Legal Research Workshops

Delivered by the  Law Library and the Ian Malkin Centre for Legal Academic Skills  to develop and consolidate foundational legal research skills.

Workshops for Semester 1 have finished, recordings are available via the Legal Academic Skills Centre LMS Community.

Semester 2 Workshops - 1pm via Zoom (link)

Developing a research topic and approaches to legal research

Monday 31 July

1:00 -2.00pm

In this workshop we will look at where to find ideas for research topics and how to keep in touch with areas of research interest.

We will also work through four different approaches to legal research:

  • problem based
  • law reform
  • foreign and comparative
  • legal theory.

Finding secondary sources for your research paper

Tuesday 1 August

1:00 -2.00pm

In this workshop we will investigate how to use secondary sources effectively. We will be looking at

  • legal encyclopedias & dictionaries
  • how to effectively search for books and e-books in the catalogue
  • effective journal article searches in key databases
  • other secondary sources that may also be useful.

Researching Australian Legislation

Monday 7 August

1:00 - 2.00 pm

In this workshop we will be looking at

  • The Australian legislative process and the materials the resources that this process produces
  • How to find the resources that build up to a piece of legislation and are linked to a piece of legislation
  • How to find point in time legislation
  • How to find cases and secondary sources that are linked to a piece of legislation in key databases.

Researching Australian Case Law

Tuesday 8 August

1:00 -2.00 pm

In this workshop we will look at:

  • What is an authorised report?
  • Australian case law and citator databases.
  • Know the differences in how the databases report cases.
  • How the different databases link into secondary sources, that are related to cases.

Managing your research with Zotero

Thursday 10 August

To get the most out of this workshop please download Zotero and the Zotero connector.

In this workshop we will look at:

  • how to add the latest version of the AGLC into Zotero, as the preferred referencing system
  • how to load resources into your Zotero library
  • how to edit resources in the library
  • how to add bibliographic information into a document via the Zotero connector.

Researching international public law

Tuesday 15 August

In this workshop we will look at:

  • sources of public international law
  • how to search treaty databases
  • how to find international cases
  • how to find UN documents
  • useful international sources that the library subscribes to.

Decolonising research

Wednesday 16 August

In this workshop we will look at:

  • the first steps to decolonising research
  • the  lens with which students undertake research
  • the voices traditionally privileged in research
  • the ways students can decolonise their research.

Developed and delivered by Cassandra Seery from the Ian Malkin Centre for Legal Academic Skills.

Foreign and comparative law

Monday 21 August

In this workshop we will look at:

  • how to find out about the legal system of different countries
  • key secondary sources that will help build research on a foreign law system
  • key primary sources that will help build research on a foreign law system
  • where to go for comparative legal research.

Technology and the law

Tuesday 22 August

1:00 -2.00 pm

In this workshop we will look at:

  • key reference materials and specialist databases
  • how to search for sources focusing on technology and the law
  • how new ways of connecting and doing business are impacting the law.

Legal Research Gatherings will also be held in Semester 2.  These informal sessions are an opportunity to  network with your peers and pick up some legal research tips at the same time.

Dates: 31 Aug, 5pm,  12 Sept 1pm and 2 Oct 5pm via Zoom.

If you have a legal research query you can email law-librarians@unimelb.edu.au

If your query relates to legal academic skills, reach out to cassandra.seery@unimelb.edu.au<

Clerkship research workshop where to find free resources

Semester 2 dates TBC

Assistance for when you are working in a legal position at an organisation that may not have all the subscription resources you are used to at Melbourne Law School.