Legal Research Guide: Source Case Law

Step 1:

Access ICLR from the Legal Research Guide's list of databases

Step 2:

Access ICLR database from the link in the Library record within the View Online field

Step 3:

Add case name (part names) to search box

"Balfour v Balfour"

Step 4:

Select link to

[1919] 2 KB 571

from Results list entry

AustLII

Jade

Lexis Advance 

Westlaw Australia 

1. Select Advanced Search... from the drop-down arrow

1. Select Advanced Search from the drop-down arrow

Option 1: 

1. Select  Advanced Search - Cases

Option 1: 

1. Select Content Type -  Cases

2. Select Advanced Search 

2. Select the Boolean Query tab

2. Complete the Words and phrases field

2. Complete the Words and Phrases Judicially Considered field

2. Complete the Words and Phrases field

3. Complete the Enter your search field:

(character* OR compris* OR defin* OR describ* OR discuss* OR element* OR expla* OR interpret* OR mean* OR phras*) W/15 SearchWord

3.  Click on Search

3.  Click on Search
 

3.  Click on Search
 

4. Results can be filtered by:

* Date

* Search within results

* Collection

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4. Results can be filtered by:

> Jurisdiction

> Court

> Legal Topics

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4. Results can be filtered by:

+ Jurisdiction

+ Date

+ Practice Area

+ Key Number

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5. Check the box for All Case Law Databases

Tip: Sign up for Jade Professional using your Murdoch student email address @student.murdoch.edu.au (it is free)

Option 2: 

1. Select  Advanced Search - Cases

Option 2:

1. Select  Cases - Advanced Search

2. In the Terms field:

(character! OR compris! OR defin! OR describ! OR discuss! OR element! OR expla! OR interpret! OR mean! OR phras!) /15 SearchWord

2.  In the All of these terms field:

(character! OR compris! OR defin! OR describ! OR discuss! OR element! OR expla! OR interpret! OR mean! OR phras!) /15 SearchWord

7. Results can be sorted by:

* Relevance

* Database (recommended)

* Date

* Title

3.  Click on Search

AustLII

Jade

Lexis Advance 

Westlaw Australia 

Option 1: LawCite

1. Select LawCite (located at the far right on the red band)

1. Select Jade Browser tab

Select Legislation Collection

Select By legislature

Option 1: LawNow

Select Legislation from the Explore pod

Select Western Australia from the drop down menu

Option 1: Global Search:

1. Type the Act title and section number in the global search box

Example: Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022 141

WAIT

2. Complete Legislation Considered fields

Tip: Do not include a designation abbreviation - just the number

Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act   141

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2. Select Western Australian Legislation - Acts (WALegAct)

Navigate to the relevant Act:

Select Le

Select Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act

2. From the Acts column, select All Acts by Title

2. From the drop down suggestions, select the linked section title 

Option 2: NoteUp

1. Select the relevant jurisdiction from the black ribbon on the AustLII home page

Example: WA

3. Navigate to relevant section

Select section title

3. Select the relevant letter from the A-Z table

3. From the  Citing References tab, select Cases

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2. Type the Act title and section number (number only) in the search box (located at the top right of screen)

Example: Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022  141

4. Select relevant citations

4. Scroll down the list of legislation

Select the relevant Act title

Option 2: Global Search:

1. Search by Act title in double inverted commas and section number to be within 10 words of Act title

e.g. 
"Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022" /10 141

Tip: Sign up for Jade Professional using your Murdoch student email address @student.murdoch.edu.au

(it is free)

5. Scroll down (or use Ctrl+F) to the relevant section

Select the relevant section's title

2. Select Cases

Option 1: Select View All Cases

Option 2: Select Cases from the Content types menu

4. Select the hyperlinked Act and Section from the Results list

from the Western Australian Current Acts database

6. Select the View Legislation Citator link (located to the right of the section title)

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Option 3: Advanced Search

1. Select Content type - All Cases

Option 2: Cases Advanced Search:

1. Select  Advanced Search - Cases

2. Select Advanced Search

2. Complete the fields for Legislation Title and Provision Number 

Tip: Do not include a designation abbreviation - just the number)

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3. Complete Legislation Cited (Title) and Legislation Cited (Provision) fields

Tip: Do not include a designation abbreviation
- just the number

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AustLII

Jade

Lexis Advance 

Westlaw Australia 

Option 1: LawCite:

1. Select LawCite (located at the far right on the red band)

Option 1: Citator:

1. Select the Citator tab

Option 1: Quick Find:

1. Select Cases

2. Complete Case citation OR 
Case Names field

Example:  [2009] NSWCA 148

1.  Search by case citation in the global search box

Example:  [2009] NSWCA 148

WAIT FOR SUGGESTIONS

2. Complete Case citation OR 
case Party Names fields 

Example:  [2009] NSWCA 148

2. Complete Case citation

Example:  [2009] NSWCA 148

Select the suggested relevant case

2. Select CaseBase link from the relevant case in the Result list

2. Select relevant suggestion

3. Navigate to
Cases Referring to this Case

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3. Determine order of Results list

Click on Search

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3. Navigate to Cases referring to this case

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3.  Select Cases from the Citing References tab

Option 2: NoteUp:

1.  Search by case citation in the  search box

Example:  "2009 NSWCA 148"

Tip: AustLII does not like punctuation, so do not include brackets

Option 2: Citation Report:

1. Search for case by citation or party name

Example:  [2009] NSWCA 148

Option 2: Advance Search Cases:

1. Select Advanced Search Cases

2. Select relevant case in the Result list

2. From the CaseTrace panel, click on the Citation report link

3. From the task menu on the right of screen, select the link for NoteUp

NoteUp searches for all materials on AustLII referring to this case.

Tip:  Sort results by selecting the Databases tab to easily identify jurisdiction

3. Navigate to Cases citing this decision

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Option 3: CaseBase Graphs

Source the case as in Option 1

Navigate to cases referring to this case.

There are various ways of sorting this list - by date, by parties' names, or by annotation. Annotation refers to the editor's terms for arranging similar application of the precedent. This means all those cases which followed, applied, or distinguished the precedent will be listed together

Cases referring to this case can be filtered using the graph.

Cases can be filtered by Court or Year:

Option 3: Visualisations:

1. Search for case by citation or party name

Example:  [2009] NSWCA 148

Cases can be filtered by Treatment.

For example, Cases referring to this case with positive treatment only can be listed.

2. Select the Visualisations button to expand the Visualisations menu

Select Precedent Tracker

More specific citation allows for the case to be segmented into paragraphs, with the ‘Paragraph’ filter on the graph.
This lists the paragraphs of the primary judgment on the horizontal (x) axis, and the number of subsequent cases citing those paragraphs on the vertical (y) axis.
Each column represents the number of times a paragraph is cited by subsequent cases.
When hovering the mouse over columns of the graph, a pop-up appears, providing information on the paragraph number and the number of citing cases.

AustLII

Lexis Advance 

Westlaw Australia 

Option 1: LawCite:

1. Select LawCite (located at the far right on the red band)

Option 1: Quick Find:

1. Select Cases

2. Complete Case citation OR 
Case Names field

1. Select Content Type -  Secondary Sources

2. Select Advanced Search 

2. Complete Case citation OR 
case Party Names fields 

2. Select CaseBase link

2. Complete Citation field 

Example:
2009 NSWCA 148

3. Navigate to
Law Journal Articles Referring to this Case

3. Navigate to Publications referring to this case

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3. Filter Results by Publication Type - Law Reviews & Journals

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Option 2: Database Search:

1. Select Journals & Scholarship from the red ribbon

Option 2: Advance Search Secondary Materials

1. Select Advanced Search Cases

2. Add the citation within double inverted commas to the search box (located in the top right corner)

Example:
"2009 NSWCA 148"

2. Complete Case citation OR case name in the References to Cases field

4. Results can be sorted:
     By Relevance
     By Citation Frequency
     By Database
     By Date
     By Title

Jade

Lexis Advance 

Westlaw Australia 

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

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

Cases with similar facts, issues or arguments are included in the list.

1. Type case citation into the global Search box, enclosed in double inverted commas

Example: "2009 NSWCA 148"

PAUSE

DO NOT CLICK SEARCH

WAIT FOR SUGGESTIONS

5. To the left on the screen, click on the Visualisations icon

• Visualisation tools represent information graphically

6. Select the Similarity box

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2. Select the relevant case from the drop-down suggestion/s

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 Cases

5. Paste the Catchwords into the  Catchwords/Summary field on the search screen

From the Document tab, navigate down to the Digest pane.

Select: 

Option 1:

Key Number classification term to see other cases on this topic

Option 2:

Detailed Key Number (on right of screen) to see other cases on this specific point within the topic

Step 1:

Access Australian Encyclopaedia of Forms & Precedents

Step 1:

Add search term to Search box

Select magnifying icon to Search

Step 1:

Select Content Type Forms & Precedents

Step 2:

Option 1:

Browse the contents, expanding relevant headings to view more specific 

Example:

☐  Clubs and Societies — 105

    + Commentary to Clubs and Societies

    + Precedents to Clubs and Societies

        - Forms to Clubs and Societies

            - Western Australia

                105.345 Application for incorporation of association — Form 1 — Department of Commerce (WA)

Step 2:

Narrow search results

From the Filter menu  (on the left of screen)

Select AU Forms & Precedents

Tip: Select AU Guidance if you need instructions for drafting a form

Step 2:

Option 1:

Browse the Forms & Precedents Finder

• By Practice Area
• By Publication

Select relevant headings to view available forms and precedents

Example:

Banking & Financial Services

ACP Finance and Securities Precedents

NSW precedents - Charge

Step 2:

Option 2:

Select Advanced Search

Add search terms

Step 3:

Narrow Results

or Search within results

Step 2:

Option 2:

Search Forms & Precedents Finder

- use the search box at the top of the screen