Q. Where can I find Law materials in the Library?

You can find the location in the Library Search records, so you should check the exact location of the item you need before you head to the shelves.

Most of the printed law books and journals (except law reports) are located in the Sydney Jones Library on either the Ground Floor or 2nd Floor Grove Wing.

We also have some law books, journals and reports in the Brunswick Library Store. As the Brunswick store is an off-site store, you will need to request this material in advance of your visit. You should request the item via the Click and Collect function in Library Search. For more information see How do I reserve a book via the Library's Click and Collect service?

Law reports are available online or in print. Case law can be found on Lexis+ and Westlaw UK; search by case citation to find the exact report that you need. If the case is very recent and has not yet been reported in an official law report series, it may have been reported very briefly in The Times newspaper. Check The Times online via Lexis+ Newspapers. Alternatively, an online transcript of the case may be available, either directly from the website of the court where the case was heard or via Find Case Law, BAILII, Lexis+ or Westlaw UK.

Library Search can direct you to printed law reports. Search for the law report series by Title, locate the volume you need and look up the case in the index. 

Most reports will be available on Westlaw UK or Lexis+, however if you need to access a printed report, most are held in Store in the Harold Cohen Library. Head to the Help Desk at the Harold Cohen Library (HCL) during the Library's staffed hours. You can find the opening hours for the HCL Help Desk on this webpage here. Make sure you make a note of the classmark and any other identifying information (e.g. year and volume) of the item you would like to consult before you go.

During busy periods, you may need to wait or call back later, so that staff have time to retrieve the volume for you.

We also have some law reports in the Brunswick Library Store. As the Brunswick store is an off-site store, you will need to request this material in advance of your visit to the Library. You should request the item via the Click and Collect function in Library Search. For more information see How do I reserve a book via the Library's Click and Collect service?

Before the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting (ICLR) began publishing the modern Law Reports series in 1865, cases were reported privately by individuals. Collectively, these historic law reports are known as the Nominate Reports. These have been reprinted into The English Reports, covering the period 1220-1865.

Often in legal literature, an old case will have an English Reports citation in addition to its original citation. For example:

Howard v Conway (1844) 1 Coll 87, 63 ER 333.

The English Reports are available in print and also online via Library Search and the Law Library Guide. Library Search will direct you to the location of any print items in the Library. 

Online resources providing access to Parliamentary Papers include:

• House of Commons Parliamentary Papers
• The Stormont Papers: 50 Years of Northern Ireland Parliamentary Debates Online
• Public Information Online

(NOTE: there is now minimal access to the Stormont Papers. See the link above for further details).

Hansard, the edited verbatim report of proceedings of both Houses of Parliament, is available directly from the UK Parliament website Publications & Records section, alongside other publications detailing the business of Parliament.

For further details see the Library Guides for Law, Politics, History, Irish Studies,  Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology. Online students should consult the Library for Online Programmes.

For access to historical papers in print format please search using Library Search.

For help and assistance in searching for /using Parliamentary Papers please contact your subject Liaison Librarian.