On July 19, 2012, Lexis announced the latest release of its new platform, Lexis Advance, which provides users with significantly expanded access to content through expanded source selection, topics and browse features, functionality that offers easier, more flexible, customized navigation, and more transparently comprehensive and actionable search results. Marty Kilmer, vice president of product platforms at LexisNexis Legal & Professional (part of Reed Elsevier), announced that the applications suite available to users on the company’s new generation platform Lexis Advance will continue to evolve and that additional new features will be forthcoming. The three key components of this roll out focus on creating and expanding search capabilities, reviewing results, and mobile access, communicated through the press release as Search, Browse and Filter; Exclusive Visualization Solutions; and Fully Integrated Anytime, Anywhere Access.In a NewsBreak on Lexis Advance by Carol Ebbinghouse, which was published by InfoToday on Dec. 15, 2011, Ebbinghouse noted at that time that Lexis.com would be replaced by Lexis Advance over the course of upcoming months. Kilmer confirmed that Lexis.com users may still access Lexis.com during the interim period prior to final roll out of Lexis Advance, and that training on the new suite of applications is coordinated through the respective organization’s Lexis representatives.
Kilmer emphasized that the purpose of this and upcoming releases of Lexis Advance are feature rich applications to facilitate effective research through easy-to-use platforms. These enhancements result from listening to customers and working to implement more intuitive search and visual navigation capabilities that respond efficiently and quickly in alignment with user environments—desktop and any mobile device, including apps for the iPhone and iPad.
User requirements for deep research using efficient tools that help them analyze relevant information is a core driver for system development. The analytical capabilities of the back-end natural search algorithm have been significantly developed, adding new levels to integrate content across the system, eliminating barriers to accessing content, and allowing the incorporation of a larger scope of relevant sources into work product.
Lexis Advance permits users to search everything included in the database—you can search as much as you want—without the impediments of having to choose a specific database or file name. This is accomplished using the quick and easy query box prominently displayed at the top of the screen. Results thereafter indicate whether they are primary and secondary, and from within all resource types, the status of the document or case, as well as providing the user with a complete and continuous search history. This component is a version of what may be called a type of user-based knowledge management application, wherein he/she is able to access and connect through one screen the multiple component results of all searches. The result is an actionable overview of all relevant information derived from the research.
A significant, albeit small part of this new release is the statement that “Lexis Advance harnesses state-of-the-art technology, powered by the LexisNexis open-sourced, big data solution High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC Systems), enabling the most rapid delivery of relevant research results.” HPCC Systems was released by Lexis into the open-source environment in 2011. It is an “enterprise-proven Big Data analytics processing platform to manage, sort, link, join, and analyze billions of records for enterprise customers who need to process large volumes of data in critical 24/7 environments. It evolved from the need of LexisNexis to manage its own big data challenges.”
One cannot help but get the message that HPCC is a game changer in the evolution of Lexis Advance. Lexis maintains petabytes of high value, fee-based searchable data unlike the Big Data on the open web searchable through Google or downloadable as in raw data and datasets via Data.gov. Lexis is an organization to watch in the rapidly evolving critical arena of big data storage, management, and search.
Once example is LexisNexis Verdict & Settlement Analyzer, which is now integrated into Lexis Advance. Lexis states it is the “industry’s largest collection of verdicts and settlements,” and allows users to visualize outcomes and establish patterns from prior litigation for analysis and evaluation in current or potential cases.
The following Lexis Advance screen shots can be downloaded:
According to Lexis, the LexisNexis eBooks/Digital Library integration will be accomplished by September 2012, and users will then have seamless access to eBook content from within Lexis Advance, including direct cite links to caselaw.
For further information, Lexis has brief, informative brochures to assist users in specific sectors with learning and training others about the major features of Lexis Advance. From their website you may link to the following:
Overview Brochure - Introducing the legal research tool you’ve been searching for
Corporate Legal Version | Government Version | Law Firm Version
Lexis Advance My Workspace - Legal Research that revolves around you
Corporate Legal Version | Government Version | Law Firm Version
Lexis Advance Legal Issue Trail - The strongest defense and offense is having the right research tool in your corner
Corporate Legal Version | Government Version | Law Firm Version
Users comfortable and conversant with the evolving visualization and taxonomies seamlessly presented as a part of Google search results will require little if any additional training to quickly leverage the new features on Lexis Advance. The release of the changes has been planned for introduction in stages to allow users to achieve a comfort level with the interface and to engage the comprehensive dashboard elements to their immediate advantage.
For those researchers who have been using online legal research databases for several decades, the LexisAdvance platform is transformative, and no doubt meant to capture user groups within the broad spectrum of the market—librarians, attorneys, students, as well as professionals whose perspective and skills have been impact, and in many cases, largely developed through interaction with Google search and its applications.
