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Legal Research 101

Your starting point for conducting effective legal research in Hong Kong.

Welcome to the World of Legal Research!

Developing robust legal research skills is essential for your academic success for several reasons:

  • Competent legal professionals don’t need to memorize every detail of the law; instead, they should excel at efficiently finding relevant information.
  • The legal landscape is constantly evolving due to new legislation and case law, making it crucial for law students to remain informed.
  • Mastering effective legal research allows you to spend more time on reading, analyzing, drafting, and refining your assignments.

This comprehensive online guide is designed to equip you with the foundational skills necessary for effective legal research, empowering you to navigate the dynamic legal environment with confidence.

 

Primary and Secondary Sources

Legal resources are divided into primary and secondary sources:

Primary Sources:
The actual law

Secondary Sources: 
Materials that provide commentary on the law

 

The Importance of Secondary Sources in Legal Research

Secondary sources are vital when exploring an unfamiliar area of law. They offer comprehensive overview of the legal topic, helping you understand the key legal terms and concepts. You can also identify important cases and relevant statutory provisions from secondary sources, serving as an excellent starting point for your legal research journey.

 

Decoding Legal Abbreviations 

Legal abbreviations can present significant challenges for new law students and researchers. Many law reports and journals use abbreviations in their citations, making it difficult for inexperienced individuals to interpret them and locate the necessary resources. Here are some examples:

Category Citation (in OSCOLA Style) Abbreviation(s)
HK Case Johnson Benjamin v Director of Immigration [2024] 1 HKLRD 582, [2023] HKCA 1368. HKLRD; HKCA
UK Case Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 (HL). AC
Journal Article Cora Chan, 'Judicial Deference at Work: Some Reflections on Chan Kin Sum and Kong Yun Ming' (2010) 40 HKLJ 1. HKLJ 

The Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations is a valuable resource for decoding the abbreviations used in law reports, journals, and other legal publications. You can easily search for commonly used abbreviations by following the intuitive steps below:

How to use Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations

You can also use the search box under "Search by Title" to enter the full title of a law report, journal, or publication to find its abbreviation.

The Judiciary also provides a list of abbreviations for courts and case types. Additionally, the Law Library offers various tools to help decode legal abbreviations.