Create Case Alert feature on Westlaw UK

Today I learnt about the useful Create Case Alert feature on Westlaw UK.

I’m not sure if this is a new feature or if it has somehow passed me by all this time. If you want to be alerted to changes made to the case you are looking at, click on “Create Case Alert” at the top right of the screen. You will be presented with the options to be alerted by email if:

·          the case status changes

·          an appeal has been heard

·          a different case has been heard between the same parties

·          it is cited in another case

·          it is referred to in a journal article

You can do this from the Case Analysis Document, full-text case, or Graphical History screen. Very useful.

ICLR Online - a new way to search The Law Reports

Today I learnt that the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting in England and Wales (ICLR) has launched a new online service called ICLR Online. It provides online access to The Law Reports (the official series) and Weekly Law Reports, as well as other series published by ICLR. In total 77,00 full text reports are available, dating back to 1865.

The online demo (accessible via the ICLR website) highlights the fact the service is "designed by practitioners for practitioners". ICLR claims to have simple search functionality and accurate, relevant results. It says "no other service supplies information in such a concise and carefully considered way." That sounds good. As does the fact you can download court-ready PDFs of the reports. Whether or not it will be a viable alternative to either Lexis Library or Westlaw UK is hard to judge from the online demo. Free trials are available.

ICLR Online:
http://iclr.co.uk/iclr-online

Westlaw UK's New "Appeal Outstanding" Status Icon

Today I learnt that Westlaw UK has launched an "Appeal Outstanding" status icon for UK case law.

The icon will display if a case is currently on appeal, or if an application to appeal has been submitted.

http://info.westlaw.co.uk/rp/43/Content.clsp?ContentId=1707#Appeal_tracker

Inner Temple Library's Guide to Sourcing Transcripts of Judicial Proceedings

Today I learnt how to get hold of transcripts of court proceedings in England and Wales.

The Inner Temple Library produces an extremely useful guide called Transcripts of Judicial Proceedings in England and Wales: A Guide to Sources.

For each court it tells you the name of the library or court reporter that can provide transcripts, as well as the charges involved, formats available, opening hours etc. I just found out today that it has recently been updated to 2011. I haven’t seen the new version yet, but I can’t emphasize enough how useful the old one is! You can buy it from the Inner Temple Library website:

http://www.innertemplelibrary.org.uk/Transcripts/TranscriptsGuide.htm

BAILII's Guide to Neutral Citations

Today I learnt that BAILII has an excellent guide to neutral citations on its website. This is where I will be directing trainees in the future:

http://www.bailii.org/bailii/citation.html