hardware and opens the iPad version of the software.
Fastcase’s iPhone app was the first legal research app for iPhone, and was recently awarded the prestigious 2010 New Product of the Year Award by the American Association of Law Libraries. In its launch month, Fastcase was featured on the Apple App Store home page, and for several weeks was a more popular download in the App Store than Microsoft’s search engine Bing.
“The future of legal research is mobile devices – ubiquitous computing and access anywhere.” said Ed Walters, CEO of Fastcase. “The mobile platform is what’s next for legal research, and Fastcase is going to be a major player in this emerging market.”
Legal technology experts who recently previewed the iPad app are praising Fastcase for the latest mobile addition. “Legal research on the iPad could be a game-changer and Fastcase has set the bar exceptionally high,” said Joshua Auriemma, founder of LegalGeekery.com. “In a time where many legal companies are slow to adopt new technology, it would have been completely understandable for Fastcase to have rushed this app out the door in order to be the first legal research app for the iPad. Impressively, this app doesn’t feel rushed at all. No corners have been cut, no major features seem to be missing, and still, they’re the first on the market. Kudos for that.”
Attorney Jeff Richardson of iPhoneJD added in his review “I don’t own an iPad yet, but apps like this push me closer towards getting one.”
Fastcase for the iPad will be available in the iTunes store in early July (search for Fastcase), or you can find more information at www.fastcase.com/iPad.
About Fastcase
As the smarter alternative for legal research, Fastcase democratizes the law, making it more accessible to more people. Using patented software that combines the best of legal research with the best of Web search, Fastcase helps busy users sift through the clutter, ranking the best cases first and enabling the re-sorting of results to find answers fast. Founded in 1999, Fastcase.com has more than 380,000 subscribers from around the world, and the company recently launched the Fastcase Public Library of Law (www.plol.org), the world’s largest free legal research site for consumers and lawyers alike. Fastcase is an American company based in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.fastcase.com, or Fastcase’s legal research blog at www.fastcase.blogspot.com.
AALL Awards Fastcase its 2010 New Product of the Year Award
American Association of Law Libraries Recognizes iPhone App Best New Product of 2009-2010
Washington, D.C. (July 1, 2010) — The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) has awarded its 2010 New Product of the Year Award to legal publisher Fastcase, Inc. for the company’s free legal research application for the iPhone. The Association will award the prize in Denver during the organization’s 103rd Annual Meeting this month.
Over the past sixteen years, only nine companies have been selected to receive the prestigious New Product of the Year Award. The award recognizes new legal information products that enhance or improve existing law library services or procedures. It honors the development of innovative products that improve access to legal information, the legal research process, or procedures for technical processing of library materials.
Fastcase was the first company to offer a legal research app, and its app remains the largest searchable law library available in the mobile market. Fastcase’s iPhone app has received wide acclaim since its debut in February. Law Technology News columnist Bob Ambrogi was among the first to review the app earlier this year. “For legal research on the go, at any time, and for zero cost, this is a must-have for any lawyer with an iPhone,” said Ambrogi. He noted that the Fastcase app is “the largest free law library available on the iPhone” and it “is a surprisingly robust legal research tool that will allow its users to find cases and statutes wherever they are, whenever they want, all for free.”
According to Jeff Richardson of iPhoneJD, “Every single lawyer using an iPhone should download the Fastcase app. Moreover, the availability of the free Fastcase app is a compelling reason for any attorney not using an iPhone to purchase one today. This app is that useful.”
“The future of legal research is mobile, and we plan to be a major player in the mobile market,” said Ed Walters, Fastcase CEO. “The iPhone app was popular way beyond our expectations. It’s exactly the kind of product we like to build: smart, useful, and disruptive.”
“This is such an honor,” said Fastcase President Phil Rosenthal. “The law library community has always been a huge supporter of Fastcase, but to be recognized like this – especially in a year with so many great new products — is truly gratifying.”
The formal award presentation will occur on Tuesday, July 13 at 6 p.m. during AALL’s Closing Reception.
The company is releasing its iPad application during the Annual Meeting, and has plans for Android and Blackberry editions as well. Fastcase for the iPhone is available in the iTunes store. For more information or to download the free app, visit www.fastcase.com/iPhone.
About the American Association of Law Libraries: The American Association of Law Libraries was founded in 1906 to promote and enhance the value of law libraries to the legal and public communities, to foster the profession of law librarianship, and to provide leadership in the field of legal information. Today, with over 5,000 members, the Association represents law librarians and related professionals who are affiliated with a wide range of institutions: law firms; law schools; corporate legal departments; courts; and local, state and federal government agencies. For more information, visit www.aallnet.org.
About Fastcase: As the smarter alternative for legal research, Fastcase democratizes the law, making it more accessible to more people. Using patented software that combines the best of legal research with the best of Web search, Fastcase helps busy users sift through the clutter, ranking the best cases first and enabling the re-sorting of results to find answers fast. Founded in 1999, Fastcase.com has more than 400,000 subscribers from around the world. Fastcase is an American company based in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.fastcase.com, or Fastcase’s legal research blog at www.fastcase.blogspot.com.