1. 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

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

3. 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)

4. 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

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

6. Abercrombie Business School

7. ABS Interactive Learning Studio 1090

8. More Classes! (see also page 33 of Handbook)

9. 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)

10. University of Sydney Library

11. Subject Guide – LPAB Students Library > Study > Subject Guides > Law > LPAB Students

12. 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

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

14. Legal Institutions Supplementary Materials

15. 1. Types of Legal Material

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Accessing Legal Abbreviations and Finding Cases

25. 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

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

27. Best place to look for secondary sources:
Library catalogue:
Try AGIS for journal articles on a topic

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

29. 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?

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

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

33. 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?

34. 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

35. More Classes! (see also page 33 of Handbook)