This document provides an overview and instructions for using various legal research databases and resources including HeinOnline, Law Journal Library, Westlaw, and Lexis Library. It discusses how to locate cases, legislation, and journal articles within each system, including relevant search techniques and how to understand results. Key functions and features of each database are highlighted such as coverage dates, table of contents, citation searching, and full text articles.

1. Catherine Funnell Senior Liaison Librarian(Law) Middlesex University September2011 c.funnell@mdx.ac.uk CPE INDUCTION

2. MIDDLESEX UNIHUB 2

3. LIBRARY CATALOGUE 3

4. HEINONLINE 1. We will start with HeinOnline first 2. Heinonline is essentially used to locate journal articles. It does NOT provide information on Cases(Modern) or Legislation(also known as Acts or Statutes) 3. It does provide access to a series called “The English Reports” which gives you access to Cases pre 1865 only 4

5. LAW JOURNAL LIBRARY 1. We’ll choose Law Journal Library to start our searching-You can also use the Title Look Up feature and type in the publication title if you prefer 2. On the next slide you will see a split screen which says LawJournal Library at the top with the Sidebar saying Citation Navigator-ignore it for now! 5

6. LAW JOURNAL LIBRARY 6

8. 2. In the example on the slide you can see where the title, MODERN LAW REVIEW, is typed if you choose that option

9. 3.We’ll click on the letter M to search for MODERN LAW REVIEW7

10. MAIN SEARCH PAGE 8

11. RESULTS 9

12. COVERAGE 1. The COVERAGE(dates) is 1937-2006 2. You may sometimes find that the current years are not available because of embargos etc. We will usually have these dates available in print format for you to refer to(found in the Law Library-Journals-2nd Floor) 3. If the date of the article you need is 2006 click on that date 10

13. TABLE OF CONTENTS 11

15. HEINONLINE JOURNALS TUTORIAL 13

16. Article Displayed 14

17. WESTLAW 1. We’ll now move on to the database Westlaw 2. You can use Westlaw to find Legislation(Acts/Statutes), Cases and Journal Articles 3. Let’s look at Legislation first 15

18. WESTLAW-MAIN PAGE 16

19. LEGISLATION 1. When searching for legislation you can use either the BROWSE feature from the Main Page if you are uncertain of the exact title of the Act or if you simply wish to browse Acts OR you can search by using the SEARCH Window and then use the Act/SI Title(SI means Statutory Instrument) 2. You can also do a FREE TEXT search but again this is much less precise We’ll search for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act using the Title in the Search Window 17

20. LEGISLATION 18

21. RESULTS-WHICH ONE? 1. You will see a number of results on the page. Generally the one you will want - the most recent– will be at the top of the list. Click on Arrangement of Act to see the various PROVISIONS displayed 2. It is important to be aware of the ICONS That you may see, eg R=Repealed whereas a Green rectangle with a check mark means the provision is In Force. Hover over the ICON to see what it says.You can always refer to the Westlaw Tutorial for more information about ICONS 19

22. RESULTS 20

23. ARRANGEMENT OF ACT 21

24. PDF OF ACT 22

25. WESTLAW-CASES 1. When searching for Cases you can use either the BROWSE feature-which is useful if you know the name of the Law Report series in which the case has been reported-or the SEARCH window. 2. It may be easier to search by using the SEARCH window which allows you to do a search by PARTY NAMES, CITATION or FREE TEXT 3. We’ll start with a citation search 23

26. CITATION 24

27. HOW TO READ A CITATION-REMINDER 25 Individual cases are arranged collectively in series of Law Reports. To locate a case you need to be able to understand the citation. Here is a sample Citation: Fisher v Bell [1960] 3 W.L.R. 919 The different parts of the Citation are explained below. Parties contesting the case Fisher v Bell Year the case was reported 1960 Volume of the law reports in which the case was reported 3 W.L.R. is the abbreviation for the law report series in which the case can be found. The full title is Weekly Law Reports. You will need to know the full title as the law report series are arranged alphabetically by title in the law library. Page on which the case can be found 919

28. RESULT 26

29. UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS 1.Cases may be reported in more than one law report series. As you can see this case has been reported in a number of law reports. 2. As Westlaw only indexes specific law reports you will only get the FULL TEXT for the law report series it indexes. These are indicated by a Citation which is underlined(see the previous example) 27

30. FULL TEXT 28

31. PDF OF OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS 29

32. CASE ANALYSIS 1. With Case Analysis (the Sidebar on the left side of the Main Frame) you can choose what information you want to see displayed in the Main Frame 2. In other words if you only want to see where this case has been reported(other law reports) or possibly any journal articles relating to this case you need only click on either of these to see this information displayed(see example in next slide) 30

33. CASE ANALYSIS VIEW(2) 31

34. CASE ANALYSIS-WHERE REPORTED 32

35. CASE ANALYSIS-DISPLAYING JOURNAL ARTICLES 33

36. SEARCH BY PARTY NAMES 34

37. RESULT 35

38. FULL TEXT AND PDF 36

39. WESTLAW-JOURNAL ARTICLES 1. When searching for Journal Articles you can use either the BROWSE feature-which is useful if you simply wish to browse and see which Journals are available in full text 2. It may be easier by using the SEARCH feature which allows you to search by FREE TEXT, AUTHOR NAME or ARTICLE TITLE 3. FREE TEXT is the most useful so we’ll start with that 37

40. JOURNAL ARTICLES-FREE TEXT 38

41. RESULTS 39

42. TEXTUAL CONTEXT 40

43. AUTHOR AND FREE TEXT 41

44. RESULTS 42

45. FULL TEXT 43

46. LEXIS LIBRARY 1. Finally, we’ll look at the database Lexis Library 2. You can use Lexis to find Legislation(Acts/Statutes), Cases and Journal Articles 3. We’ll look at Legislation first 44

47. LEGISLATION 1. When searching for legislation you can use either the QUICK FIND feature or the TAB across the top of the page 2. We’ll use the Tab to type in the title of the act and the date(s) from which to choose will pop up in a window below 3. In the example on the following slide we’ll choose the 2008 Act as that will be the most current and up to date. Be careful with the dates as you may be required to look at an earlier ‘version’ of an Act and you need to ensure you are looking at the correct one 45

48. LEXIS LIBRARY 46

49. LEGISLATION 47

50. RESULTS 48

51. ITEM 3 -PROHIBITIONS...EMBRYOS 49

52. FIND OUT MORE WINDOW 1. On the right side of the screen Lexis has recently added very useful ANNOTATIONS-lots of background information as well as the 2. FIND OUT MORE box which allows you to click on on one of the items listed there to gain more useful details, eg related journal articles,related commentary, related cases as well as the all important, IS IT IN FORCE information 3. Don’t forget the various icons for printing, sending to email, downloading the legislation 50

54. 3. After typing in the Citation you will see two results(see results slide)Choose the 2nd one as the SOURCE for the 1st is CASESEARCH and only the abstract will be available not the full details as in the 2nd result51

55. CITATION SEARCH 52

56. RESULTS 53

57. FULL TEXT 54

58. SEARCH BY PARTY NAMES 55

59. RESULTS 56

60. FULL TEXT AND PDF 57

61. ICONS PDF AND FIND OUT MORE 1. Similar to Westlaw the Find Out More offers useful related information pertaining to the case, eg related commentary, related cases. Refer to it 2. The PDF icon, when clicked displays the alternative format for this case(see next slide) as it appears in the hard copy of the Queen’s Bench law report series 58

62. PDF 59

63. MORE ON ICONS 3. Hovering the cursor over the lilac coloured icon tells you that this case has received a neutral treatment so you may or may not wish to refer to it 4. If you click on the lilac icon more useful information regarding the icons will be displayed(see next slide) 60

64. ICONS EXPLAINED 61

65. LEXIS-JOURNAL ARTICLES 1. When searching for Journal Articles you can search by SEARCH TERM, ARTICLE TITLE, AUTHOR, or ARTICLE CITATION 2. We’ll search by using the search term box as that is the most comprehensive 62

66. JOURNAL ARTICLES-SEARCH TERM 63

67. RESULTS 64

68. FULL TEXT-CONTEXT 65