Legal citations, abbreviations, dictionaries and definitions

Legal citations and abbreviations

All law reports are referred to using a standardised 'citation', for example, Pepper v Hart [1993] A.C. 593.
This provides: the party names, Pepper and Hart; the year in which the report was published, 1993; the law report series abbreviation, AC and the page number, 593.
To locate where this case has been 'reported', identify the abbreviation used.

Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations|

• Use to identify the full title of the law report series or journal title required.
• Coverage includes current and historical titles, UK and international materials.
• An abbreviation can refer to multiple publications. Check the titles that most closely match the topic or jurisdiction that you are studying.

Westlaw UK| (LSE staff and students: select 'Academic Home organisation) 

• Provides UK case summaries and citation details under Case Analysis.
• Links to the full text provided for UK law reports where available.
• Legal Journals Index (select Journals) provides a key to journal abbreviations.

JustCite| (LSE staff and students only: select Home institution)

• Use to locate legal citations for case law, legislation and articles
• Provides citations, case summaries, case or legislation history, and key articles.
• Provides details of which databases or website hold the full text.

Neutral citations

Neutral citations| - introduced in the UK in 2001 to enable unreported judgments to be cited consistently in court. These abbreviations do not refer to a printed publication.
Smith v Jones [2001] EWCA Civ 10 refers to a judgment in the Court of Appeal Civil Division of England and Wales.

Locate these judgments online on Lexis Library| or Westlaw UK| or BAILII|.

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Encyclopedias and dictionaries

• Halsbury's Laws of England, Lexis Library or KD310 H19 Main Collection, an excellent place to start research on a new topic.
• Oxford Dictionary of Law in Oxford Reference Online or at KD313 C74 Reference Collection, first floor
• Black's Law Dictionary KF156 B62 Reference Collection, first floor
• International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences  covers a wide range of subject areas including law, economics, psychology, sociology.
• Encyclopedia of Law and Economics
• Oxford Encyclopedia of Legal History

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Legal definitions

The precise legal meaning of a word or a phrase is of great importance. The definition of a normal non-legal dictionary or encyclopedia will not be sufficient. The interpretation of statutes or documents or the solution to a legal problem may hinge upon the exact meaning of one word.

Use our reference works to ascertain if the word or phrase has been legally defined or to check Latin or techno-legal word.

• Words and phrases legally defined. Edited by J.B. Saunders. 3rd ed. London, Butterworths: 1988-1990. KD313 W92 Reference Collection.
• Stroud, F. Stroud's Judical Dictionary of words and phrases. 5th ed. London, Sweet and Maxwell, 1986. KD313 S92 Reference Collection. 
• Current Law KD296.C8 C97 Main Collection. 
• Halsbury's Laws of England Lexis Library or KD310 H19 Main Collection. Use the words and phrases section in the subject index volume.   

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Legal research books 

• Clinch, P. Using a law library : a student's guide to legal research skills. London: Blackstone, 2nd edition, 2001. KD392 C64 Reference Collection
• Dane and Thomas' How to use a law library. London : Sweet & Maxwell, 4th edition, 2001. KD392 D17 Reference Collection
• Holborn, G. Butterworths Legal research guide. London: Butterworths, 2nd edition, 2001. KD392 H72 Course Collection and Reference Collection
• Thomas, P.A, Knowles, J. Effective legal research. London : Thomas/Sweet & Maxwell, 2006. KD392 T46 Course Collection and Main Collection