Introduction to Legal Research LPAB Legal Institutions Introductory Intensive May 2017 Session Patrick O'Mara – LPAB Librarian University of Sydney Herbert Smith Freehills Law Library

Some Admin Stuff Legal Research material available at: LEC Web Campus > Legal Skills > Library Legal Research

Agenda 11am to 11.55am Introductory Lecture 12pm to 12.55pm Practical Online Session Group 1 (beginners) 1pm to 1.55pm Practical Online Session Group 2 (beginners) 2pm to 2.55pm Practical Online Session Group 3 (intermediate and advanced)

Introductory Lecture: 11am-11.55am - Admin – Library cards etc. - Types of legal material - and what they are good for? - Interpreting a case citation - Where to find legislation - Where to find secondary sources - How to get the best out of the WWW

Practical online sessions: 12noon-3pm Finding Australian & UK cases Full text Additional information about cases Key databases for researching case law

Abercrombie Business School

ABS Interactive Learning Studio 1090

More Classes! (see also page 33 of Handbook)

Library / Student ID Cards You must have a Library Card to borrow books from the Library!! Send application forms to LPAB Lost your application form? Go to Administration section of LEC website to download another one Cards may take 3-4 weeks to arrive (you can borrow from Law Library with photo ID until your card arrives)

University of Sydney Library

Subject Guide – LPAB Students Library > Study > Subject Guides > Law > LPAB Students http://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508327

Finding Resources – Where to start? Books - Library Catalogue Online resources - Law Databases page You need a UniKey to log into online Library resources from off-campus computers. You must be registered on the LEC site before you can get your Unikey login and password. - Unikey problems? Call ICT Help Desk – Phone 9351 6000

Supplementary Materials Via LEC Web Campus or LPAB Students’ Subject Guide

Legal Institutions Supplementary Materials

1. Types of Legal Material

2. Interpreting a case citation Swain v Waverley Municipal Council [2005] HCA 4 (2005) 220 CLR 517

Interpreting a case citation Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HL Cas 61 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 at 682 Ayles v The Queen [2008] HCA 6

Case citations: the parties Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HL Cas 61 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 at 682 Ayles v The Queen [2008] HCA 6

Case citations: year of the judgement Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HL Cas 61 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 at 682 Ayles v The Queen [2008] HCA 6

Case citations: report details Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HL Cas 61 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 at 682 Ayles v The Queen [2008] HCA 6

Case citations: square and round brackets Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681

Case citations: pinpoint citations Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HL Cas 61 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 at 682 Ayles v The Queen [2008] HCA 6

Case citations: medium neutral citations Merritt v Merritt [1970] 2 All ER 760 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HL Cas 61 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 at 682 Ayles v The Queen [2008] HCA 6

Accessing Legal Abbreviations and Finding Cases

Practice in hands-on session this afternoon 4. Where to find cases? Information Type Australian UK Full text Reported (via Law Reports A-Z) Westlaw AU LexisNexisAU CCH Online - ICLR Online - Westlaw International Raw data AustLII BaiLII Information about CaseBase FirstPoint CaseBase (some) Practice in hands-on session this afternoon

5. Where to find legislation? Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) AustLII covers all Australian jurisdictions Go to: http://www.austlii.edu.au/ or: Law Databases > Legislation > AustLII

Best place to look for secondary sources: Library catalogue: http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/ Try AGIS for journal articles on a topic

Making the most of the Web How big is the internet?

Checklist for choosing good websites Authority - is it a reliable source? Objectivity - what motivation might the author have for writing it? Purpose - what is the intended audience/use? Currency - how up to date is it? Accuracy - can you verify the information in another source?

Can you safely Google and Wikipedia your way through life??? Question? Can you safely Google and Wikipedia your way through life???

Probably not. Definitely not if you are a lawyer. Answer Probably not. Definitely not if you are a lawyer.

Checklist for choosing good websites Authority - is it a reliable source? Objectivity - what motivation might the author have for writing it? Purpose - what is the intended audience/use? Currency - how up to date is it? Accuracy - can you verify the information in another source?

Basic Boolean Connectors AND – combining concepts Eg. murder and defences OR – for similar concepts and synonyms Eg. murder OR manslaughter NOT (sometimes AND NOT) – leaving out concepts Eg. Murder NOT provocation

More Classes! (see also page 33 of Handbook)