Research in the real world – a primer for final year students

Some harsh realities of life after Emalus Many institutions have poorly resourced law libraries Many institutions have poorly resourced law libraries Library staff (where there are any) often without library qualifications and often without a background in law Library staff (where there are any) often without library qualifications and often without a background in law Poor access to the internet Poor access to the internet Limited access to online subscription databases (Lexis, Westlaw etc.) Limited access to online subscription databases (Lexis, Westlaw etc.)

What you need to know before you leave Emalus Basic research skills - hard copy and online Basic research skills - hard copy and online Able to identify the most important research tools Able to identify the most important research tools What sources of assistance may be available to you once you leave Emalus? What sources of assistance may be available to you once you leave Emalus?

Pacific Legal Gateway This website provides access to resources relevant to Pacific Islands legal research This website provides access to resources relevant to Pacific Islands legal research Most of the links are to FREE legal sites Most of the links are to FREE legal sites Government legal professionals also have free access to some subscription databases such as Brookers Online (NZ), The Laws of Australia and Westlaw Government legal professionals also have free access to some subscription databases such as Brookers Online (NZ), The Laws of Australia and Westlaw

Pacific Legal Gateway

Gateway … more links

Gateway … Reference & more

Gateway – News links

Guides to basic research and access to legal resources USE The Emalus Library Law Resources page - USE The Emalus Library Law Resources page Guides to legal research – including all presentations in the Library’s ‘Information Literacy and Legal Research Skills’ lecture series Guides to legal research – including all presentations in the Library’s ‘Information Literacy and Legal Research Skills’ lecture series Freely available research tools – Pacific Law Pathfinder; Pacific Law Journal Index; Recommended Internet Links Freely available research tools – Pacific Law Pathfinder; Pacific Law Journal Index; Recommended Internet Links * Subscription databases (Lexis, Westlaw etc.) and some online documents are only accessible to enrolled USP students * Subscription databases (Lexis, Westlaw etc.) and some online documents are only accessible to enrolled USP students

What you must have in a basic research collection Legal dictionary online – try define: on eg define:”mens rea” Legal dictionary online – try define: on eg define:”mens rea” Index to Legal Abbreviations and Citations online - Index to Legal Abbreviations and Citations online Halsburys Laws of England [encyclopedia] or American Jurisprudence 2ed Halsburys Laws of England [encyclopedia] or American Jurisprudence 2ed Law Reports [UK] and /or All England Law Reports – including indices! Law Reports [UK] and /or All England Law Reports – including indices! Complete set of legislation and law reports for your jurisdiction Complete set of legislation and law reports for your jurisdiction Relevant texts (including ‘old’ editions) Relevant texts (including ‘old’ editions) Reliable internet access Reliable internet access

Additional hard copy resources that are very useful UK Digest UK Digest Abridgement of New Zealand Case Law (for current or former NZ territories ) Abridgement of New Zealand Case Law (for current or former NZ territories ) Laws of New Zealand [encyclopedia] for current or former NZ territories Laws of New Zealand [encyclopedia] for current or former NZ territories English Reports [impt. Decisions before 1865] English Reports [impt. Decisions before 1865] Commonwealth Law Reports [Aust.] Commonwealth Law Reports [Aust.] New Zealand Law Reports New Zealand Law Reports Encyclopedia of Forms and Precedents Encyclopedia of Forms and Precedents

Some recommended texts Search the USP library catalogue for texts on areas of law your practice specialises in Search the USP library catalogue for texts on areas of law your practice specialises in Refer also to texts recommended in the Globalex guide ‘ Introduction to researching South Pacific law’ see Refer also to texts recommended in the Globalex guide ‘ Introduction to researching South Pacific law’ see Seek donations of superseded editions of texts published as part of the Sweet & Maxwell ‘Common Law Library’ see Seek donations of superseded editions of texts published as part of the Sweet & Maxwell ‘Common Law Library’ see

Strategies for building a research collection Make a checklist of resources that you require for your library Make a checklist of resources that you require for your library Don’t accept donations of materials that are of no relevance or use to you Don’t accept donations of materials that are of no relevance or use to you Seek donor funding from NZ or Aust. High Commissions Seek donor funding from NZ or Aust. High Commissions Donated materials - Join the ALLA-anz list – for more info go to anz (but be prepared to pay freight costs) Donated materials - Join the ALLA-anz list – for more info go to anz (but be prepared to pay freight costs) anz anz

The Pacific Twinning Programme Seek donations and assistance from ‘Pacific Twinning Scheme’ of the Australian Law Librarians’ Association Seek donations and assistance from ‘Pacific Twinning Scheme’ of the Australian Law Librarians’ Association Linking libraries in the Pacific with libraries in Australia – forms of assistance include donations of materials, advice, attachments for library staff and also document supply. Linking libraries in the Pacific with libraries in Australia – forms of assistance include donations of materials, advice, attachments for library staff and also document supply. For more information contact the Coordinator – For more information contact the Coordinator –

Useful addresses for purchasing law texts and materials USP Bookshop (Suva) - USP Bookshop (Suva) Legal Library Services (UK) - library.co.uk / Legal Library Services (UK) - library.co.uk / library.co.uk / library.co.uk / James Bennett Ltd (Australia) - James Bennett Ltd (Australia) South Pacific Books (NZ) - South Pacific Books (NZ) Amazon - Amazon Alibris rare and out-of-print books – Alibris rare and out-of-print books –