When starting legal research, it can be useful to begin with secondary resources. This includes encyclopedias and dictionaries, books, journal articles and commentaries. These will point you to relevant primary resources including case law and legislation.
University of Notre Dame Australia School of Law has generally adopted the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application and Conclusion) approach for legal analysis & hypothetical legal problems.
A Guide to Writing in Law School by Legal research skills: An Australian law guideLaw reports, journals, commentaries and news from Australia, US and many other jurisdictions.
Australian case law, KeyCite citator, legal journals, encyclopaedia and commentaries.
An extensive collection of full text primary and secondary legal materials and news sources from jurisdictions around the world.
Open access Australian legal research platform containing case law and legislation. Students can sign up to JADE Professional for free to access enhanced tools that make it easier to navigate the law.
Effective Research Skills is an annual program run to support students to become excellent legal researchers capable of efficiently finding solutions to legal problems. Strong legal research skills will help you get better marks!
To register:
1. Create a Lexis Learning account (if you don't have one already)
2. Enrol in the course ERS0709
Recordings will be available in September for those who miss the live webinars.
*Note all sessions are local time
First year: Foundations of legal research
| NSW | WA |
| 8 August, 4pm | 13 August, 4pm |
| 13 August, 6pm | 16 August, 10am |
| 19 August, 12pm |
Second year: Developing research efficiency
| NSW | WA |
| 14 August, 12pm | 20 August, 4pm |
| 20 August, 3pm | 23 August. 3pm |
| 22 August, 6pm | 27 August, 10am |
Third year: Strategic research skills
| NSW | WA |
| 21 August, 3pm | 12 August, 1pm |
| 28 August, 6pm | 28 August, 11am |
| 30 August, 4pm |
