How to Research Case Law in vLex Library

Learn to research case law in vLex Library. Find cases with advanced search and analyze them with AI summaries, precedent maps, and citation tools.

Summary

Find and analyze case law using vLex Library's powerful search tools and AI-powered analysis features. You can search for cases using the Smart Searchbar, Advanced Search, or Browse, then use integrated tools to understand a case's context and authority.

Why This is Important

Effective case law research is the foundation of legal practice. vLex Library's tools not only help you find relevant cases but also provide instant analysis of their precedential value, saving you critical time and helping you avoid citing bad law.

How to Find Case Law

  1. Start Your Search: Use the Smart Searchbar for a party name or topic, or use Advanced Search and select Case law as the Content type for more specific filters like Court, Judge, or Citation.

  2. Filter Your Results: On the results page, use the filters on the left to narrow your search by Jurisdiction, Date, Category, and more.

How to Analyze a Case

Once you open a case in the Document Viewer, use these key features:

  • Vincent Case Analysis: At the top of the judgment, an AI-powered summary provides the key legal issues at a glance.

  • Document Tabs: Use the tabs (Cited authorities, Cited in, Precedent Map) to analyze the case's citation relationships.

  • Information Cards: On the right, cards show Key phrases and Key paragraphs (the most-cited passages) to help you quickly grasp the most important parts of the judgment.

  • Search Within Document: Use the magnifying glass icon at the top-left to search for keywords within the case you are viewing.

Analyze a case using the AI summary, document tabs, and information cards.

Always Verify the Law : Citation analysis tools are powerful aids for your research, but you must always read the source material to confirm that a case is still good law and supports your argument.

Best Practices & Pro Tips

  • Check for Reported Versions: If a case has been reported, different versions will appear in separate tabs at the top of the document (e.g., "Judgment," "WLR," "ICLR").

  • View the Original PDF: Select the PDF button on the right to view the original court-filed version of the document, complete with signatures and seals.

Jurisdiction-Specific Analysis Tools The citation analysis tools you see (like treatment types or flags) vary by country. For a detailed breakdown of the features available for the UK, Ireland, the US, and other jurisdictions, please see our complete guide on How to Analyze Case Authority and Precedent.

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