Hyperlinking Authorities

Hyperlinking Authorities

Hyperlinking Authorities

 

Overview

The Hyperlinking feature in Benchly allows users to link citations in their document to authoritative sources from Benchly’s comprehensive case law database. Recipients can access the linked cases directly without needing a Benchly license or credentials, ensuring seamless collaboration and verification.

How to Hyperlink Authorities

  1. Confirm Citations:
    • Before hyperlinking authorities, ensure the Confirm Citations process has been completed. This step verifies and finalizes all citations in the document.
  2. Run the Hyperlink Process:
    • Click the Hyperlinks button on the Benchly ribbon to initiate the hyperlinking process.

    • Benchly will automatically hyperlink all confirmed cases in the document to its case law database.

  1. Accessing Linked Authorities:
    • Recipients can follow hyperlinks by holding Ctrl + Click on a linked authority.
    • The linked authority will open in the recipient's default browser, displaying the full case from Benchly’s database without the recipient needing to sign in or possess a license/credentials.

 

  1. Automatic Bookmarks:
    • Hyperlinking also inserts bookmarks into the page numbers of the TOA, pointing to the referenced page numbers for quick navigation.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive Database:
    • Links are sourced from Benchly’s case law database, covering all 50 state and federal jurisdictions.
  • No Credentials Needed:
    • Recipients can access hyperlinks without requiring a Benchly license or login credentials.
  • Embedded Navigation:
    • Bookmarks are added alongside hyperlinks, improving document usability.

Best Practices

  1. Handle Missing Hyperlinks:
    • If an authority is not hyperlinked during the process, you can:
      • Manually hyperlink the authority using Microsoft Word’s hyperlink controls.
      • Use the Upload Brief function to open Brief IQ and click Add Hyperlinks to upload and process the document.
  2. Verify Before Sharing:
    • Ensure all necessary authorities are hyperlinked and functional by testing hyperlinks before sharing the document.

Troubleshooting

  • Missing Links:
    • Reconfirm citations in the document and re-run the hyperlinking process.
    • If an authority is not hyperlinked, it is possible that the document has not yet been added to Benchly’s database.
    • Alternatively, manually hyperlink the missing citation or process it in Brief IQ.
  • Broken Links:
    • Verify the default browser is correctly configured, and the recipient has an active internet connection.