# How to Stay Updated on Legal Developments

### Summary

Stay current on the legal topics that matter to you by using vLex Library's proactive tools. Use **Alerts** to monitor new documents, **Follow** specific documents for updates, and track broad areas of law with **SmartTopics**.

### Why This is Important

The law is constantly changing. These tools transform vLex Library into a personalized monitoring service, ensuring you never miss a critical new judgment, legislative amendment, or development in your practice area, saving you from manual daily searches.

### How to Stay Updated

#### Use Alerts for New Documents

**Alerts** notify you via email when *new documents* matching your search criteria are added to vLex.

1. Run a search for a topic, party name, or keyword phrase.
2. On the results page, click the **Create alert** (bell) icon.
3. To manage your alerts, click the person icon in the top-right and select **Manage your alerts**.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="English Interface" %}

<figure><img src="/files/XdmEVAETAon8AQ1x9k99" alt=""><figcaption><p>Set up Alerts to get notified by email when new documents match your search.</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Interfaz en Español" %}

<figure><img src="/files/2ra1uoaVd7m2akUTcdA9" alt=""><figcaption><p>Configure alertas para recibir notificaciones por correo electrónico cuando nuevos documentos coincidan con su búsqueda.</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### Follow Documents for Specific Updates

**Following** notifies you of *changes to an existing document*, like a new journal issue or a filing in a docket.

1. Open any document, journal, or docket you want to monitor.
2. Click the **Follow** toggle at the top of the page.
3. Updates will appear in your **Personalised news** tab on the Homepage.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="English Interface" %}

<figure><img src="/files/OgAw3QGcLDlZl9CAT1B7" alt=""><figcaption><p>Follow documents to stay updated on changes or new issues.</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Interfaz en Español" %}

<figure><img src="/files/LepimaSBaaURGGm96nXU" alt=""><figcaption><p>Siga documentos para mantenerse al tanto de cambios o nuevas ediciones.</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### Use SmartTopics for Broad Areas of Law

**SmartTopics** are AI-curated collections of relevant content on a specific legal topic.

1. Follow a SmartTopic by using the toggle on its results page or by selecting it in the **Edit your vLex** menu on your Homepage.
2. New content related to that topic will appear in your **Personalised news**.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="English Interface" %}

<figure><img src="/files/gVSP16ZZK61mSoV3LioQ" alt=""><figcaption><p>Use a combination of Alerts, Following, and SmartTopics to stay fully informed.</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Interfaz en Español" %}

<figure><img src="/files/3YiWSoiIM9MzZkAyX7FF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Control Your Notifications:** In the **Edit your vLex** menu, you can opt-in to a daily or weekly email digest of all your followed content, giving you a single summary of all updates.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

### Best Practices & Pro Tips

* **Alerts vs. Following:** Use **Alerts** for a *search query* (e.g., any new case mentioning "force majeure"). Use **Follow** for a *specific document* (e.g., updates to the "International Arbitration Journal").

### Relevant Video Content

{% embed url="<https://vimeo.com/917899559?share=copy>" %}

{% embed url="<https://vimeo.com/917899734?share=copy>" %}

### Related Articles

* [What is vLex Cloud?](/vlex-library/vlex-library-home/workflows-and-productivity-tools/what-is-vlex-cloud.md)
* [Workflow: How to Incorporate Your Documents into vLex](/vlex-library/vlex-library-home/workflows-and-productivity-tools/workflow-how-to-incorporate-your-documents-into-vlex.md)
* [How to Research Case Law in vLex Library](/vlex-library/vlex-library-home/content-and-document-types/how-to-research-case-law-in-vlex-library.md)

**What's Your Next Step?**

| **New to** vLex Library **?**                                                                                                                                                                                   | **Already a** vLex Library **Customer?**                                                                                                                   |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [See how vLex Library can transform your practice. **Request a personalized demo**.](https://vlex.com/book-a-demo?utm_source=website\&utm_medium=organic\&utm_campaign=web_trial_homepage\&campaign_id=4270741) | [If you still have questions or need help with a specific feature, our team is here to assist. **Contact our Support team**.](https://vlex.com/contact-us) |


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://support.vlex.com/vlex-library/vlex-library-home/workflows-and-productivity-tools/how-to-stay-updated-on-legal-developments.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.