Welcome to the Law subject page. This guide highlights the key resources for your subject area, and the key services and facilities available from the Library.
Getting started
All required reading for your modules should be available from your online reading lists. In addition to prescribed reading, when doing your own research ‘beyond your reading list’, LibrarySearch is a quick and easy way to simultaneously search for academic content across a number of different sources. If you get stuck, contact your Academic Librarian.
Legal databases
In addition to LibrarySearch, we also have access to the following key legal databases providing access to cases, legislation and legal journal titles. Content from these is not included on LibrarySearch so will need to be searched separately.
Remember, whilst some content can overlap, each provide access to unique resources. If what you're after isn't in one, try the other.
- Westlaw UK
Legislation, case law (including EU legislation and case law) and legal journals.
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Lexis Plus UK Platform (previously LexisLibrary)
Case law, legislation, legal journals. Access to full-text of many UK newspapers.
Websites
Websites - general, inc Index to Legal Abbreviations
Key websites for your subject area include:
Legal Websites
- Index to legal abbreviations. Use this website to find out abbreviations for both case reports and journals.
- IALS (Institute of Advanced Legal Studies). Access to a number of free resources including FLAG (foreign law guide), current legal research topics database and the FLARE index to Treaties (1856 to the present).
- Lawlinks. A comprehensive gateway service, offering annotated links to legal information on the internet compiled by the Templeman Library at the University of Kent.
- Scottish Law Commission. reports, discussion papers and consultation papers from 1965 onwards.
Websites - UK
Case Law
- Open access Scottish law reports. A searchable database of over 650 key Scottish Cases since 1873 provided by the Scottish Council of Law Reporting. The full report is not available although details of the case and the opinion are.
- Scottish Courts website. Court judgements for Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary and Sheriff Court.
- House of Lords cases. Decided cases from 1838 until 31st July 2009. From 1st October 2009 the Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction on points of law for all civil law cases in the UK and all criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII). Freely available British and Irish case law and legislation.
Legislation
- UK Statute Law database. The UK Statute Law Database (SLD) is the official revised edition of the primary legislation of the United Kingdom made available online.
- OPSI. Access to the full-text of Acts or Parliament from 1988 and Statutory Instruments from 1987 onwards.
Parliamentary research papers
- House of Commons Library Research Papers. Full text access to research papers on topics of current parliamentary interest.
- Scottish Parliament Research Briefings. Written by research specialists in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre these briefings can be searched by date or by subject area.
Journals
- Journal of the Law Society of Scotland. Access to the full-text of the journal.
Websites - EU and international
EU Law
- EUR-Lex. This portal is a good place to start if you are looking for European Union Law. The free service provides access to Case Law.
- CURIA. This site provides access to The European Court of Justice and The Court of First Instance - the two courts which interpret and enforce European Law. Access to the full-text of cases heard in these two courts.
- European Court of Human Rights. Includes reports of judgements and decisions and analysis of case law.
- European Sources Online. An online database and information service which provides access to information on the institutions and activities of the European Union, the countries, regions and other international organisations of Europe, and on issues of importance to European researchers, citizens and stakeholders.
- Europa. The portal site of the European Union. It provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration.
International
- World Legal Information Institute. Freely available access to global case law & legislation, for 123 jurisdictions.
- Google Scholar (USA case law). Select case law under the search box.
- Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS). Jurisdiction guides
- Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. Jurisdiction guides, specifically the freely available content.
- GlobaLex, New York University School of Law. Jurisdiction guides.
Other resources and support
Your Academic Librarian
Your Librarian is Carolyn Mustard. Carolyn can help you find the resources you need for your research, and advise you on how best to reference them.
Email: library@abertay.ac.uk
Tel: 01382 308891
Follow the Library on Twitter @AbertayLibrary
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