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Case law

Similar cases

Similar cases

You can use a number of databases to find similar cases to a known case. See the following tabs for instructions for the most commonly used databases.

You can access legal databases via our Databases page:

  1. Log in to Jade to access the Jade Professional features (registration is free for current Murdoch Students)
  2. Add the case citation or party names to the search box
  3. Select the "Suggested document in Jade" option
  4. Click "Search now"
  5. To the left on the screen, click on the "Visualisations" icon (visualisation tools represent information graphically)
  6. Select the "Similarity" box

Option 1: Similar issues panel

  1. Select the CaseBase entry for a case
  2. Browse the Similar Issues panel, to the right on the screen
  3. Cases with similar facts, issues or arguments are included in the list

Option 2: Similar catchwords

  1. Select the CaseBase entry for a case
  2. Browse the Catchwords
  3. Copy the relevant Catchwords string
  4. Select "Advanced Search", then "Cases"
  5. Paste the Catchwords into the "Catchwords/Summary" field on the search screen
  1. Type case citation into the global search box, enclosed in double inverted commas. Example: "2009 NSWCA 148". Wait for suggestions to appear.
  2. Select the relevant case from the drop-down suggestion/s
  3. From the Document tab, navigate down to the Digest pane.
  4. Select one of the following two options:
    • "Key Number classification term" to see other cases on this topic
    • "Detailed Key Number" (on right of screen) to see other cases on this specific point within the topic<