Legal research is an essential skill and involves the identification and location of legal material, including law reports and academic journal articles. We recommend you use the databases listed on this page in addition to our general databases and eJournals which are highlighted in the Journal Articles section of this guide. These are not exhaustive lists and access to some resources may require a Newcastle University Campus ID and password. If you are unsure of the correct abbreviation for legal journals or law reports, please use the Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations below.
Legal Databases and Resources
-
Cardiff Index to Legal AbbreviationsUse the Cardiff Index to check you are using the correct legal abbreviation for journals and case reports from the British Isles, the Commonwealth and the United States, including those covering international and comparative law.
-
British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII)The British and Irish Legal Information Institute provides access to primary and secondary legal materials such as British and Irish case law and legislation, European Union case law, Law Commission Reports and other international resources.
-
HeinOnlineHeinOnline provides the largest collection of image-based law and law-related materials. It provides access to the English Reports, the reprinted collection of the Nominate Reports, dating from 1220-1867. Their Law Journal Library contains over 1,200 law journals.
-
ICLREstablished in 1865, the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales (ICLR) is the authorised publisher of the official and most authoritative law reports in England and Wales. The Law Reports are available in the Law Library; Westlaw UK and LexisLibrary currently offer access to the official series. The Law Reports are the authoritative source for published reports of cases that constitute binding precedents in English Law.
-
Lexis@LibraryLexis@Library is primarily a legal database providing full-text access to case law, journal articles, legislation and commentary from a range of courts and jurisdictions, with unique access to Halsbury’s Laws of England and the All England Law Reports. Content includes the UK, Europe and the USA with additional content covering the Commonwealth (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand).
Lexis@Library News provides access to UK national and regional newspapers, from the 1990s to today (click on News for full text access to all UK publications). Please note that news articles only include text and do not have images. -
Westlaw UK (including Westlaw Edge UK)Westlaw UK is one of the leading online legal information services combining up-to-date legal information from the UK, Europe and the United States. It covers cases, legislation, European Union and journals. We also have access to Thomson Reuters Westlaw (Westlaw International), which covers international materials and an extensive collection of law journals.
-
Westlaw (Westlaw International)Thomson Reuters Westlaw (Westlaw International) gives access to legal materials from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong and the United States as well as international/worldwide materials and an extensive collection of law journals.
You will find links to other key databases and e-journal collections covering your subject area, e.g. Scopus and ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection, through the Journal Articles tab.
All databases should have a help section with tips and tricks on how to get the best out of using them, so do make yourself familiar with them. You also may find the following helpful:
-
BAILII SupportHelp on how to use BAILII
Want to know what BAILII is, where it came from and how to use it? Read these posts by Paul McGrath:
http://www.transparencyproject.org.uk/all-about-bailii-part-one-what-it-is-and-where-it-came-from/ and
http://www.transparencyproject.org.uk/all-about-bailii-part-two-how-to-use-it/
Using BAILII? You may want to read this blog post for insight into the open access/restrictions around the data contained within:
https://inforrm.org/2019/10/04/bailii-and-the-re-use-of-judgments-as-public-legal-information-paul-magrath/
-
EUR-Lex E-Learning ModuleThe EUR-Lex E-Learning Module is a free resource which you can access at any time with no need to log-in. Learn how to search for the Official Journal, preparatory Acts, and EU case law.
-
HeinOnline SupportA comprehensive user's guide (PDF)
-
HeinOnline LibGuidesHeinOnline LibGuides and the database A-Z list are a great way to learn more about database content and interface functionality. These guides cover the Law Journal Library and World Constitutions Illustrated.
Using HeinOnline? You may want to read this blog post for useful tips on working from home and using the resource effectively:
https://home.heinonline.org/blog/2020/06/tools-for-researching-remotely-in-heinonline/
-
LexisLibrary Quick StartKey features, guides and videos to help you make the most of LexisLibrary.
-
LexisLibrary SupportA list of help topics for using LexisLibrary.
-
LexisLibrary Legal Research CertificationLexisLibrary have launched a new and improved certification site. A hub of LexisLibrary guides, videos and infographics is available, alongside the opportunity to become LexisLibrary certified at Foundation or Advanced level.
-
Thomson Reuters Westlaw (Westlaw International) SupportTips and Tricks to get you started on Thomson Reuters Westlaw (Westlaw International).
-
Thomson Reuters Westlaw (Westlaw International) SupportTraining and Support direct from Thomas Reuters, including user guides, video tutorials, and guidance on customising Westlaw International.
-
Westlaw UK Support (YouTube)Training videos of how to use Westlaw UK.
-
Westlaw UK CertificationWestlaw UK Certification Training gives you an interactive walk-through of Westlaw UK with the option to then test your skills and become Certified which can be listed on your CV.
You may also find database and resource hints, tips and troubleshooting ideas within our Library Help FAQs.
Other UK, European and International Resources
-
UK Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance affecting the whole population.
-
Court of AppealThe Court of Appeal is the highest court within the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and deals only with appeals from other courts or tribunals.
-
High Court of England and WalesThe High Court of England and Wales is the third highest court in the UK and deals with civil cases and appeals of decisions made in lower courts. It consists of three divisions; the Queen's Bench Division, the Chancery Division and the Family Division. Its name is abbreviated to EWHC.
-
legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk includes the original (as enacted) and revised editions of the primary legislation of the United Kingdom. These statutes are published by and under the authority of the Controller of HMSO (in his capacity as The Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament, and Government Printer of Northern Ireland) and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. It includes the full-text of Acts of Parliament from 1267 to date.
-
Parliamentary Archives | Records OnlineHistorical documents made available to support personal research including Public Acts, Private Acts and Parliamentary Papers.
-
Law CommissionThe Law Commission is the statutory independent body created by the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where it is needed.
-
Equality and Human Rights CommissionPromoting and upholding equality and human rights ideals and laws across England, Scotland and Wales. This is Great Britain's national equality body operating independently to safeguard and enforce the laws the protect people's rights to fairness, dignity and respect.
-
AccessToLaw: Legal resources selected & annotated by Inner Temple LibraryAccessToLaw is a gateway site, providing annotated links to selected UK, Commonwealth and worldwide free legal web sites. Over 1,300 sites are currently included.
-
EUR-Lex (Access to European Union law)EUR-Lex is your online gateway to EU Law. It provides the official and most comprehensive access to EU legal documents. It is available in all of the EU’s 24 official languages and is updated daily.
-
EUROPA - European UnionEuropa.eu is the official website of the European Union. It is a good starting point if you are looking for information and services provided by the EU but you don't know your way around our sites.
-
European Union Legal Database EUR-LexEUR-Lex provides single entry point to the complete collections of EU legal texts, including CELEX, PreLex, Oeil, and other sources. It has separate search pages for the Official Journal, Treaties, Legislation, Legislation in Preparation, Case-Law, and Documents of Public Interest.
-
European Court of Human RightsInformation from the European Court of Human Rights. It includes access to the HUDOC database, which provides access to the case-law of the of the ECHR: Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments, decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-Law Information Note, the European Commission of Human Rights (decisions and reports) and the Committee of Ministers (resolutions).
-
HUDOCHUDOC provides access to the case law of the Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions of the European Court. For help with the database, click on 'Help' in top right hand corner of the website.
-
EPRS (European Parliamentary Research Service)The European Parliament's in-house research service and think tank.
-
AccessToLaw: Legal resources selected & annotated by Inner Temple LibraryAccessToLaw is a gateway site, providing annotated links to selected UK, Commonwealth and worldwide free legal web sites. Over 1,300 sites are currently included.
-
European Sources OnlineESO is a free-access database and information service, which aims to support research and understanding on any matter relating to Europe.
-
United Nations DocumentsAvailable documents include the UN Journal, as well as documents from the General Assembly, Security Council, Human Rights Council, Economic and Social Council and others.
-
Justia U.S. Supreme CourtThe United States Supreme Court (“USSC”) is the highest court in the United States. Opinions rendered by this court are considered the law of the land and the Court is the final arbiter on issues regarding the United States Constitution. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices who are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. Decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court are binding on all federal and state courts.
-
AccessToLaw: Legal resources selected & annotated by Inner Temple LibraryAccessToLaw is a gateway site, providing annotated links to selected UK, Commonwealth and worldwide free legal web sites. Over 1,300 sites are currently included.
-
Australian Legal Information Institute (AustLII)The Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) provides free internet access to Australasian legal materials.
-
Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII)CanLII is a non-profit organization managed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. CanLII's goal is to make Canadian law accessible for free on the Internet.
-
Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommonLII)The Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommonLII) aims to provide one central Internet location from which it is possible to search - for free - core legal information from all Commonwealth countries.
-
AccessToLaw: Legal resources selected & annotated by Inner Temple LibraryAccessToLaw is a gateway site, providing annotated links to selected UK, Commonwealth and worldwide free legal web sites. Over 1,300 sites are currently included.
Legal Information Institutes
-
The African Legal Information Institute (AfricanLII)AfricanLII convenes a network of 16 African LIIs - a collaborative group of organizations and individuals in Africa, dedicated to free access to law on our continent. It also provide a Pan-African legal search engine, and host regional legal materials for free access.
-
The Asian Legal Information Institute (AsianLII)AsianLII provides for searching and browsing databases of legislation, case-law, law reform reports, law journals and other legal information, where available, from each country in the region.
-
American Society of International Law (EISIL)EISIL has been designed as an open database of authenticated primary and other materials across the breadth of international law.
-
The Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII)SAFLII, the South African Legal Information Institute, is an online repository of legal information, e.g. case law and legislation, from South Africa. It aims to promote the rule of law and judicial accountability by publishing legal material for open access in line with the objectives of the global free Access to Law movement.
-
World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII)WorldLII provides a single search facility for databases located on the following Legal Information Institutes: AustLII; BAILII; CanLII; HKLII; LII (Cornell); and PacLII. It also includes databases of decisions of international Courts and Tribunals, databases from a number of Asian countries, and databases from South Africa.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Additional Resources
-
International Court of JusticeThe Court is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter, signed in 1945 at San Francisco (United States), and began work in 1946 in the Peace Palace, The Hague (Netherlands).
-
UNBISnetCatalogue of United Nations(UN) documents and publications from 1979 onwards
-
United NationsGateway to UN information.
-
Westlaw (Westlaw International)Thomson Reuters Westlaw (Westlaw International) gives access to legal materials from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong and the United States as well as international/worldwide materials and an extensive collection of law journals.
-
AccessToLaw: Legal resources selected & annotated by Inner Temple LibraryAccessToLaw is a gateway site, providing annotated links to selected UK, Commonwealth and worldwide free legal web sites. Over 1,300 sites are currently included.
