How to Find, Analyze, and Track Legislation

Find and analyze legislation in vLex Library. Learn to track versions, view amendments, and check if a statute is still in force for accurate research.

Summary

Find statutes and regulations using vLex Library's search tools, then analyze them to see if they are still in force and track their history using the integrated Versions and Amendments tabs.

Why This is Important

Relying on outdated or repealed legislation is a critical error in legal research. This guide shows you how to not only find the law but also verify its current status and understand its evolution, ensuring your legal arguments are built on a solid foundation.

How to Find and Analyze Legislation

  1. Find the Legislation: Use the Smart Searchbar and the Statutes and Regulations filter, or use Advanced Search for a more targeted query.

  2. Check its Status: On the results page and at the top of the document, look for an indicator showing if the legislation is In force (green) or Repealed.

  3. Navigate the Document: Use the Table of contents on the left to jump to specific sections. Use the Search in this document field to find keywords within the text.

Instantly check the status of legislation at the top of the document viewer.

How to Track Versions and Amendments

vLex Library provides powerful tools to understand how legislation has changed over time.

Using the Versions Tab (for consolidated texts)

For legislation where vLex has the consolidated text, the Versions tab is available.

  • Click the Versions tab to see a list of all previous versions.

  • Click View changes next to a version to see a side-by-side comparison, with deleted text in red and added text in green.

The comparison tool makes it easy to see exactly what has changed between versions.

Using the Amendments Tab (where consolidated texts are not available)

If a consolidated version is not available, use the Amendments tab.

  • Amending items: Shows a list of documents that have modified the legislation you are viewing.

  • Amended items: Shows a list of documents that have been modified by the legislation you are viewing.

Use the Amendments tab to see which laws changed or were changed by the legislation you’re viewing.

Historical Version Warning: If you are viewing an older version of a law, vLex will often display a warning with a direct link to the current, in-force version. Always ensure you are relying on the correct version for your matter.

Best Practices & Pro Tips

  • Check "Cited In": Use the Cited In tab to see how the legislation has been interpreted and applied in subsequent case law.

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