Legal Research Training

ICCA Bar Course Legal Research Guide

Originally prepared by the Inns of Court Libraries to support teaching on the ICCA Bar course, the Legal Research Guide (PDF) is now available to all student members. The Guide is intended to serve as a comprehensive reference book and includes legislation, cases, commentary, forms and precedents and the law of other legal systems.

Ask a Librarian and Subject Guides

Members of the Library team are also happy to offer advice and assistance with legal research at any time.  If you have already started your research and need additional guidance in finding and using legal resources, or if you are new to a certain area of law, please ask at the enquiry desk, or contact the Library. We have also created eight Subject Guides based on selected specialisms.  The Guides provide suggestions for key textbook reading, list important journal and law report series, and highlight useful organisations and free online resources. 

Online Database Training

Throughout the year the Library hosts database training sessions provided by the major legal publishers. The sessions are led by experienced external trainers.   

Upcoming training sessions will be advertised on this page, in the Library Bulletin and on the Inn's Facebook and Twitter pages. 

As a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, training sessions are now offered remotely from the major legal database providers.

Westlaw UK Certification Training

Westlaw UK Certification Training gives you an interactive walk-through of Westlaw UK with the option to then test your skills and become Certified.

Firstly you'll be taken step-by-step through everything you need to know to be a Westlaw UK power user. If you decide to take the test and pass, you’ll be Certified in Westlaw UK and be sent a certificate in the post to demonstrate your skills, which you can list on your CV.

Westlaw UK Basic Certification provides an introduction to Westlaw UK covering effective searching, refining results and using status icons to ensure you are using ‘good’ law.

Once you’ve completed Basic Certification, you can move onto Advanced, covering Boolean search connectors, Judicial consideration of case law, legislative modifications and derivation tables, EU and other advanced topics.

Online session details:

Westlaw (Basic) UK Certification Training

Thursday 21st October 4pm

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+44 20 3443 6253
795782113#   United Kingdom, London

Phone Conference ID: 795 782 113#

Westlaw (Advanced) UK Certification Training

Thursday 11th November 4pm 

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+44 20 3443 6253
909894381#   United Kingdom, London

Phone Conference ID: 909 894 381#

    Free Training Materials on the Web

    Most of the major legal databases offer free online database training videos, which should provide you with an introduction to material we subscribe to in the Library.

    1.LexisLibrary:

    2.EUR-Lex
    3.HeinOnline
    4.HUDOC
    5.i-Law
    6.JustisOne
    7.Westlaw UK