Legal Research using the Law Library’s Online Resources Di Thompson, Law Librarian Emalus Campus...

Legal Research using the Law Library’s Online Resources

Di Thompson, Law Librarian

Emalus Campus Library

Access Online Resources from the Emalus Campus Library site

Select Law Resources (via USPNet or remote). Access online databases and

online help guides here.

What to Use

For background information on a topic begin with a legal

encyclopedia:Halsburys Laws of EnglandHalsburys Laws of Australia

Laws of New Zealand

What to Use

For Cases on a particular Topic use:

WestLawLexis

CaseBase

What to UseFor articles on a particular topic

use:Westlaw

LexisPacific Law Journal Index

Pacific Journals IndexHein Online

Wilson’s Index to Legal Periodicals

WestLawGeneral search using terms and connectors or natural language:

1.Enter search terms in the search box

2.Select date range (if required)3.Select databases

WestLawTerms and connectors:

– Phrases – use “quotation marks” e.g. “duty of care”

– Default search is “or” search e.g. child juvenile minor (finds any of the words)

– Use & for “and” searches e.g. negligence & lawyers (finds all of the words)

– /s finds words in the same sentence e.g. manslaughter /s “reckless indifference”

– /p finds words in the same paragraph

WestLawTerms and connectors:• /n finds a word(s) within a certain number

of words of another (where n is the number of words) e.g. employment w/3 contract

• use % for “not” searches e.g. assault not indecent

• Wildcard * e.g. wom*n (finds woman or women)

• Truncation ! e.g. child! (finds child, children,

childhood)

Example

Results

Search by case title: find case Donoghue v Stevenson in All UK reports database

Results

Select version required e.g. [1932] A.C. 562Click on the History button to find a case summary,

alternative citations, articles, cases cited, history, leg cited:

Lexis

First select source (use recently used sources as shortcut if possible) then click on GO

Lexis

Enter search terms and restrict by date or document segment

Terms and connectors: • and (finds all of the words - e.g. negligence and

lawyers) • or (finds any of the words - e.g. child or juvenile

or minor)• and not (excludes a word - e.g. assault and not

indecent)

Lexis

Terms and connectors (cont.): • w/s finds words in the same sentence e.g.

manslaughter /s “reckless indifference”• w/p finds words in the same paragraph• Wildcard * e.g. wom*n (finds woman or women)• Truncation

! e.g. child! (finds child, children, childhood)

Example

Results

To find a particular case first select a database then:

Halsburys Laws of England/Australia

Halsburys : results

Example of ‘references to cases’ search:

Results

Browsing Halsburys

From Home page click on red commentary tab, select the source you wish to browse eg. Halsburys Laws of England, then click on the Browse tab

Browsing Halsburys

Open up chapters by clicking on the + signs until the topic required:

Wilson’s Index to Legal Periodicals

Wilson’s Index to Legal Periodicals: Results

Hein Online

Hein Online: results

Hein Online: full text

Research Tips and Tricks

•Be clear about what is required – do you need a specific case or piece of legislation, background material or articles on a topic? Which jurisdictions should you search?

•Determine the best sources to use

•REMEMBER: Computers cannot search for concepts – they only search for words

•Use synonyms /alternative terms/variant spellings

•All search engines are different – always check the search tips or instructions for searching

Research Tips and Tricks

•Use terminology common to the subject or jurisdiction

•Consult the online research guides for more comprehensive help on using the various online resources

•Please don’t hesitate to contact the Law Librarian for assistance or more comprehensive training (thompson_d@vanuatu.usp.ac.fj)