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Databases for law

Passwords | Guide to database searching | Database demonstrations | Database tutorials

The library has subscriptions to the following databases on the Internet. Access is restricted to staff and students of the University of the West of England(UWE), and may be controlled by username and password protection.

You can access these databases via the library web pages at:

www.uwe.ac.uk/library/resources/general/databases


or via the law library web pages at:


www.uwe.ac.uk/library/resources/law/databases.htm


Passwords for law databases.

The Library Services at UWE has several subscriptions to law specific databases but they usually require a username and password to access them, particularly if you wish to access a database off campus.

A list of usernames and passwords for all UWE databases to which UWE subscribes are available from the Library Services web pages. However, the list is only accessible to on campus and to registered UWE students and staff. Registered UWE Law Faculty students will have a list of current passwords in their library resource book.

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Brief guide to database searching.

Words and connectors.

Any string of characters is a 'word' and searchable on most database systems.


Words:

negligence [one word]

Channel Tunnel [a phrase]

Jacques Delors [a name]

821.7 (a) (7) [number]
vdu [abbreviation]

Single term searching may prove acceptable when you are looking for a fairly unusual term or name, but most problems you will need to identify the issue/s and express the concepts using more than one search term.


Variations of words.

Use universal character wildcards to replace letter(s) within a word or to truncate a word to its basic word root. In many databases the wildcard is * but not all, so check the database help facility before searching.


For example - In the LexisNexis Butterworths database searching using WOM*N searches for both woman and women.

For example - In the LexisNexis Butterworths database Employ! searches for employment, employer, employed, employee and employing.


Searching for more than one term.

The more powerful way to search is by creating a search string or statement. By combining the keywords representing the concept(s) or ideas you are searching you can narrow down a search which has retrieved too many irrelevant records or broaden one which has failed to retrieve potentially useful documents.

In most databases it is possible to combine keywords using logical connectors or Boolean operators (see below) which allow you to link together concepts in one search request.

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Connectors.

Narrowing a search.

AND For example: goods AND carriage
only retrieves documents containing both terms.


Graphic illustration of the use of the 'AND' boolean operator.


When searching for cases, combine the parties to a case using an AND operator

For example: Rylands AND Fletcher


NOT For example: property NOT intellectual
Only retrieves documents which contain the term property but not those where intellectual is also present. (NOT should always be used with care as otherwise you may exclude relevant documents.)


Graphic illustration of the use of the 'NOT' boolean operator.



Broadening a search.

OR For example: copyright OR passing off
retrieves all documents where those terms are present either together or on their own.


Graphic illustration of the use of the 'OR' boolean operator.


OR can be used to link synonyms.

For example: value OR price

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Proximity searching.

In many databases it is possible to search for words which appear in proximity to each other, e.g. in the same sentence or paragraph. The following commands are those used in the LexisNexis Butterworths database - check individual database help facility to find commands for other systems.


W/n For example: Asbestos W/12 lung

this is a more precise search allowing you to specify that asbestos must appear within 12 words of lung in all relevant documents.
W/s

will retrieve documents where the search terms appear in the same sentence.
W/p will retrieve documents where the search terms appear in the same paragraph.

Connector order.

Connectors operate in an order of priority set by the database. You need to be aware of this when constructing more complex searches. Use parentheses to maintain the logic of you research statement and avoid ambiguities which could result in missing relevant documents.


For example: (Channel W/2 tunnel) OR chunnel

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Refining your search.

If possible always start with a fairly broad search and gradually introduce new concepts or ideas to refine the initial set of references retrieved. If your first search strategy retrieves too many documents, you can either browse through a list of titles, or you can try to make your search more specific. If you don't retrieve as many documents as you want, try thinking of alternative search terms you might use. Database searching is more of an art than a science - you won't necessarily find the documents you want without putting some thought and experiment into how you carry out your search.


Field searching.

Documents in databases are usually divided into different segments or fields. It is usually possible to limit your search to particular segments of the documents or to display certain segments only in your results.

The fields or segments used will depend on the database and on the type of document. A newspaper report, for example, is divided on the LexisNexis Butterworths database into headline, length of the report, byline, data, language, and so on. Check the individual database help facility on how to carry out field searching and/or see the individual database guides available.


Planning a search.

It is always a good idea to PLAN YOUR SEARCH before you logon to any database.

Use a typical 'Search Plan' form to organise your thoughts and structure your search before going online. It does save time.

Try to think of the different ways in which your query can be expressed. Consult some of the law dictionaries and glossaries in the Law Search area to generate alternative keywords or synonyms and check legal terminology. If you are searching for law reports remember to formulate your search request in terms which the judge or law reporter may have used in a case report.


For further information on study and information seeking skills see the library services web pages at:

www.uwe.ac.uk/library/resources/general/info_study_skills/


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Database demonstrations.

There is a series of database demonstrations available which are audio-enabled.

 

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Using Lawtel to track the progress of new legislation.

Text only transcript. (pdf)

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Using the Articles Index on Lawtel.

Text only transcript. (pdf)

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Authority search on Westlaw UK.

Text only transcript (pdf)

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Database tutorials.

Try out the interactive tutorials on using specific databases.


Passwords | Guide to database searching | Database demonstrations | Database tutorials