Library guides: Legal Research Skills: Starting your research

Where to start: Legal education & research books

Laying down the law by David Hamer, Judith Jones, Patrick O'Mara, Belinda Smith, Tristan S. Taylor
Publication Date: 2024
Laying Down the Law provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the study of law. Essential foundation topics covered include Australia's legal system and sources of law, while discussion of current issues highlights the context in which our legal system operates and the role and responsibilities of the legal profession.
Legal research skills: an Australian law guide
Publication Date: 2024
A freely available, openly accessible textbook authored by a number of Australian Universities.
It is designed to support students undertaking legal studies and contribute to the development of research skills in Australian law schools.
A guide to writing in law school by Steven Tudor & Stephanie Falconer
Publication Date: 2024
This freely available and openly accessible guide is intended to help law students to develop their writing skills. Writing clearly and effectively is a vital legal skill. Lawyers use this skill daily. Law graduates need, therefore, to have a solid competency in clear and effective writing. This book aims to help students improve their writing by presenting various pieces of advice, tips, warnings and encouragement. It contains general chapters on planning, clear writing, and acknowledging your sources, as well as dedicated chapters on some of the specific writing tasks that law students undertake: case briefs, legal problem-solving, essays, and law reform submissions.
Mastering Law Studies and Law Exam Techniques by Richard Krever
Publication Date: 2022
Successfully navigating the particular requirements of law school and legal study can be challenging, even for the most capable of students. In the new edition of this indispensible guide, Richard Krever and a team of contributors de-mystify the process of studying law and provide the foundations for law school success.
Connecting with Law 5e by Michelle Sanson & Thalia Anthony
Publication Date: 2022
This book introduces students to the foundations of law in a thought-provoking way, challenging them to think critically, question ideas and connect with the law.
Nemes and Coss' Effective Legal Research by Bruce Bott & Ruth Tallbot-Stokes
Publication Date: 2021
A current, comprehensive and informative approach to legal research.
Legislation and statutory interpretation by Kath Hall & Claire Macken
Publication Date: 2021
This text provides readers with an up-to-date analysis on the process and principles of statutory interpretation in Australia, together with a discussion on the Australian legislative process and how legislation operates.
1. Introduction to this guide, legislation and statutory interpretation -- 2. Legislation as a source of law -- 3. Legislative process -- 4. Statutory interpretation -- 5. Answering problem questions on statutory interpretation -- 6. Researching legislation.
Principles and Practice of Australian Law by Jennifer Greaney
Publication Date: 2020
The fourth edition of Principles and Practice of Australian Law maintains the emphasis on context and skills as keys to understanding law in its practical operation. Within this framework, the new edition expands and updates existing material by reference to a range of important contemporary issues and cases.
Context and method in Australian law by Russell Hinchey
Publication Date: 2019
This textbook takes an innovative and novel approach to the teaching and learning of first-year law students. It is underpinned by active student learning though an inquiry-guided learning approach.
Learning Law by Anthony Marinac; Brian Simpson; Caroline Hart; Rhianna Chisholm; Jennifer Nielsen; Michael Brogan
Publication Date: 2018
Learning Law provides the foundational knowledge and skills required for the study and practice of law, and also instils in students a passion and excitement for the law. This text challenges students' traditional notions of the law and encourages them to think critically. This text is an essential and comprehensive resource that can be carried as a practical reference throughout a student's law studies.

Where to start: Legal dictionaries

Before you start searching it is a good idea to have a look in legal dictionaries find:

definitions of key legal terms
references to key primary materials including cases and legislation
references to key secondary materials including textbooks and journal articles

Encyclopaedic Australian Legal Dictionary
An Australian legal dictionary available in the Lexis+ database. SCU login required.
Australian Legal Words & Phrases
Available in the Lexis+ database, listing words and phrases which have either been defined in legislation or judicially interpreted.

You may also need to consult a general dictionary to determine the definition of a term.

The Macquarie dictionary
Publication Date: 2013 (6th ed)
An Australian English dictionary available in the Credo Reference database. SCU login required.

Where to start: Legal encyclopaedias

Along with legal dictionaries, legal encyclopaedias are a good place to start legal research, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the topic. Encyclopaedias are regularly updated and provide a brief statement on the area of law with references to:

key primary materials including cases and legislation
key secondary materials including textbooks and journal articles

Tip: Always check the footnotes in legal encyclopaedias for valuable additional information.

Halsbury's Laws of Australia
A legal encyclopaedia available in the Lexis+ database. Browse the table of contents or type keywords into the search box at the top of the page.
The Laws of Australia
A legal encyclopaedia available in the Westlaw AU database. Browse the table of contents or type keywords into the search box at the top of the page.

Tutorial: The legal research process

Complete this tutorial for an introduction to the legal research process, including how to analyse a topic and use search operators. Click at the bottom-right corner to expand to full size.

Activity: Develop a legal research strategy

This activity will help you develop a legal research strategy for your own research topics. You can export your search strategy on page 3 of the activity.