Are AustLII and Google Enough for Legal Research?

Abstract

A s many law librarians use the Australasian Legal Information Institute (hereafter AustLII) and/or Google on a daily basis, it is a useful exercise to examine what AustLII and Google do and do not do. This exercise is useful because experience teaching legal research at both the University of New South Wales and formerly at the University of Sydney indicates that some students regularly think AustLII is useful as a journal index and is capable of answering all of their legal research needs. Many students also think Google is the answer to most legal research questions. These students graduate and will often be found in places where law librarians are employed. Law librarians may grumble and ask: 'Why weren't they taught legal research properly in the first place?' Some law firm librarians have complained about new law graduates and their lack of legal research abilities beyond their use of AustLII. One senior law students at the University of New South Wales recently asked why its law school is the only Australian one which compels students to do two legal research subjects. The answer was that many students forget what they learnt in first year and that legal research is important when commencing and sustaining a legal career. Key questions to ask in conducting legal research are, what type of information are you seeking? Is it primary materials or secondary materials or a mixture of both? Answering these questions will assist in knowing where to look. AustLII has a wealth of both primary and secondary materials, although the author tends to use it for its primary materials. Google has a wealth of secondary materials, so it tends to be used for secondary materials. What Information does Austlll Provide? AustLII commenced in 1995. Little did we know at the time that this would be a catalyst in the revolution in Australian legal research. Since 1995 AustLII has built itself up from modest beginnings to one of the powerhouses of Australian