Law Society Library Online is the result of collaboration between the Law Society and LexisNexis. It gives free online access to the library’s catalogue and a wide variety of value added indexes from the library and LexisNexis. If you already have a subscription to LexisLibrary you will be able to link directly from Law Society Library Online to LexisLibrary content.
What does it give access to?
As well as being able to search the library's holdings you can also search additional indexes from the library and LexisNexis. These are:
- Queries and enquiries databases - provides answers to a range of questions such as where to find a precedent for a partnership agreement or what a section 146 notice is and where to find one.
- EU developments - provides details of the progress of major EU legislative proposals.
- English cases – gives citations for cases which have been published in the English national newspapers and selected law reports. The index covers cases ranging from the early 1990s to date, with selected cases going back to 1975. You can also search LexisLibrary resources such as All England Reporter and General Case Digest however a separate subscription to LexisLibrary is required to view the full text of these documents.
- Commencement order index – an index for all Westminster Public, Local and Personal Acts covering England, Wales and Scotland; all Church of England Measures and all Scottish Acts of Parliament from 1974. Each entry gives details of when each act was brought into force, and/or a list of all the commencement orders relating to that act.
- Biographies – gives biographical information on previous Law Society office holders and prominent historical figures associated with the Law Society.
- LexisNexis journal index and publications – a database of articles summaries dating back to the early 1990s from 120 legal titles. Also provides summaries from Major Works Updater, covering sources including Halsbury’s, Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents and Atkins’ Court Forms.
Useful legal websites
Library Online also provides links to authoritative websites that are available on the internet. These links are chosen by the Law Society’s librarians to provide good quality legal information. The links are sorted by category and the full list of external links is also only available when you register.
How do I register?
To access these value added databases and the full external links you need to register which can be done by completing the registration form on Law Society Library Online. Registration is free for all members of the Law Society of England and Wales and their agents. You should receive your login details in 48 hours.
Keep up to date with Library Online
Law Society Library Online also provides current awareness material in its update section. You can see this on the homepage of the website or the records can be emailed to you directly every month. The monthly e-alert contains details of new cases, legislation, practitioners' texts, websites and other items of legal information for current awareness purposes, drawn from a variety of sources. As well as containing information from the Law Society library the e-alert provides selected current awareness material from LexisNexis.