Lawtel Training Session Agenda What’s Lawtel? It’s an online user interface connected large number of legal databases behind the scenes. You can access information on content like cases, legislation and journals. Key Features Lawtel is great for Current Awareness. Its focus is getting you up to date quickly with the latest legal developments It is updated on a daily basis Lawtel reports cases that are unreported elsewhere – sometimes within 24 hours It covers lower courts and specialist courts Lawtel has a statutory status table that is updated the same day You can track prospective legislation using the legislative calendar. You can even insert these dates into your Outlook Calender Welcome Page Introductions What we will cover today What you will know by the end of the session This is a very important skill for you to have. It will help you in your student and professional life. By citing the latest information in your assignments, you could get extra marks! It can help you impress prospective employers. 92% of the top 100 law firms use Lawtel. User guides:- you will get them sent out to you soon or check the library if they have some. Navigation tools Lawtel Icon – homepage button – always take you to the home screen Top Navigation tool – allows you to personalise your service Horizontal Navigation Tool Bar - access content using this tool bar. You can use content tab or the links in the dropdown menus. You will only see the links for the services you have access to. Helpline number at the bottom: call them between 9 am and 5 pm. Very helpful. Lawtel (basic) cross database search Main search page for Basic Searching and Cross database search Enter terms into the Simple search box and select the content you want to search across. 1
You can “Select All” Add in a date restriction to further refine your search The most effective way of searching is to search by the individual content types listed at the top of the screen Today We will be looking at the main content types using the links on the left: o Cases (& PI Quantum Reports) o Legislation (& legislation Calendar) o Secondary sources: Journals & News and press. Cases: Accessing Cases You can Access Cases Advanced Search using the Case Law link from the main screen Or by Clicking on the Cases tab in the navigation bar Dropdown menu: other cases content, include PI Quantum reports Cases coverage Cases date back to1980 Cases updated within 24 hrs (sometimes just a few hours!!) Includes cases that are NOT reported elsewhere!! There are approximately 55,000 oral and written judgments Lawtel also has Transcripts of semi approved cases (can be used in court) pending actions Cases Advanced Search The advanced search template enables you to refine your search by entering additional information such as Subject, Court and Citation The Help links on right provide further information and guidance
Case Name
Goode Martin
Your results are returned in reverse chronological order with the latest case first. The Judgement date of the case is 13/12/2001. The Lawtel reported date can be found under that in References. It is also 13/12/2001. Subject:
Defamation 2
Free text:
Football
Select the Cases you want using the check boxes and click to Print, Save or Email your results. Edit search Case Name
“BRUCE GROBBELAAR”
Sentence under the case name gives you a small synopsis of the case Also gives you keywords, the neutral citation, the court and the judges and the referneces Go to result BRUCE GROBBELAAR 2002 Lawtel shows you the case digest of the case. You can access the full judgement in its original text or original transcript by clicking on Full Text link in the top left-hand corner of the result. You also have access to information on the counsel for the case and a list of articles citing this case The case history shows you which decision you are currently viewing Case Comments Service – expert commentary by leading practitioners on the legal significance and impact of cases in their field. Refining Tools The Keyword Wheel helps you to target case searches more accurately. Start typing your selected term and you will see a selection of available keywords. Click on a term to select it. By clicking on the symbol of the tree in the legislation box, you can select the legislation you want from the list. Keyword wheel:
Intoxicated
Legislation Tree
“Access to justice act”
PI Quantum Reports Good for Tort. Will help you calculate the amount you can claim for damages or PSLA amount. Free Text:
“Full Recovery”
Body Part /Condition
Ankle 3
Gender
Male
Results retrieved are quantum reports Click on 5th RICHARD ARMSTRONG v SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL Point out the total damages amount, settlement date, PSLA amount and type of settlement Lawtel Pending Actions PA allows you to follow an Action from its initial stages -> right through to the High Court Decision PA track all docs submitted to high court before hearing date is fixed This means you can: Track proceedings from start to finish Make decisions based on actions submitted to the court If the case goes to trial you can check the outcome on Lawtel How PA can help you? Flag up important cases at the earliest stage See if an action has been settled out of court Which Courts do we cover? We only have PA for the High Court (QBD / Commercial Court / Chancery Division) To view Pending Actions Enter Search criteria Subject: Keyword:
Contracts Breach
Court: Queens Bench Division Select: Ada Computer Systems Limited v BMO Capital Markets Limited Each result is a pending action Select the individual pending action to see further information on the action submitted PA Alerts You can sign up to PA alerts tailored to your specialist area Once you have run your search and viewing your pending action, select “Track Case” at the bottom right hand corner 4
A message will appear at the bottom of the page letting you know your PA has been saved in my Pending actions under the “My Lawtel” Tab at the top of the screen. An email will be sent when the status of action changes (meaning you don’t need to visit Lawtel to keep up to date!) Under the “my pending actions” link you can view or remove PA alerts. Summary Pending Actions are included as part of your subscription and allow you to search and track actions before case goes to court. This means you will be the first to know about casers at the earliest possible stage. Legislation: Accessing Legislation Access Legislation Advanced Search using: Click on the Legislation tab in the navigation bar - Dropdown menu: other Legislation content, including Statutes, SI’s etc
Legislation Screen From the main search page you can refine your search for Statutes, Statutory Instruments, Command Papers and Parliamentary Bills.
Legislation calendars The legislation calendar helps you track key dates in legislation including, Bills being read, SIs and Acts coming into force. Show month view Searches Subject
“Banking & Finance”
Subject
“Energy”
Subject
“Environment”
Browsable legislation You can also browse for a particular legislation. 5
Select browseable legislation from the legislation tab Browse to
Access to justice act
From here you can view the act or the cases citing the whole act or cases citing particular sections of the act. Statutes To search for statutes select the link in advanced search or from the navigation drop down Enter Title:
“Competition act 1998” “Westminster”
Origin;
Know year of Act enter it - but not necessary to return result Full Text - go to section
4 and 5
Statutory Status Table – Lawtel shows you original legislation so it is important to check the statutory status table for any amendedments and repeals. This table provides a breakdown of the sections of the act and indicates whether it has been brought into force, the commencement date, if there are any amendments or repeals Also provides explanatory notes detailing the purpose of the act Repealed means whole section repealed Repeals mean sections partially repealed Parliamentary Bills Free text search:
“anti social behaviour bill”
Select no. 83 is the anti social behaviour bill Shows you the different stages and gives you the date of royal assent of the bill Command Papers You can also search command papers They are the White and Green government papers before they become a bill Accessing Articles Lawtel’s Articles Abstract is like LJI on Westlaw. The journals date back to 1992
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It contains abstracts from over 90 legal publications like the IDS Employment Law Brief. You can view the complete list in Content and Coverage link. The abstract outlines the content of the article. Access Advanced Search using: the horizontal navigation bar or click on the Articles link within the main search template Articles Search Index Publication:
British Tax Review
Title:
Stamp Duty
Reverse chronological order Result displayed headlines - link to article abstract News and Press Lawtel’s News and press Index digests key government sources and leading newspapers Concise abstracts of legal and regulatory developments Specialist Area: Lawtel Litigator What is Lawtel Litigator? Lawtel Litigator is a practical tool designed especially for litigation practitioners. It contains a selection of procedural guides, which provide step by step guidance and links to relevant, forms, precedents, cases, legislation Lawtel Litigator Homepage Navigation bar gives you content for Litigator Practice area Hover curser over content links for a drop down for further content “Home” takes you back to specialist home “Lawtel Icon” Takes you to Lawtel Home Page Cross Database search for Litigator content Procedural Guides Select Civil Procedure Select Application for a summary Judgment Show the Add to favourites icon at top right hand corner Precedents 7
For more experienced practitioner don’t need step by step guidance just need the relevant forms Select the Application for a summary Judgment Important Browsing and searching on the left side of the screen. Shows you the procedural guides /Checklists and Precedents Rules and Guides Provides links to Civil Procedure rules (Consolidated text) Select Part 36 > Rule 36.6 Bottom of screen provides links to practice directions Top of screen provides the links to CPR Amendments Select links to CPR Amendments
Specialist Area: EU
Navigation bar gives you content for EU Practice area Hover curser over content links for a drop down for further content “Home” takes you back to specialist home “Lawtel Icon” Takes you to Lawtel Home Page Cross Database search for EU content
EU Practice Tools
Nicknames
Gives the common names for directives Anti Spam Directive and describes the directive in plain English a lot easier to understand
Select
Anti Spam Directive
EU Glossary:
Defines terms i.e. AG Attorney General / Green papers We’ve built the glossary and it’s a great research tool 8
Glossary of EU courts
Gives a list of all the member state courts and their hierarchy
Select
England
EU Legislative Process Diagram of EU legislative process
EU Cases Search
Search facility same as Lawtel UK: Case Name:
Dassonville
Adopted Legislation Legislation that’s in force: Regulation, Decision, Directive recommendation Free Text Search:
“Working time” Directive – Result 3
Select result “CODIFIED DIRECTIVE ON THE ORGANISATION OF WORKING TIME (WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE” Lawtel has Abstract about the Directive Link to the full text commission document from OJL in Celex
Proposed Legislation Like a UK Bill - i.e. draft legislation Other MS can propose legislation included in db From OJC – i.e. it’s draft proposals, (It’s not in OJL as its not primary or secondary legislation yet) Proposed Directives, Treaties, Regulations, Decision etc
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ď ś Treaties
Free text Search:
Nice
Results Article by article
ď ś Merger Decisions
Lawtel Tracks the development of merger cases from notification to final decision. It includes links to the official documents and related press releases. Database of Abstracts Links to full text, Merger decision abstracts on Lawtel within 24 hours of publication.
Free text Search:
Thomson Reuters
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