Spend Your Points

Your window is closing. Time's almost up. You've spent the last three years amassing points by using Westlaw and LexisNexis and now it's time to spend them. I'm told that they disappear on July 31 - do not rely on this statement.  They might even be gone already.

For those non-law students/recent law students, Westlaw and Lexis are like cocaine.  The first hit (or the first three years) are free.  After that, you have to pay through the nose.  To get you hooked, these dealers also give you points for using their stuff.  These points can be redeemed for non-law related items.  But not for cocaine. 

It seems to me that the best deal with Lexis is a gift card.  For 6517 points, you can get a $100 gift card to be used at some 100 places including Best Buy and Marriott.  (Plan that bar trip!)  You can buy other things also.  I never did.  Throughout law school I probably cashed in about $200 in gift cards from Lexis.  That bought a GPS for the car.  The most recent cash out will pay for something else.  Undoubtedly something that will occupy me in unemployment.  Just for comparison - the Cuisinart Grind & Brew coffee maker (Amazon for $104) is 14,300 points. 

Now turning to the big blue beast - Westlaw.  A sibling company of our friend BarBri.  Oh, how I wish Thompson was my elderly, sick, great-grandparent.  What can you get for Westlaw points?  Well, I spent them for the first time this year and got a stockingful of presents.  It was like Chanukah in April.  I got a bicycle, Wii Fit Plus, two dozen golf balls, and a bamboo bowl and salad tongs.  You can also get DVDs (but just get Netflix) and law books, but c'mon -- who wants those?  Get video games and whatnot.

Use your points before your points use you.  Take that last hit of smack before it's too late.