Open Law Guide: England & Wales
Open Law Guide: England & Wales
There are many reasons you might need to access legal information for yourself or others. Legal jargon, and limited access to expensive materials often held in academic or specialist law libraries, can make this very difficult for those not in (or studying) the profession - but it's not impossible!
This guide brings together information on open legal information:
- definitions of legal terms,
- how to increase your knowledge of the law and legal system using open access resources,
- and how to find credible and current information.
It is not exhaustive, and most importantly it does not provide any interpretation of the law.
The purpose of the Open Law Toolkit is to support those without a background in law to source and access legal information; this includes non-law librarians and those working in libraries who are unlikely to have access to subscription resources.
In law you might come across words and phrases you have not seen before, or that have different meanings in this context. Click on the below links to view various guides and glossaries aimed at demystifying legal terminology:
| Link to resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Plain English Campaign: The A-Z guide to legal phrases | Aimed at supporting lawyers in explaining legal concepts to clients in plain English. |
| Glossary of Legal Terms and Phrases | LexisNexis | Filter by area of law. For more complex terms. |
| The Law Society: Legal glossary | A glossary providing definitions of legal terms found on the Law Society's website. |
| SRA | Legal jargon explained | Solicitors Regulation Authority | Explanations of key terms. Aimed at the public. |
| Glossary of Legal Terms and Phrases - The Inner Temple Library | A glossary of popular terms you may come across when conducting legal research. |
1. When was it published?
Currency is crucial in law. The law changes frequently, so older sources may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Questions to ask:
- What is the publication date?
- Has the law changed since this was published?
- Is there a more recent version or update?
2. Is it authoritative?
Not all legal information carries the same weight. If you are simply trying to increase your awareness of a specific topic or area of law you should still consider the authority of the source.
Questions to ask:
- Who is the author?
- Why was this source created?
- Is it an official or recognised legal source?
3. Is it relevant to you?
Law depends heavily on context and jurisdiction.
Questions to ask:
- Does it relate to the correct legal issue?
- Is it from the correct jurisdiction?
- Is it appropriate for the level of study or type of work you are doing?
4. Is it still good law?
A source that is still legally valid is often described as “good law”.
Questions to ask:
- Has this legislation been amended, replaced, or repealed?
- Has the judgement been overruled?
Click the link below for a printable PDF of this checklist:
There are a number of websites, guides and books providing introductions to legal topics and research. Here are a few suggestions:
Access to Law – Legal resources selected & annotated by Inner Temple Library AccessToLaw is a treasure trove of information, providing annotated links to selected UK, Commonwealth and worldwide free legal web sites. Over 1,300 sites are currently included. Please note that this site is not currently being updated.
Litigants in Person Guide, compiled by law librarian Sally McLaren, is a freely available guide aimed at helping individuals better understand and engage with the legal process. It can be read online or downloaded, and contains many suggested sources (free and available for purchase).
Lawbore is aimed at law students at City University, but it's a great introduction to a wide range of legal topics with links out to additional resources.
For Individuals - Venables Legal Resources provides useful information and online services on legal issues facing individuals. It is easy to navigate as information is categorised by specific topic area.
Unfortunately, open access books in legal research remain hard to find and the ones that do exist are for other jurisdictions such as Canada and Australia. Introductory student textbooks can be found for a reasonable price (make sure you check the edition and publication date!)
Online courses are a good place to start exploring key legal concepts and the process of law making in England & Wales. When considering an online course, read the reviews and check to see when it was last updated.
| Link to resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Starting with law | OpenLearn - Open University | This free course, Starting with law, explores key legal concepts such as legal capacity and the rights and responsibilities of the individual. You will examine how laws are made, and how they affect us at different points in our lives. It is an ideal course if you are a beginner or returning to study. |
| The law-making process in England and Wales | OpenLearn - Open University | This free course, The law-making process in England and Wales, introduces you to the sources of law in England and Wales. It examines the democratic law-making process and how and by whom proposed legislation is initiated, before introducing you to the Westminster Parliament, which creates legislation. It is within this Parliament that proposed legislation is considered and becomes law. |
| Understanding the English Law | Free Online Course | Alison | The English law comprises mainly of two branches, the criminal law and the civil law and is commonly applied in England and Wales. This course takes a dive into the various branches starting with a general overview of the law and the foundational structures and institutions. You will also get a chance to understand sections such as property law, tort law, contract law and the legislature that governs and protects human rights. |