Finding the law – legal information sources
Legal information is distinct from other subjects, as it is updated more regularly to reflect changes in the law. The law can change because of decisions in the courts and through legislation (new legislation and changes to existing legislation). For this reason, you need to be aware of the currency of the information you are using. Legal databases and finding tools have been developed to help students of law and legal practitioners to keep up to date with changes in the law.
These are the main types of information that you are likely to need to use to study law. The guide provides information on the best tools to use to find them.
Law books, legal encyclopaedias, and journal articles
Law books
Legal textbooks provide introductions to areas of law. You may also use handbooks and practitioner’s texts which aim to provide a detailed treatment of the law. These types of legal books are updated regularly so you should be aware of the edition you are using and aim to use the most recent edition. Legal books usually have a Table of Cases and a Table of Legislation as well as the usual table of contents, and they may have numbered paragraphs for more precise referencing.
All books that the library owns, and any key titles included in databases are catalogued. You can find them using Library Search, or link to them from a digital reading list if your lecturers use the library reading list system.
Law Trove and Cambridge Core Law are collections of legal books (textbooks, handbooks, and research monographs) published by Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. All books are indexed on the library catalogue, and you can find them using Library Search. You can also search and browse these platforms if preferred at these links.
Legal Encyclopaedias
Legal encyclopaedias aim to provide a comprehensive statement of the law. They are excellent sources if you are researching a new area of law as they list the most significant cases, legislation, and commentary related to that area of the law. The two principal legal encyclopaedias on the law in Scotland and in England and Wales are:
Both are available online via Lexis+ at the links above and are updated to reflect any changes in the law.
Journal articles
Journal articles are indexed in several places so there are a variety of tools you can use to find them.
Library Search is useful for an initial search as it indexes most of the journal articles that the library has full text access to. See this guide for more information on searching for journal articles.
Westlaw UK, Lexis+ and HeinOnline are specialist legal databases which index legal journals. The advantage of searching in Westlaw or Lexis+ for journal articles is that you will be able to link to any cases or legislation discussed in the article.
Large social science databases, like Proquest Academic or multidisciplinary research databases like Web of Science and Scopus also index legal journals and can be helpful if you want to research legal issues in a wider context.
Guides on searching Westlaw (look under Finding Secondary Sources for help using journals on the platform)
Case law and legislation
Westlaw and Lexis+
Westlaw UK and Lexis+ are the two main legal databases for finding case law and legislation. Although you can find case law and legislation on the open web, you cannot be sure of the currency of the information. Westlaw and Lexis+ are updated daily. The other major advantage of these databases is that they link cases and legislation to books and journal articles discussing them. This can be helpful when you are researching a specific case or area of law.
As well as UK law, you can access case law from other non-UK jurisdictions. On Lexis+, choose the International link to see which non-UK jurisdictions are included. On Westlaw from the landing page, you will see a link to Westlaw International to see the international materials.
Westlaw has guides and videos on finding and using case law and legislation. You can also follow some self-help guides and become certified as an expert user. This may be useful for your CV if you intend to go on to practice law.
See guides on using Lexis+ and information on becoming certified as an expert Lexis+ user.
You may also find this short library guide on finding cases online and in print helpful.
Freely available sources of case law and legislation
BAILII British and Irish Legal Information Institute British and Irish case law and legislation, European Union case law, Law Commission reports and other British and Irish material. About BAILII.
From BAILII you can link to similar open resources for case reports and legal material from across the world.
CURIA Transcripts of case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court of the European Union.
Find Case Law (The National Archives) Judgements and decisions from the England and Wales High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and decisions from the Upper Tribunals (from April 2022 onwards.)
HUDOC Transcripts of case law from the European Court of Human Rights.
Legislation.gov.uk Official website for the UK original (as enacted) and revised legislation, including all in-force Public General Acts of the UK Parliament, Acts of the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament and Acts of the devolved Scottish Parliament. Accompanying explanatory documents are also included. Details of legislation that is included.
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Use the Search Judgements service to find written reports from High Court, Court of Session, Fatal Accident Enquiries, Sheriff Court, Sheriff Appeal Courts (Criminal and Civil) and All-Scotland Personal Injury Court.
Other legal databases
All the databases that the library provides access to, are listed on the databases page. You can search for a specific database by name or use the subject listing if you do not know what database to use.
Choose Law, and All Databases to see the full list of databases you can use in legal research. Use other subject listings if you want to use databases in another area.
Official Publications
You may need to refer to parliamentary publications.
Public Information Online is a specialist database of publications from the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, National Assembly for Wales, Scottish Government . Content includes Bills, Command Papers, House of Commons Papers, House of Lords Papers, Hansard, Scottish Parliament Papers, the SP Official Report and Scottish Government Papers.
You can also search or browse content directly on parliamentary websites:
Northern Ireland Assembly including bills and the Official Report (Hansard)
Scottish parliament legislation, committees and the Official Report.
UK Parliament official website for the Houses of Parliament, including bills and legislation, committees, publications and Hansard the official report of all Parliamentary debates, including historical content. About Hansard.
Welsh Parliament including legislation, documents, and The Record.