Law Resources
***PLEASE NOTE – A NEW “LAW RESOURCES” PAGE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE NEW PAGE WILL BE SWITCHED OVER PRIOR TO ORIENTATION WEEK, FEBRUARY 2010 ***
a select list of resources available on the Internet and World Wide Web
JCU Library Resources
Guides (includes Abbreviations List) | Remote Access | Databases | Referencing
Legislat
ion and related material
Bills & Explanatory Memoranda | Acts & Subordinate Legislation | Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
Courts and Tribunals
Commonwealth Courts | State Courts | Other jurisdictions
Government & Professional Organisations & Associations
Queensland Organisations | Australian Organisations
Law Resources (Specialised)
Constitutional Law | Criminal Law and Criminology | Family Law | Human Rights Law | Industrial Law | International Law | Administrative law
Databases
Informit Hosts a number of Australian databases useful for law-related queries, including:
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AGIS Plus Text (Attorney General's Information Service), CINCH (from the Australian Institute of Criminology), APA-FT (Australian Public Affairs Full Text), AFPD (Australian Federal Police Digest), and SNIPER (Searchable Networked Intellectual Property Electronic Resource).
CCH Library Provides access to an electronic database of books, journals and other information published by CCH. The University subscribes to many publications in the CCH Tax, Corporations, Family, Torts and Conveyancing Law Collections including titles such as Australian Company Law Cases and Australian Master Tax Guide.
Legal Online A database of Legal Online publications. JCU subscribes to:
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FirstPoint - Case law research tool combining Australian Case Citator and Australian Digest
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The Laws of Australia – Online Legal encyclopedia
LexisNexis AU Provides access to electronic legal publications subscribed to by the University. Currently these are:
LexisNexis Provides access to full-text primary legal materials from many jurisdictions including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Community, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Secondary sources, including journals, law reviews and indexes are also available.
Westlaw Australia Provides full-text access to Australian primary legal materials - case law, statutes and reports including Commonwealth Law Reports, Federal Court Reports, Federal Law Reports, Australian Tax Reports, Australian Criminal Reports, Local Government and Environment Reports of Australia and unreported judgments from a number of jurisdictions.
Legal Resources Index (Lexis) Indexes more than 700 major UK and US law journals, reports and newspapers, that cover the interpretation and analysis of laws, cases, statutes, legal trends, and law firm management. Indexing is from 1977 onwards.
Index to Legal Periodicals and Books (Lexis) Indexes articles published in more than 500 US and Commonwealth legal journals, yearbooks, university publications, law reviews, and government publications. Indexing is from 1978 onwards.
LawCite Free online international case citator
AustLII (Australasian Legal Information Institute) Excellent coverage of Australian legal material, including primary and secondary sources
Guides
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Law Guide (Brief version for finding Law Resources at JCU)
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How to use Legal Online
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How to use FirstPoint
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How to use Informit
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How to use Lexis
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How to use Westlaw Australia
Referencing
Australian Guide to Legal Citation This is the citation style recommended to JCU law students. Paper copies are held in Townsville and Cairns at 340.072 AUS
Australia
AustLII Australasian Legal Information Institute Excellent coverage of Australian legal material, particularly primary sources
CommonLII Commonwealth Legal Information Institute Free Access to Commonwealth and Common Law
Australian Law on the Internet From the National Library of Australia. Includes useful guides to Australian law
Update to Researching Australian Law By Nicholas Pengelly
ComLaw Commonwealth of Australia Law incorporating the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI)
Weblaw A subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers. This is a cooperative project maintained by a number of Australian law libraries.
United Kingdom
BAILLI (British and Irish Legal Information Institute Access to Freely Available British and Irish Public Legal Information
LAWLINKS: Legal Information on the Internet An annotated list of web sites compiled by Sarah Carter of the Templeman Library, University of Kent. Good for UK and European material.
English Reports 1220-1873 Free online access via the CommonLII web site
United States
LII Legal Information Institute From Cornell University. Excellent coverage of U.S. primary and secondary material, many useful links to other sites
FindLaw US and world law
Guide to Law Online From the Library of Congress
Bills & Explanatory Memoranda
Bills and EM 1996+ (ComLaw)
ParlInfo Search Search and obtain Australian Parliamentary information resources including Hansards, Bills, Senate Journals, Votes and Proceedings, Notice Papers, Committee reports, Parliamentary Handbook, newspaper clippings, media, publications and much more
Parliament of Australia: Bills Click on the link to Current Bills to access text, explanatory memoranda and second reading speeches of bills currently before Parliament. Click on the link to Old Bills to access this information for bills 1997-
Index to Explanatory Memoranda 1901- 1982 Indexes EMs associated with Commonwealth legislation. Produced by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library
Bills introduced to Parliament Queensland bills and explanatory notes 1992-. From the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel
Australia - Commonwealth Legislation
Commonwealth of Australia Consolidated Acts (AustLII)
Commonwealth of Australia Numbered Acts (AustLII)
Commonwealth of Australia Consolidated Regulations(AustLII)
Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) Authorised versions of legislative instruments and compilations
Australian State and Territory Legislation
ACT
Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts (AustLII)
Australian Capital Territory Numbered Acts (AustLII)
Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Regulations(AustLII)
NSW
New South Wales Legislation (From the NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office)
New South Wales Consolidated Acts (AustLII)
New South Wales Consolidated Regulations (AustLII)
NT
Current Northern Territory Legislation Database (From the Department of the Chief Minister)
QLD
Acts, SL as in force From the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel
Queensland Consolidated Acts(AustLII)
Acts as passed (From the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. 1991+)
Subordinate Legislation as made (From the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. 1991+)
Queensland Consolidated Regulations(AustLII)
Queensland Local Laws Database From the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport & Recreation
TAS
Tasmanian Legislation: Tasmania's Consolidated Legislaton Online
Tasmanian Consolidated Acts (AustLII)
Tasmanian Consolidated Regulations (AustLII)
Legislation from other jurisdictions
CanLII: Canadian Legal Information Institute Provides links to Canadian federal and provincial legislation
Canada Laws (From the Department of Justice Canada)
The UK Statute Law Database The official revised edition of the primary legislation of the United Kingdom made available online.
United Kingdom Legislation (From HMSO. Public general acts as passed from 1988)
BAILII (British and Irish Legal Information Institute) (Includes unconsolidated UK acts from 1988 and legislation from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.)
United States Code (From the Office of Law Revision Counsel)
United States Code (From the Legal Information Institute, Cornell University)
US State Constitutions, Statutes and Related Legislative Information (From the Legal Information Institute, Cornell University)
Parliamentary Debates - Hansard
Parliament of Australia: Hansard
Parliament of New South Wales Hansard & Papers
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Hansard & Legislation
Queensland Parliament: Hansard
Parliament of South Australia: Hansard
Parliament of Victoria: Hansard
Parliament of Western Australia
Legislative Assembly for the ACT. Hansard
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Hansard and Legislation
Courts & Tribunals
Note:- Judgments in a number of Australian and overseas courts are also available through the Library's full text subscription databases
Commonwealth Courts
Family Court of Australia Cases From AustLII. Decisions from 1988+ as selected by the court.
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia Decisions Decisions from 2000+ as selected by the Court
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
High Court of Australia From AustLII. Decisions from 1903+
High Court of Australia Transcripts Transcript of all matters heard from 1 January 1995
Industrial Relations Court of Australia Decisions from 1994+ as provided by the Court.
NSW
Land & Environment Court of NSW Decisions from 1988+ as selected by the Court
Supreme Court of NSW Decisions from 1995 as selected by the Court
QLD
Land Court of Queensland Decisions from 1985+
Planning and Environment Court (Judgments)
Queensland District Court Decisions from 2000+ as selected by the Court
Supreme Court of Queensland Decisions from 1994+ as selected by the Court
Supreme Court of Queensland: Court of Appeal Decisions from 2000+
Supreme Court of Queensland: Court of Appeal Decisions from 1994+ as selected by the Court
Queensland Courts Information on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, District and Magistrates courts, including some rules and practice directions. Also provides links to the full text in .pdf of Queensland judgments from January 2000+
SA
South Australia Supreme Court Decisions from 1989 as selected by the Court
Supreme Court (SA) Information about the Court from the Courts Administration Authority
VIC
Supreme Court of Victoria Decisions from 1998+ as selected by the Court
Supreme Court of Victoria: Court of Appeal Decisions from July 1998+ as selected by the Court
Supreme Court of Victoria: Court of Appeal Decisions from June 1997 to July 1998
WA
Supreme Court of Western Australia Decisions from 1999+ as selected by the Court
Supreme Court of Western Australia: Court of Appeal Decisions from 1999+ as selected by the Court
Other Jurisdictions
CanLII: Canadian Legal Information Institute Provides links to Canadian federal and provincial courts
Supreme Court of Canada Decisions from 1983+
Her Majesty's Courts Service Judgments database Selected cases from 1996 onwards
House of Lords Judgments Judgments from November 1996
Privy Council Decisions All decisions from 1996+ and selected historical decisions
United States Supreme Court FindLaw's searchable database of US Supreme Court decisions from 1893
Court of Appeal of New Zealand Decisions from 1998+ as selected by the Court
Australia
Australian Law Reform Commission Provides access to the full text of ALRC publications. Also provides links and/or contact details for many Australian and overseas law reform agencies
Copyright Law Review Committee
New South Wales Law Reform Commission
Northern Territory Law Reform Committee
Queensland Law Reform Commission
Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission
Queensland Legal, Constitutional & Administrative Review Committee
Overseas Law Reform Agencies
International Centre for Criminal Law Reform & Criminal Justice Policy
Law Commission (England & Wales)
Government & Professional Organisations & Associations
Queensland Organisations
Bar Association of Queensland Includes 2004 Barristers Rule
Department of Justice & Attorney General
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Queensland Law Reform Commission
Queensland Legal, Constitutional & Administrative Review Committee
Australian Organisations
Attorney General's Department (Cth)
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
Australian Institute of Administrative Law
Australian Institute of Judicial Administration
Australian Law Reform Commission
Australian Law Students' Association
Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia
Law Resources - Specialised
Constitutional Law
Documenting a Democracy: Australia's Story 'This website tells the story of Australia through the documents which give our national, state and territory governments the right to govern.' Includes Commonwealth Of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK), Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 (Cth), Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Australia Act 1986 (Cth),Constitution Act 1867 (Qld), Constitution Act Amendment Act 1922 (Qld) and Australian Courts Act 1828 (UK).
International Constitutional Law Links to constitutional and related information of many nations
Web Law- Constitutional Law Weblaw is a co-operative subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers. This excellent site includes sections on constitutional history, implied rights in the constitution and constitutional law study notes
Criminal Law & Criminology
Australian Institute of Criminology
Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice
Crime and Misconduct Commission (Qld)
Weblaw- Criminology Weblaw is a co-operative subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers.
Family Law
Australian Family Law Library CCH subscription database available to JCU students.
Australian Law Online: Family and Relationships
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Family Law Section Law Council of Australia
Family Court of Australia Cases Decisions from 1988+ as selected by the Court
Weblaw- Family Law This excellent site is part of Weblaw,a co-operative subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers.
Human Rights Law
Australian Human Rights Centre
Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission Decisions
European Court of Human Rights
Human Rights Treaties Text of conventions on human rights from the Multilaterals Project, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Includes International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and Convention on the Rights of the Child
University of Minnesota Human rights Library
Weblaw- Human Rights This excellent site is part of Weblaw, a co-operative subject index to web resources for Australian legal researchers.
Industrial Law
Australian Industrial Relations Commission
Industrial Relations Commission of Australia Decisions from 1983+ as selected by the Commission
International Labour Organization
Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations
Weblaw- Industrial Law Provides links to a range of resources for industrial law. Part of Weblaw, a co-operative subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers.
Workplace Relations Law Library From AustLII
International Law
The ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law From the American Society for International Law
International Court of Justice
RIAA - Reports of International Arbitral Awards
Multilaterals Project The Multilaterals Project is an ongoing project at the Fletcher School of Law &Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts to make available the texts of international multilateral conventions and other instruments.
Official Documents of the United Nations
Weblaw- International Law Provides links to a range of resources for international law. Part of Weblaw, a co-operative subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers.
Administrative Law
Australian Institute of Administrative Law
Adminstrative Appeals Tribunal
Weblaw- Administrative Law Provides links to a range of resources for administrative law. Part of Weblaw, a co-operative subject index to internet resources for Australian legal researchers.