Legal Research Skills

Subscription databases

Free databases

Searching United States content

1. Type keywords in the search box at the top of the page; or 
2. Select a content type in Browse box.

Searching other international jurisdictions

1. Click International Materials on the right-hand side of the Browse box.
2. Type keywords in the search box at the top of the page; or
3. Browse by jurisdiction or content type.

There multiple ways to access the international content. 

Searching United States content

1. Click the grid menu at the top left (next to the Lexis Advance Research logo), then select US Research
2. Type keywords in the search box, then select a category, U.S. jurisdiction, and practice area using the drop-down menus (if relevant); or
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Explore Content box. then browse by content type, jurisdiction or practice area.

Searching other international jurisdictions 

Note: This is the best way to search for journal articles and case law

1. From the Lexis Advance Research homepage, click the link above the search box to access Lexis.com international and news content. Select a jurisdiction to view available sources, then type keywords in the search box; OR 
2. From the US Research homepage, scroll to the bottom of the page to the Explore Content box, ​​​​​​then click the International tab. Select a jurisdiction or content type, then type keywords in the search box.

Alternative method

Note: This is the best way to search for commentary and encyclopaedia content from specific jurisdictions (Canada, Hong Kong, UK, US)

1. From the Lexis Advance Research homepage, click the AU flag to the left of the search box and select a different jurisdiction.
2. Type the source title (to access a table of contents for a particular source), or keywords into the search box.

Search for a known case

1. Start typing the citation in the search box, then select the case from the list.

Search for cases on a topic

1. Click Full Search, then type keywords into the Catchwords and/or Full text search boxes.

Noting up a case

1. Quickly navigate to case information (including litigation history and subsequent judicial consideration) using the Table of Contents on the left-hand side of a case homepage.

Note: HeinOnline contains U.S. primary and secondary sources, however is primarily recommended for the International Law Journal Library.

1. Click Law Journal Library under the Browse Databases by Name heading.
2. Click Advanced Search under the search box at the top of the page.
3. Type keywords into the search box/es.
4. Select a search field from the drop down list next to the search box/es - recommend Text, Article Title or Author/Creator.
5. On the results page, apply limits as required - e.g. Date, PathFinder Subject, Country published.

1. Click Advanced Search.
2. In the Find box, select a search type from the drop down list, e.g. Boolean Query.
3. Type keywords in the Enter search query: box.
4. In the Select the WorldLII Database(s) to search: box, scroll through and select the relevant databases - e.g. case law, legislation, journals etc.
5. Click Search.
6. On the results page, view by relevance, date or database.