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Law Subject Guide

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United Kingdom case law

Photo of london at nightUnited Kingdom case law

The authorised United Kingdom Law Reports series, published by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting, is only available in the ICLR database. This series is comprised of the King's Bench, Chancery, Family and Appeal Cases subdivisions; however others existed in the past. This series includes case citations with the abbreviations QB, KB, AC, Ch, App Cas, Ch D, Ex, Ex D, Fam, PC, P, QB, QBD etc.

  • Enter the citation into the Citation/Reference search box, eg [1932] AC 562.
  • Alternatively, search using the Case Name, eg Donoghue v Stevenson.
  • Click on the linked authorised report series citation to access the full case.
The Westlaw UK database includes various (non-authorised) UK law reports series eg English Reports (ER), Fleet Street Reports (FSR), Session Cases – Scotland (SC), Criminal Appeal Reports (Cr App R), British Company Cases (BCC) and many others.
 
  • Select Cases to search by citation, case name (parties) or subject.
  • Alternatively, browse a report series by year/volume.
Case Analysis provides research information about each case. To access the full-text of a case, click on the linked case citation or judgment link. This database also contains UK legislation, journals and a small collection of eBooks.
The Thomson Reuters Westlaw Classic database duplicates some unauthorised UK law report series available in Westlaw UK. Select the International Materials link then the Jurisdiction – United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom Case Law Locator is a case law research product for the UK context. It provides case digests and history, cases cited and citing, legislation cited and references to legal writings. Access via International Materials → United Kingdom → All United Kingdom Cases → UK Case Law Locator (1865-). Or use the ‘analysis’ link from within a UK case.
  • View a list of (unauthorised) UK case law reports series available in Lexis Advance using Browse → United Kingdom → By content Type → UK Cases.
  • Select the UK flag icon beside the search box or in the results list. Search by case citation, name or topic keywords.
  • CaseBase Cases provides limited research and summary information about significant UK cases, which are identifiable via the UK court abbreviation and flag icon.
  • Alternatively, in Lexis Advance US Research, select Explore Content → International → United Kingdom → All United Kingdom Cases.

Further guidance is available for Locating United Kingdom Case Law (UniSQ login required).

 

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