Secondary Sources of Law: Dictionaries & Legal Encyclopedias

Primary sources = actual text of the law (statutes, cases, regulations).
Secondary sources = tools that help you locate, interpret & understand primary sources.
- Provide commentary, definitions, context, citations.
- Essential because a single source rarely suffices; researchers must consult, evaluate & synthesize multiple materials.
Link to prior learning: textbook already introduced the distinction; this video deep-dives into practical use of secondary sources.

Navigate from Deakin Library homepage → Resource Guides → Business & Law → Law → “Law and Legal Research Hub.”
For this topic: open “Secondary Law Resources” guide.
- Contains step-by-step instructions, screenshots, direct database links, search tips.
Strategy advocated:
1. Start with legal dictionaries to grasp terminology.
2. Move to legal encyclopedias for deeper, structured commentary.
3. (Next videos will add journal articles.)
Meta-skill: Evaluate multiple secondary sources because authors, update cycles & depth vary.

Purpose: quick, authoritative definitions of legal concepts & phrases.
Major Australian dictionaries available through Deakin:
- Australian Law Dictionary (Oxford Reference Online).
- Encyclopaedic Australian Legal Dictionary (Lexis+ Advance).
- Macquarie Dictionary (general spelling authority required by Australian Guide to Legal Citation – AGLC).
- Additional print & international dictionaries listed in the guide.
Prerequisite technical tip: enable pop-ups; Oxford Reference triggers cookie/privacy pop-ups.

Access: click guide link → database opens → do not use global search; instead scroll to "Australian Law Dictionary" entry.
Two discovery modes:
1. Browse alphabetically.
2. Search within this work (example term: "contract").
Results interface:
- Sorted by relevance.
- Each entry supplies:
- Concise definition.
- Hyperlinks to related subject headings.
- References to seminal Australian cases & legislation.
Research tactic: explore lateral links to broaden understanding.

Dictionaries = definitions; encyclopedias = structured narrative explanation.
Encyclopedias compile practitioner-written commentary, footnotes, cross-references & are updated frequently, often beating textbooks.
Deakin subscriptions (two separate products):
1. Halsbury’s Laws of Australia – Lexis+ Advance.
2. The Laws of Australia – Westlaw Australia.
Always search both because:
- Authorship differs → alternative perspectives.
- Update cycles differ → one may be newer.
- Coverage depth varies by topic.

Fast access: Library A–Z Databases → direct link.
Default landing: Alphabetical Table of Contents.
Browsing example:
- Expand “Legal Practitioners.”
- Drill down to “Lawyers – Duty to the Court.”
- Content organized by square-bracket paragraph numbers; first paragraph displayed: 255000.
Content anatomy:
- Clear summary of legal principles.
- Footnotes citing state legislation & cases; hyperlinked where possible.
- Metadata: author name & last update date.
Navigation tools:
- “Table of Contents” pane for contextual tree.
- Up arrow to jump to top of the entry.
Searching within Halsbury’s:
- Use "Search within this title" box or "Advanced Search" (supports Lexis terms & connectors).
- Phrase search demo: "postal acceptance rule" (use double quotation marks).
- Result path displayed: Topic 1.10 Contract → Formation of Contract → Offer and Acceptance (updated 2022).
Practical hints:
- Limit scope to the encyclopedia; broader Lexis+ search may add noise.
- Download/print features explained in guide.

First-time login hurdle: when prompted by Microsoft screen, enter Deakin email only; do not create a new login.
Access route: Westlaw homepage → Secondary Sources → click "The Laws of Australia".
Browsing demo:
- Topic path: Professional Liability → Legal Practitioners → Introduction, Definition.
- Similar structural elements: square-bracket paragraph numbers, author details, last updated.
- Example paragraph displayed: 8.9 – states that a contract forms upon acceptance; footnotes link to seminal English & Australian authority.
Searching within encyclopedia:
- Use top search box while inside The Laws of Australia.
- Search tips menu shows operators; double quotes for phrases.
- Same phrase demo: "postal acceptance rule" (ignore predictive suggestions aimed at global Westlaw search).

Both encyclopedias = practitioner-authored, Australian-centric.
Differences may arise in:
- Depth of sub-topics.
- Currency (each updated at varying intervals).
- Writing style & analytical lens.
Ethical / professional implication: citing the most current & comprehensive commentary strengthens legal arguments and avoids reliance on superseded law.
Real-world relevance: Practitioners consult these before drafting advice, pleadings or opinion letters; students should emulate this workflow.

Refer to Library’s Legal Referencing guide → "Citing Secondary Sources" → examples for dictionaries & encyclopedias.
Key rules (online version):
- Include publisher (e.g., LexisNexis or Thomson Reuters).
- Supply date of last update/service number or date of retrieval.
- Pinpoint to square bracket paragraph number(s), not page numbers.
- Omit volume number & URL for online versions.
Illustration (print):
- LexisNexis, Halsbury’s Laws of Australia (at paragraph [255000]).
Illustration (online):
- LexisNexis, Halsbury’s Laws of Australia (online at [1.10.150], accessed 1\ June\ 2023).
Macquarie Dictionary: mandatory source for spelling consistency in AGLC-compliant writing.

Enable browser pop-ups to avoid database blocks (notably Oxford Reference).
When databases autosuggest broader searches, stay scoped to the encyclopedia if that is your intent.
Use table-of-contents navigation to understand topic hierarchy and related areas.
Footnotes are gateways to primary sources—always follow them to read underlying cases/legislation.
Encyclopedias and dictionaries should become first-stop resources before Google or generic library search.

Secondary Law Resources guide contains tutorials, screenshots & troubleshooting.
For advanced queries, contact:
- Business & Law Librarians.
- Library General Information desk.
Upcoming video modules will extend research skills to journal articles and other secondary sources.