Prosecutor seeks Westlaw renewal; commissioners ask staff to get competitor quote before final approval

Bill Wilson of the prosecutor’s office briefed the board on renewal of the county’s Westlaw legal-research subscription. He said the office currently pays “just a hair under $4,000 a month” and that the proposed renewal would increase the monthly rate by roughly $275.

Commissioners asked whether comparable products had been reviewed; Wilson said LexisNexis exists but the office has long relied on Westlaw and switching would impose a learning curve on attorneys. Commissioners pressed for a compare-and-contrast and proposed a short delay: the board asked staff to obtain a LexisNexis quote and to ask Westlaw whether the vendor would offer a better price before the board takes a final vote. The prosecutor offered to request the competitor quote and to report back; commissioners agreed to revisit the item at the next meeting. No renewal vote was taken at this meeting.

Why it matters: The county’s legal-research subscription is a recurring operational expense for the prosecutor’s office; a multi-thousand-dollar monthly contract affects department budgets and could benefit from competition or negotiation.

Next steps: Prosecutor’s office staff will request a LexisNexis quote and check with Westlaw about possible negotiation; the board expects a follow-up at or before the next scheduled meeting during the renewal window.