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Legal Research Basics


Note

When citing family law cases, rule 2.1.11 of the  Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition), states that '[i]n family law cases, 'v' should replace '&' to separate the parties'. This rule should be read in conjunction with rule 2.1.1 which states that a 'citation to an Australian case should generally include the parties names (as they appear on the first page of the decision)'.

Melbourne University Law Review Association, Australian Guide to Legal Citation (Melbourne University Law Review Association, 4th ed, 2018) 39 & 45.

More information is available in the Legal Referencing Guide - Citing Cases.


 

Key e-book resource

The Family Law Book has been designed to take you quickly to a concise but comprehensive statement of Australian family law and procedure, with extracts from key legislation and leading case law. [NOTE: this database works best with the Mozilla Firefox internet browser].

The Family Law Book is used by family lawyers around Australia as an essential and time saving tool containing all you need to know about routine family law with practical guidance as to how to prepare a family law case or negotiate an agreement.

 

Instruction

Use the search option or click on the table of contents bar at the right of the screen.


Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website


Legislation

Government legislation websites

 

Subscription legislation databases

  • Lawlex Premium provides links to authorised legislation for all Australian States and Territories.
  • Family Law Legislation via CCH iKnowConnect provides each section of the FLA 1975 and, where applicable, regulations, commentary, cases and forms and precedents.
  • Locating the legislation in LawNow (Lexis+ Australia) provides links to related cases and commentary.

Other useful online resources

 

CCH iKnowConnect

Family Law Practice Area

Family Law - CCH iKnowConnect

Comprehensive Family Law Library including:

Lexis+ Australia

Lexis+ Australia: Family Law

Westlaw Australia

Online legal commentary

The Lawyers Practice Manual Victoria is a procedural guide which deals with the everyday questions of legal practice and procedure. The manual's practical information and subject coverage are designed to meet the needs of both the community legal centre and private practitioner.

 

Legal encyclopaedia

Laws of Australia Navigate to title 17 Family Law.

Fitzroy Legal Service Law Handbook

 

The Law Handbook – Victoria’s most trusted practical guide to the law since 1977

The Law Handbook is your practical guide to the law in Victoria. Updated every year by over 80 legal experts, it provides comprehensive information about the laws that affect Victorians in everyday life including tenancy, consumer protection, bankruptcy, anti-discrimination, education, family, internet, environmental, employment and many more.

 


Researching for Journal articles

Journal articles can be found in databases listed in Researching Secondary Law Sources - Finding journal articles.

Researching for Cases

Cases on family law can be found in databases listed in Researching Case Law - Find cases by topic.