Layoffs, Lexis-Nexis, LexisNexis / Lexis-Nexis, Media and Journalism, Technology, Westlaw

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Large Layoffs at LexisNexis

If the estimates are accurate, LexisNexis laid off enough people to staff a sizable law firm.

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Here are representative comments from some of our readers:

  • “[Westlaw discontinued] its printer program at law schools across the country effective June 30. Reasonable people can understand why; the move towards paperless is inevitable, so it makes sense to cut costs on a service that is increasingly falling out of use. What bothers me (and several others) is when companies patronize their customers when they cut such services, in this case by (1) attempting to make students think that a loss of a benefit is itself a benefit; and (2) making a pathetic attempt to characterize what is obviously a cost-cutting measure as something more. In particular, it is disingenuous for Westlaw to lead off its explanatory e-mail by saying that ‘[c]ontinuing to provide Westlaw printers would be a disservice to’ students. Come on, Westlaw. If you’re ditching the free printing, fine, but at least be honest about it.”
  • “I don’t have a problem with them dropping the free printing program, because it hasn’t been used much anymore, and when it is used, it gets abused (printing just absurd amounts of paper for no good reason). But what bugs me is how disingenuous the reasons seem. I have a suspicion that cost-cutting is the primary purpose of ending the free printing program, but Westlaw doesn’t even mention that as a reason. I think it’s great that Westlaw wants students to be ‘practice ready’ and that the company wants to reduce its carbon footprint. But come on, Westlaw. What you really want is to improve your bottom line. Why not at least acknowledge it?”
  • “Westlaw trying to cut costs ‘for our benefit’ — probably going to fall behind the already superior Lexis.”

And here is the Westlaw message to students:

Dear [Redacted],

As some of you have heard, Westlaw will be discontinuing our printer program across all law schools as of June 30th. This decision was made in part to mirror the move away from printing by your future employers and help prepare you for practice.

Luckily, WestlawNext offers you several great options:

SMART FOLDERS: Save both documents and snippets of documents to your folders. You can create unlimited folders within WestlawNext. Plus you can SHARE with other researchers! We also keep you up-to-date with realtime, automatically updated KeyCite flags and other suggested documents.

HIGHLIGHT/NOTE: Add highlights and notes to your documents. They are there until you choose to delete them.

COPY WITH REFERENCE: Highlight the relevant portion of your document and copy into Word with the citation style of your choice – including Bluebook!

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT: You can still send documents to a printer the same way you do with other documents. They will be routed to either your attached or network printers.

MOBILE OFFERINGS: Access your documents wherever you go with our mobile apps – including our award winning iPad app. Everything is synced up automatically.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. We want to provide you with training and highlight best practices that help you during law school and prepare you for practice. Please contact me at [redacted] with any questions.

Sincerely,

[Redacted]
Academic Account Manager
Thomson Reuters

(Disclosure: LexisNexis and Westlaw are Above the Law advertisers.)

Breaking News: LexisNexis Reduces Staff [Law Technology News]
Reed Elsevier Increases Share Buyback After Profit Rises 7% [Bloomberg]
ALM Eliminates 35 Positions in Edit and Production [Folio]

Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: Major Cuts Come To Weil Gotshal
Bar Admission ‘Anniversary’ Plaques? Don’t Be That Guy

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