Access to these commercial legal research services is limited. See the Gallagher guide on Access to Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance & WestlawNext.
These sources include sample forms and contracts on a wide variety of subjects. Many of these sources are also available in print in the Law Library.
Bloomberg Law | Lexis Advance | Westlaw | |
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checklists & overviews |
Practical Guidance (includes forms) |
Lexis Practical Guidance Note: Bloomberg and Westlaw include some forms in |
Practical Law (includes forms) (left column of main menu or
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discussion of law, possibly in-depth | Treatises | Treatises | Treatises |
model forms | Practical Guidance (includes forms) | Sample Forms |
Practical Law (includes forms) |
documents that have been used in practice | Transactional Intelligence Center: precedent search | EDGAR Precedent Agreements |
You can find additional sources of forms by browsing Lexis Advance by category, then by forms.
EDGAR is the SEC's database of filings from publicly traded companies. It's available free from the SEC, and is also available (with perhaps easier interfaces) on commercial systems.
Bloomberg Law (in Transactional Precedent Database) and Westlaw (in Sample Agreements) both draw from EDGAR filings—specifically contracts filed as Exhibit 10, Material Contracts. This gives researchers access to a variety of real-world contracts. The set of contracts found in EDGAR is very large, but it is limited:
From the SEC's EDGAR guide:
What types of “material contracts” must an issuer file as Exhibit 10 to a registration statement or periodic report?Items 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-B describe what constitutes a material contract. Examples of material contracts include:
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How to get to EDGAR search:
In search template
Sample searches:
Free website presents EDGAR material contracts and separate collection of clauses. It lacks the bells and whistles of the high-priced databases, but it's free!
How to get to EDGAR search: type edgar in search bar. Choose SEC EDGAR Filings, Combined.
Search tip: in template's Form box, enter exhibit 10.
Sample search:
How to get to EDGAR search: type edgar in the search bar. Choose EDGAR Filings & Disclosures. (Note you could also go to EDGAR Precedent Agreements - Clause Search.)
In search template:
Sample search: