Q How do I find the report of a case?
A The quickest way is to use the WESTLAW database (found under Electronic
Services on the Library Homepage). An ATHENS ID and Password is required if you
want to use this from home or work.
Q What is WESTLAW?
A WESTLAW is a database which allows the researcher to access primary legal
materials (ie Acts of Parliament and case law) without using paper sources. It
also acts as a gateway to legal materials of other countries.
Q How do I find a pre-1865 case?
A It will be cited on WESTLAW, in a printed report.
Q Does WESTLAW have full case reports?
A It includes official law Reports from 1865.
Q How do I find an Act of Parliament?
A Use the legislation search on WESTLAW.
Q How do I find if a particular Act is in force?
A There is a special tab to click on an Act, which gives you updates.
Q Why can't I download the full text of this WESTLAW journal?
A WESTLAW being mainly a service for tracing citations, it is only able to
provide the fulltext of about thirty journals, normally thoses which are
published by the providers of the WESTLAW service, Sweet and Maxwell.
Q Why are some case reports printed in blue and others in black?
A Because blue links will connect you to the full report, black text indicates a citation only.
Q Do I need a password for WESTLAW?
A Registration for ATHENS will entitle you to off-campus access; you do not need a password within the University.
Q I have typed the WESTLAW address in my browser, but it does not let me access the site. Why not?
A You must use the link on our databases page on the
Library and Learning Resources website, otherwise you will not be recognised as a Birmingham City University member.
Q I have a case citation but I don't understand the initials, e.g. WLR. How can I find out what they mean?
A An index ( Raistrick, D. - Index to Legal Citations and Abbreviations.
Bowker-Saur. 1993.) and commonly referred to as Raistrick, is available on the
Quick Reference shelves (340.0148 Rai) and on request at the Enquiry Desk. This can answer many, but not all, queries. There is an excellent
website which may also help you to locate the proper meaning of an abbreviation.
Click here for Legal
Abbreviations.
Q How do I know which law report is the most authoritative, from the case citations?
A Citations with square brackets are currently binding (round brackets indicate lower courts).
Q How do I find the full text of law reports that are not on WESTLAW in full?
A You can access All England on our databases
page.
Q Can this be done without using a computer?
A Yes; we have an up to date law collection. See Law subject guide under publications on the
Library and Learning Resources Website
or ask at the enquiry desk
Q What if a case is not reported?
A Only Appeals cases are reported-there is no easy way of obtaining lower court transcripts
Q Are Construction Planning and Property cases reported in a separate place?
A There are specialist law reports e.g. Building Law Reports, and Property Planning and Compensation Reports which are housed in the law collection. They will be cited appropriately e.g. BLR
Q How do I find guidelines for sentencing?
A Recent developments can be read in regular section of Current Law,
kept amongst the Law Reports.