Skip to Main Content

Law: Case Law

Understanding Citations - Case Law

Royal Courts of Justice

 

Cases are often referred to by where they may be found in a law report series. This reference is made in the form of a citation, e.g.:

Law report citation

Since 2001 cases have also been assigned a neutral citation. These refer to the court in which the case was heard rather than a law report, e.g.:

Neutral citation

Key Online resources

Lexis+  and Westlaw UK are the main resources for UK case law research. Both are used to find judgments and Law Reports and are used as case citators too. They both contain the official Law Reports of the UK. Use these key online resources to find cases and make sure you are using the most up to date case law. See the case status icons for both Westlaw UK  and Lexis+  to make sure the cases are still good law. Both support advanced searching using Westlaw UK terms and connectors and Lexis+ terms and connectors.

Access: single sign on.

If you are asked for a Client ID, please enter BPP. If you are asked to create a OnePass profile we suggest you use your BPP email address.

One of the major databases for case law, legislation, and commentary. It has the full text of the official Law Reports series and contains material back to 1220 via the English Reports. Westlaw UK also provides a ‘case analysis’ document for UK cases providing information about the case and where it has been judicially considered, and where it links to relevant legislation and commentary.  It also provides access to European cases and international case law.

Access: single sign on

One of the major databases for case law, legislation, and commentary. It has the full text of the official Law Reports series and contains material back to 1220 via the English Reports. The All England Law Reports are only available on Lexis Library. It also provides a ‘case overview’ document for UK cases providing information about the case and where it has been judicially considered. LexisLibrary also provides access to European cases and international case law.

Case signals

Terms and connectors

 

 

Access: via Westlaw UK

Covered case law, legislation, personal injury quantum claims and commentary in specialist areas.  For case law specifically, it had summaries of UK cases from 1980 and summaries of very recent and unreported cases.  

This was a standalone resource but has now been absorbed into Westlaw UK. Key features such as a round up from the Courts of newly heard cases can be found on the Cases: Courts page. Popular Personal Injury resources including Quantum Reports and Kemp and Kemp have also been included  in Westlaw UK.

Access: Via Athens

Covers UK and international journals, particularly backruns. Also holds special collections such as the Canada Supreme Court Reports, Early American Case Law and coverage from the U.S. Supreme Court Library. Good for U.S. legal research.

Useful Links

Loading ...
Loading ...

Latest Judgments:

Loading ...

Popular Law Report Series

All England Commercial Cases

1999-

All England Law Reports

1936-

All England Law Reports: Reprints

1558-1935

All England Reports European Cases

1995-

Appeal Cases

1891-

British Company Cases

1990-

Butterworths Company Law Cases

1983-

Butterworths Human Rights Cases

1996-

Butterworths Local Government Reports

1997-2015

Butterworths Medico-Legal Reports

1994-

Chancery division

1865-

Civil Procedure Law Reports

2000-2017

Common Market Law Reports

1962-

Competition Appeal Tribunal judgments

2001-

Construction Law Reports

1997-

Consumer Credit Reports

1882-

Criminal Appeal Reports

1909-

Criminal Appeal Reports (Sentencing)

1979-

Crown Office Digest 
see Administrative Court Digest

 

English Reports

1220-1865

Entertainment and Media Law Reports

1993-

Environmental Law Reports

1993-

Estates Gazette Law Reports

1975-

European Commercial Cases

1978-

European Copyright & Design Reports

2000-

European Court Reports

1953-

European Human Rights Reports

1979-

European National Patent Reports

2000-2002

European Patent Office Reports

1986-

European Trademark Reports

1996-

Family Court Reports

1987-

Family division

1972-

Family Law Reports

1984-

Fleet Street Reports

1966-

House of Lords Judgments

1996-

Housing Law Reports

1981-

Human Rights Law Reports

2000-

Industrial Cases Reports

1972-

Industrial Relations Law Reports

1972-

Industrial Tribunal Reports

1968-1977

International Court of Justice Reports

1946-

International Litigation Procedure

1990-

International Tax Law Reports

1998-

International Trusts & Estates Law Reports

1998-

Justice of the Peace Reports

2003-

Knights Industrial Law Reports

1961-1974

Landlord & Tenant Reports

1998-

The Law Reports (Appeal Cases)

1865-

The Law Reports (Chancery Division)

1865-

The Law Reports (Family Division)

1972-

The Law Reports (Queen's Bench)

1865-

Law Reports of the Commonwealth

1995-

Law Times Reports

1918-1965

Legal Decisions Affecting Bankers

1889-

Official Journal of the European Union

1954-

Personal Injury and Quantum Reports

1992-

Privy Council Decisions

1999-

Professional Negligence & Liability Reports

1955-

Property, Planning and Compensation Reports (formerly Planning and Compensation Reports)

1949-

Queen's Bench

1865-

Reports of Patent Cases

1977-

Road Traffic Reports

1970-

Ryde's Rating Cases

1956-1979

Scots Law Times

1893-

Scottish Civil Law Reports

1987-

Scottish Criminal Case Reports

1953-

Session Cases

1930-

Simon's Tax Cases

1973-

Special Commissioners Decisions

1995-

Tax Cases

1875-

Times Law Reports

1988-

Weekly Law Reports

1953-