Guide on the Side: Finding Cases by Name or Citation

Finding cases by name or citation using Lexis Advance

This tutorial will show you how to find cases:

when you know the case name
when you know the case citation.

You might find case names and citations in your readings, textbooks, other cases, and the reference lists of other material.

You'll also learn how to establish which legislation was considered by the case and its treatment by subsequent courts.

To get started:

Use the arrows below to work through this tutorial.
How to use this tutorial

Let's begin!

A-Z Databases

How to access Lexis Advance (Research & US Research)

We are starting at the A-Z Database list.
• Click L
• Click Lexis Advance
• Enter your username and password
• You are now in Lexis Advance (Research & US Research)

* Note: A-Z Database list is found on the UOW Library homepage.

Your screen should look like this:

First time logging in? Select Lexis Advance Research under "Where would you like to start?"

Finding a case by party name

Let's find the full text for this case:

Morrison v Peacock (2002) 210 CLR 274

Use the Quick Find option. In the Case Name section, enter Morrison v Peacock.

Tip: use v (not vs).

Click Search.

Results

How many results did you get?

0-10 10-100 100+

CaseBase

1. From your results list, click the result that lists the correct citation.

We're looking for Morrison v Peacock (2002) 210 CLR 274.

It should be the top result.

How do I know which result is correct?

When you open the case, you will initially get the CaseBase record page. (Later in the tutorial, we'll show you how to get the full text of the case.)

What is CaseBase?

2. You can hover over the symbols next to the case names to determine how the case has been treated.

Hover over the green diamond icon next to the party name. Its definition will pop up.

Type the meaning of the green diamond into this box

Check answer

Legislation considered

Look at the type of information listed in the CaseBase record for Morrison v Peacock (2002) 210 CLR 274.

The CaseBase record includes information about the case such as Catchwords & Digest, Words & Phrases, Litigation History, Cases referring to this case, Publications referring to this case, Cases considered by this case, and Legislation considered by this case.

We're going to identify the legislation and provisions used by the case.

Scroll down or click "Legislation considered by this case" to move quickly to this section.

List one of the items of legislation considered by this case

Check answer

Citations and full text

1. Scroll back to the top of the page.

Under the party name, you'll see a list of citations. These indicate that the case has been recorded in a number of publications.

Tip on authorised official versions

2. Click on (2002) 69 ALD 545.

This takes you to the full text of the case.

You can also download a PDF copy.

Navigate back to the Lexis Advance homepage

Now let's find a case by citation.

Click "Lexis Advance Research" in the top left corner to return to the home page.

Lexis Advance How to navigate from case record to home screen

Finding a case by citation

Let's find the full text for the same case by citation:

Morrison v Peacock (2002) 210 CLR 274.

1. Enter 2002 210 CLR 274 in the Quick Find section under Case Citation. (You don't need to enter brackets or the party name.)

2. Click Search.

How many results did you get?

1 More than 1

Feedback

Thank you for completing this Library tutorial.

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Tutorial complete

Congratulations! You have completed this tutorial.

This tutorial has shown you how to find cases when you know the name or citation of the case.

Some cases are unpublished. Information on how to find unreported cases is available from the Cases page of the law guide.

Links to other tutorials:

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