Legal Commentary services are used by practitioners and academics when they need a comprehensive overview of a particular area of law, along with the key cases and legislation that relate to their topic.
Using Westlaw Topics
You can browse content by Topic to find useful introductions and key materials for areas of law such as Contract Law, Criminal Law or Land Law. You can find Topic pages by using the Search Box on the Home Page, and selecting your topic in the drop down list, or you can browse Topic content from the links on the home page.
Using Legal Dictionaries
Use legal dictionaries to clarify terms, and see how they are used in a legal context. Dictionaries also often provide related concepts and keywords, and references to key cases and legislation. Westlaw's Index of Legal Terms searches across Stroud's Judicial Dictionary of Words and Phrases, Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law, and Osborn's Concise Law Dictionary. You can search from the home page.
Using Practitioner Texts
Practitioner texts are the kind of materials that practitioners such as solicitors and barristers consult in order to help their clients. They provide up-to-date information on the state of the law in a particular area, and provide guidance on how to apply law to an issue or problem. They also advise on procedure.
Key texts include:
The White Book (Westlaw) - This contains the sources of law relating to the practice and procedures of the High Court and the County Court for the handling of civil litigation, subject to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).
