Find cases by citation
Before you search for a case by citation, make sure to transcribe case details exactly as they are provided from your source.
There are two ways you can search using a known citation. The easiest way is to search a case citator database. The other is to search the law report series. Using the below case example, both methods will be demonstrated.
Case example:
Telebooth Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Ltd [1994] 1 VR 337
The citation for this case is: [1994] 1 VR 337
Method 1: Search for the citation in case citator databases
If you have a known citation you can search using the citation field in a case citator database.
CaseBase Cases Advanced Search example
Use the CaseBase Cases Advanced Search (on Lexis+ Australia) and enter your citation into the Citation field.
Westlaw Australia example
Use the Westlaw Australia homepage. Enter your citation into the main search box and press enter or click the search icon.
Method 2: Search for the law report abbreviation
If you have a known law report abbreviation you can search for cases in law report series.
Deakin Library catalogue example
Use the Legal Abbreviations guide to check what your abbreviation stands for. For example, VR stands for Victorian Reports.
On the Library catalogue record you will see the holdings for that law report series. The holdings will be either online or print.
To access a digital copy of the case in the law report, click the link to the database (listed next to the Access Online). To access a print copy, note the call number for the law report series and the campus library it is held at.
Case citations: square [ ] and round brackets ( )
Some law reports citations, and unreported judgments with a medium neutral citations, use brackets to indicate year information.
Square bracket [ ]
Square brackets [ ] can indicate a law report organised by yearly volumes. The year of the volume is more important than the year of the case when retrieving the case.
Example
Lansell v Lansell [1963] VR 102
The square brackets [ ] indicate this case can be found in the 1963 volume of the Victorian Reports and the judgment of the case starts on page 102. If more than one volume is published in that year, the square brackets will be followed by a sequential number. Refer to AGLC4 rule 2.2.1 'Year and Volume' for more information.
Square brackets are always used when you are referring to an unreported judgment that has a medium neutral citation. Refer to AGLC4 rule 2.3.1 'Decisions with a Medium Neutral Citation' for more information.
Round bracket ( )
Round brackets ( ) indicate that a law report is organised by continuous volume numbers. The year of the case will be in round brackets before the volume number of the law report.
Round brackets ( ) indicate that the volume number is more important than the year of the case.
Example
Lange v Australian Broadcasting Commission (1997) 189 CLR 520
This case is published in volume 189 of the Commonwealth Law Reports and the judgment of the case starts on page 520. If you are searching in a database for this case, use 189 CLR 520. The round bracketed (1997) just indicates the year the judgment was delivered in the case.
