Primary legal materials are the authoritative records of law. These are:
Secondary sources of law refer, discuss and help locate the law but are not primary sources. They can help in understanding the law in specific areas. If you don't know much about a topic start with general information and work towards more specific sources:
E.g. Legal dictionaries > legal encyclopedias > text books > journal articles.
In Australia, there are two parts to the legal system:
Below is a short introductory video on Primary and Secondary legal materials
If you are not sure where to start your research or don't know much about a topic, a legal encyclopaedia can provide a good starting point.
The two encyclopaedias below cover all areas of Australian law and are continuously updated. They provide a good introduction to legal principles and provide valuable references to relevant cases and legislation. Use both encyclopaedias, as coverage may differ and sections may be updated at different times.
Tip: Check the currency statement at the top of each paragraph - it may be necessary to find more up to date material if a section is out of date.
Halsbury's Laws of Australia (via Lexis Advance Research)
Depending on what you already know about your topic, you can choose to browse or search.
Browsing
Use the Table of Contents to browse broad subject areas by selecting different volume titles:
E.g. 90 Constitutional Law
Use the plus (+) symbols to view more specific chapters and paragraphs.
Searching
From the Table of Contents page select Search at the top left-hand side of the page or if you are reading an entry select Search Source from the top right-hand side of the page.
Use the Search Terms box to search by topic:
E.g. Search Terms box > type acquisition of property > click Search > view results
Tip: If you're not sure how to enter your search terms, check the Search Tips at the top of the page.
Laws of Australia (via Westlaw Australia)
Similar to Halsbury's, you can browse or search this encyclopaedia.
Browsing
Select the broad subject area from the left side:
E.g. 9. Criminal law principles
Use the plus (+) symbols to view more specific chapters or click on the title of a paragraph to read it.
Searching
From the home page of the Encyclopaedia you can search using keywords or if you are reading an entry select New Search from the top of the page.
E.g. Free Text Search box > type "burden of proof" and civil > view results
Tip: Click on the blue Field Name for search tips specific to that field
Legal dictionaries can help you start your research by providing you with a concise definition of the law. They will also help improve your legal vocabulary. Dictionaries vary in their content - they may:
Australian Legal Dictionaries
Australian Legal Words and Phrases
This dictionary provides a comprehensive list of words and phrases that have been defined in legislation or judicially considered.
You can browse the Table of Contents for your term or select Search.
E.g. Defined Terms box > type partnership > view results
International Legal Dictionaries
Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia License.
QUT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where QUT now stands.