LibGuides: Legal News & Current Awareness: Docket Alerts

Introduction

As a law student you may want to track ongoing litigation as part of your work in a clinic or as part of research for a law review note or writing assignment. As a practicing lawyer, particularly a litigation attorney, you may need to monitor litigation that involves your clients or potential developments in the area of law your practice. This page will provide an overview of the alerting services available at BC Law School.

Bloomberg Law Dockets

Bloomberg Law Dockets is the BC Library's preferred resource for docket access and alerting. It provides comprehensive coverage of all federal court dockets. State court docket coverage varies by jurisdiction. You can check a listing of docket coverage on Bloomberg Law on the Docket Coverage page in the Bloomberg Litigation Practice Center.

There are two types of alerts you can set up on Bloomberg Law Dockets:

Docket Track : a docket track allows you be notified whenever there is new activity on a specific docket.
Docket Alert : a docket alert will notify you whenever a new complaint is filed meeting your requested criteria, such as a party name, case type, or court.

Setting Up a Docket Track

Run a search for the docket you want to track, using the Advanced Docket Search.
Open the docket and select the Track Docket icon at the top of the docket sheet.
Set the frequency of your notifications.
Click Accept to save the Alert.

Setting Up a Docket Alert

Use the Advanced Docket Search to select your desired criteria and run a search.
From the results screen, click the Create Search Alert link. A new box will appear.
In the box, give your Alert a title. The title will appear in the email notifications.
Select the frequency and format of your notification.
Save your alert by clicking the button at the bottom of the window.

Other Docket Services

CourtLink (via Lexis)
Lexis's specialty dockets platform, covering both federal and state dockets. Fill information into the various fields to find your docket. Some underlying documents may be available, particularly for federal cases; updating and tracking are not available through our academic subscription.
Westlaw Dockets
Choose your court for more information on coverage, and use fields to search. Use update button to update your docket sheet. Available pleadings, motions, briefs, and other filings are listed under the Filings tab but often aren't as extensive as what can be viewed or requested on Bloomberg Law. No tracking available.