Searching AustLII for Cases and Legislation

Choose the legal source you need

AustLII gives access to Australian legal materials, including court decisions and legislation. First, decide what kind of source you need. Cases, Acts, regulations, and topic overviews may appear in different collections.

If you know a case, search its party name or citation. For legislation, use its title or a phrase from a section. For a broad issue, begin with a few key terms. Search results can help you find sources, but they are not legal advice.

Think about jurisdiction before you search. Australian law can differ across states and territories. Federal law is another source. If you know where an event took place, add that place or choose the matching collection.

• Known case: Search a party name or case citation.
• Known law: Search its full title or a distinct phrase.
• Legal issue: Start with two or three key terms.
• Known place: Add the state, territory, or federal level.

Search AustLII with focused terms

Choose a collection when you know the source type or jurisdiction. A broad search can help when you are unsure where to start. It may mix cases, laws, and other materials. A focused search is often easier to scan.

Use short, distinct terms instead of a full question. For example, a rental bond search could include “rental bond” and the state name. For a known case, put its most distinctive party name first. Try another spelling or phrase if the first search finds little.

Change one search term at a time. Add a court, year, phrase, or jurisdiction to narrow the list. If too few results remain, remove one term and search again. This shows which change affected the results.

1. Pick a source type or jurisdiction, if you know it.
2. Enter a short phrase, name, or citation.
3. Scan titles, dates, and source details.
4. Add one term to narrow the results.
5. Open likely matches and check them closely.

Review results before opening a source

Look at each result’s title, date, and source type. These details can help rule out material from another court or period. Similar names may refer to different cases or laws. Do not rely on a title alone.

Try related terms if your first search misses the issue. Courts and laws may use terms that differ from everyday speech. Search for a phrase from a likely source. Then compare those results with your first set.

Keep track of terms that find useful material. Note the collection and jurisdiction too. A short search record can save time when you return to the topic. It can also help you explain how you found a source.

Read a case and check its citation

When you open a case, check its full name, court, and decision date. These details help separate it from similar decisions. The citation can also help you find the same case elsewhere.

Read the opening details before using a passage. Then find the judge’s reasons and the part that deals with your issue. A search match may appear in a footnote or a summary of an earlier case. The match alone does not show that the passage supports your point.

Check whether a later case has treated the decision differently. A case in the results is not proof that it remains good law. If the issue has legal consequences, check a current citator or speak with a qualified legal professional.

Record the case name, court, date, and citation. Save enough of the passage to find it again. If you plan to cite the case, check the style you need. Confirm the page or paragraph reference as well.

Find legislation and check its version

Search for legislation by its full title when you know it. If not, use a distinct phrase with the relevant jurisdiction. Open the result that matches the right lawmaking body. Then check the title, year, and version details.

Laws can change over time. An older version may matter for events that happened before an amendment. It may not show the rule in force today. Check the version date, amendment notes, and details about when a change began.

Do not treat a search result as proof that a section is in force. When current status matters, confirm it with an official source for that jurisdiction. Compare the section with later changes. Read related regulations or schedules when needed.

• Match the law’s title and jurisdiction.
• Check the year and version date.
• Look for changes and start dates.
• Confirm current status with an official source when needed.

Use AustLII results with care

AustLII is a research tool, not a substitute for legal advice. Search terms can miss useful sources when they are too narrow or use different wording. A result may also be old, from another jurisdiction, or only partly relevant.

Check the source itself before relying on a result. Make sure it is the kind of material you need. For a case, confirm the court and date. For legislation, confirm the version and whether later changes apply.

Keep a note of the source details and the search terms that found it. This makes it easier to retrace your steps or check a citation later. If you need advice about your own situation, talk to a qualified legal professional.

Careful checks matter. A useful search is only the first step.