Guide to Online Legal Research

1. Go to AustLII.
2. Click on the link to Advanced Search (under the drop down arrow next to the search box).
3. Select a search method by clicking on the relevant tab, i.e. Document Title.
4. In the Enter your search box, enter the name of the case.
5. In the Select the database(s) to search..., click on Show all (to show all databases in the list).
6. All databases are selected by default, so first deselect all databases by clicking on the arrow at the top of the list.
7. Scroll through and select the relevant option from the list, i.e. New South Wales: All Cases.
8. Click on Advanced Search.
9. Select the relevant case from the displayed list.
10. When the full text of the case is displayed, click on the link to NoteUp references (to the right of the page under Cited By).

1. Go to BarNet Jade.
2. Begin typing in the case name or case citation into the Jade search box at the top of the page.
3. Suggested case names/citations will be displayed in the drop down list.
4. Select relevant case from the list.
5. The full text of the case will be displayed.
6. In the green Jade CaseTrace box to the right of the page, click on Citation Report. Alternatively, scroll down to the very bottom of the judgment.
7. Information about the case will be shown in the report, i.e. litigation history, cases citing the decision, cases cited by the decision, etc.

Please go to the new database Lexis Advance Pacific to access this title.

1. Go to Westlaw AU.
2. Click on FirstPoint under Search Templates.
3. You will be taken to the FirstPoint search form.
4. Enter the case name in the Case Title/Party Name search box, OR if the citation is known, enter the citation in the Citation search box.
5. Click on Search.
6. Click on the link to the FirstPoint record for the relevant case (Hint: the FirstPoint link can be found in the Documents field).
7. Note the section on Cases Citing the case, as this will let you know if the case is still good law.

FirstPoint Record Guide.

1. Go to AustLII.
2. Click on the link to LawCite.
3. Enter either the case citation in the Citation: search box, or parties name in the Parties: search boxes.
4. Enter court or jurisdiction if required.
5. Click on Search.
6. A record for the matching case will be displayed. Locate the section Cases Referring to this Case to see information on cases which have judicially considered the primary case.

Note: you can use the Cases Considered Search option, however, it is of little use by itself, but in combination with the other fields can be used to do things like finding all cases from a particular jurisdiction that have cited something from another.

1. Go to AustLII.
2. Click on the link to Advanced Search (under the drop down arrow next to the search box).
3. Select a search method by clicking on the relevant tab, i.e. Document Title.
4. In the Enter your search box, enter the name of the case.
5. In the Select the database(s) to search..., click on Show all (to show all databases in the list).
6. All databases are selected by default, so first deselect all databases by clicking on the arrow at the top of the list.
7. Scroll through and select the relevant option from the list, i.e. New South Wales: All Cases.
8. Click on Advanced Search.

Please go to the new database Lexis Advance Pacific to access this title.

1. Go to BarNet Jade.
2. Begin typing in the case name or case citation into the Jade search box at the top of the page.
3. Suggested case names/citations will be displayed in the drop down list.
4. Select relevant case from the list.
5. Full text of the case and Jade CaseTrace information will be displayed.

Alternatively, you can browse for cases on Jade:

1. Go to BarNet Jade.
2. Click on the Jade Browser tab.
3. Select an option under the Judgments heading of the “Browse collections” table to the left, i.e. By citation, etc.
4. A list of cases will be displayed.

Please go to the new database Lexis Advance Pacific to access this title.

Search using a case reference

1. Go to CCH IntelliConnect.
2. Click on Pinpoint on the Toolbar.
3. A list of practice areas will be displayed in the left hand pane.
4. Click on the + icon next to the practice area heading (i.e. Family Law).
5. A list of titles will be displayed below the practice area.
6. Click on the title of the Law Cases to search.
7. In the right pane choose one of the options listed and enter the case reference you are searching for.
8. Click on Go.

Search using a case name

1. Go to CCH IntelliConnect.
2. A list of practice areas will be displayed in the left hand frame.
3. Click on the + icon next to the practice area heading (i.e. Family Law).
4. A list of titles will be displayed below the practice area heading.
5. Click in the box next to the relevant Law Cases title.
6. The Search scope box will automatically change to selected content.
7. Enter the case name in the Search box.
8. Click on Go.

1. Go to Westlaw AU.
2. Click on FirstPoint under Search Templates.
3. You will be taken to the FirstPoint search form.
4. Enter the case name in the Case Title/Party Name search box (alternatively, you can enter the case citation, if known, in the Citation search box).
5. Click on Search.
6. A list of cases will be displayed.
7. Click on the link to the FirstPoint record for the relevant case.
8. Details of case will be listed including the following sections: Digest, Litigation History, Cases Citing, Cases Cited, Legislation Judicially Considered, Words and Phrases Judicially Considered and Noted in Journals (where relevant).

FirstPoint Record Guide

1. Go to AustLII.
2. Click on the link to [LawCite].
3. Enter either the case citation in the Citation: search box, or parties name in the Parties: search boxes.
4. Enter court or jurisdiction if required.
5. Click on Search.

1. Go to WorldLII.
2. Click on the link to [Advanced Search].
3. In the Find box, select the relevant option from the drop down list, i.e. this case name.
4. In the Enter search query: box, enter name of case (parties' names).
5. In the Select the AustLII Database(s) to search: box, scroll through and select All Case Law Databases from the list.
6. Click on Search.

1. Go to Informit.
2. Click on Select by Full Text Database name.
3. Select AGIS Plus Text from the list of Full Text Databases.
4. Click on the Advanced Search tab.
5. Enter your keywords/phrase in the Search boxes provided.
6. Select a field to search in from the Any field default box, i.e. Subject.
7. Select a relevant option from the All terms default box, i.e. All terms.
8. To search full text articles only, check the Full text only box.
9. To search by date, check the Year range box, and then select required dates.
10. Click on Search.
11. If there are cases relevant to the topic, the CASE field will be listed in the display.

1. Go to AustLII.
2. Click on the link to Advanced Search (under the drop down arrow next to the search box).
3. Select a search method by clicking on the relevant tab, i.e. Boolean Query.
4. In the Enter your search box, enter keyword/s or phrase.
5. In the Select the database(s) to search..., click on Show all (to show all databases in the list).
6. All databases are selected by default, so first deselect all databases by clicking on the arrow at the top of the list.
7. Scroll through and select the relevant option from the list, i.e. New South Wales: All Cases.
8. Click on Advanced Search.

Please go to the new database Lexis Advance Pacific to access this title.

1. Go to BarNet Jade.
2. Click the arrow next to search now and select Advanced search.
3. Enter in your keywords/phrases and search parameters, i.e. Collection, Decision date, etc.
4. Click on Search.
5. Sort through your results.
6. If required, you can refine your results by selecting an option from the “Refine search results” section to the left of the page. You can refine results by date, more keywords or via which court (collection) the judgment comes from.
7. To change the way you see the results of your search, click on Order by: at the top right of the results and select the relevant option.

Alternatively, to browse cases by topic:

1. Click on the Jade Browser tab.
2. Select By topic under the Judgments heading of the “Browse collections” table to the left.
3. You can either enter your topic in the search box, or select a topic from the alphabetical list of topics displayed on the page.
4. Judgments relating to the selected topic will be displayed.

Please go to the new database Lexis Advance Pacific to access this title.

1. Go to CCH IntelliConnect.
2. Enter your search terms in the Search box.
3. In the Search/Browse drop down list, select all content (the default option).
4. Click on Go.
5. A list of search results will be displayed in the right hand pane.
6. To narrow the search results to cases only, click on the + icon next to the heading by Document Type. A list of document types will be displayed in the left pane.
7. From this list select Cases by clicking on the Cases heading. The list of cases will be displayed in the right hand pane.

OR alternatively, search within a specific topic area

1. Go to CCH IntelliConnect.
2. A list of practice areas will be displayed in the left hand frame.
3. Click on the + icon next to the practice area heading (i.e. Family Law).
4. A list of titles will be displayed below the practice area heading.
5. Click in the box next to the relevant Law Cases title.
6. The Search scope box will automatically change to selected content.
7. Enter search terms in the Search box.
8. Click on Go.

1. Go to Westlaw AU.
2. Click on FirstPoint under Search Templates.
3. You will be taken to the FirstPoint (Cases) search form.
4. Enter keyword/s or phrase in the Free Text Search box.
5. If required, select Jurisdiction from the drop down lists.
6. Select further options if you would like to limit search further, i.e. by case type (Reported/Unreported).
7. Click on Search.

FirstPoint Record Guide

1. Go to WorldLII.
2. Click on the link to [Advanced Search].
3. In the Find box, select the relevant option from the drop down list, i.e. Boolean Query.
4. In the Enter search query: box, enter keyword/s or phrase.
5. In the Select the AustLII Database(s) to search: box, scroll through and select All Case Law Databases from the list.
6. Click on Search.