Skip to main content

Online Materials

British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) BAILII provides access to a comprehensive collection of British and Irish legal materials, and links to similar sites worldwide

GOV.UK Launched in 2012, GOV.UK is the official website of the UK Government and replaces the Directgov and Business Link websites. The websites of all goverment departments and many other agencies and public bodies are also in the process of being merged into GOV.UK. Once this process is completed, the website will provide a single point of access for all government services and information. 

Justice A government portal which provides information on courts, prisons, probation, criminal law, and sentencing, including daily court lists, the Civil Procedure Rules and judicial statistics.

Legislation.gov.uk Brings together the legislative content previously held on the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website and revised legislation from the Statute Law Database to provide a single legislation service. Provides all legislation since 1988 with Explanatory Notes for Acts since 1999. Also includes a Chronological Table of Local Acts, providing information on amendments made to local legislation. 

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) The MoJ is the central government department that has responsibility for the various parts of the justice system, including the courts, prisons, probation services and attendance centres. Their website provides information about the department's policies and a wide range of publications, including consultation documents and statistics. 

Official Documents Before being archived in early 2014, this website was the official source for Command Papers and departmentally sponsored House of Commons Papers. All papers published after 17th May 2005 (the beginning of the 2005/06 Parliamentary session) are listed, and the majority are also available to download in PDF format. 

The Supreme Court The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Information about court procedures, current cases and texts of judgments

UK Government Web Archive A collection of archived central government websites maintained by the National Archives. The database was developed in response to a Government review of the number of websites it had, to provide a more user-friendly experience for the public.

UK Parliament Information about the House of Commons and House of Lords, including parliamentary debates (Hansard) and transcripts of recent judgments.

 

England & Wales

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary The official website of judges, tribunal members and magistrates offers an insight into the working lives of judicial office holders in England and Wales, for example biographical details of senior judges, forms of address, judicial statistics and court dress.

Crown Prosecution Service The Crown Prosecution Service is a non-ministerial government department and is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales. Publications accessible through their website include The Code for Crown Prosecutors, which sets out the general principles Crown Prosecutors should follow when they make decisions on cases.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) Created in 2011, HMCTS is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Law Commission The Law Commission is a statutory independent body that reviews areas of the law that have become unduly complicated, outdated or unfair, and makes recommendations for reform to Government. Their website provides access to the full text of all reports and consultation papers published since 1996 in PDF format.

National Assembly for Wales The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales, and holds the Welsh Government to account.

Sentencing Council for England & Wales The Sentencing Council was set up in April 2010 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary and replaces the Sentencing Guidelines Council and the Sentencing Advisory Panel. Its primary role is to issue guidelines on sentencing which the courts must follow unless it is in the interests of justice not to do so. The Council's guidelines are available online though their website.

Welsh Government The Welsh Government is the devolved Government for Wales.

 

Northern Ireland

Libero A catalogue of Northern Ireland law resources provided by the Law Society of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Assembly The Northern Ireland Assembly was established in 1998 as a result of the Belfast Agreement and has full legislative and executive authority for all matters that are the devolved responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government.

Northern Ireland Law Commssion The Commission is required to keep the law of Northern Ireland under review and to pursue its systematic development and reform.

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service  The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is an agency of the Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of courts and tribunals in Northern Ireland. 

Northern Ireland Executive is the administrative branch of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.

 

Scotland

Scottish Courts Access point to information on all civil and criminal courts in Scotland

The Scottish Government The Scottish Government was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive and is the executive branch of the devolved Scottish government. It is accountable to the Scottish Parliament and has a range of responsibilities, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, housing and the environment.

Scottish Law Commission Publications include reports, discussion papers, consultative memoranda and consultation papers from 1965 to the present.

Scottish Law Online An independent portal providing access to Scottish legal reources and information.

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national legislature of Scotland.