How to find UK legislation, using Lexis+

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to find UK legislation using Lexis+. It covers searching for Acts by name, navigating through sections, comparing versions, accessing detailed notes, and finding an alphabetical list of all UK legislation. By following this guide, users can efficiently locate and access specific legislation they need for legal research or reference purposes.

Charlie Brampton
22 steps
2 minutes

Oclc

Navigate to [https://plus-lexis-com.oxfordbrookes.idm.oclc.org/uk/legalresearch?crid=d1547222-1d09-458c-b4f9-bda30c13d013](https://plus-lexis-com.oxfordbrookes.idm.oclc.org/uk/legalresearch?crid=d1547222-1d09-458c-b4f9-bda30c13d013)

1. Searching for an Act

Click on the dropdown arrow on the right of the long search box

Choose "Legislation"

You can search for an Act by its name. Try searching for: Sale of Goods Act 1979

Click on the magnifying glass to run your search.

Click "View Table of Contents" under the name of Act in the results list.

Click on any section to view it.

2. Searching for a specific section of an Act

If you the know the number of the section, you want, there is a quicker way to get to it. Again, click on the dropdown arrow on the right of the long search box and choose "legislation"

Type the name of the Act and a section number into the long box Try searching for: Sale of Goods Act 1979 s13

Click on the magnifying glass to run your search.

You'll now see your section in the results list, rather than having to find it within a longer Act. Click on its title to view it.

Within a section, you can compare versions and see how it has changed and been amended over time.

You can click "Table of Contents" down the left to quickly move between other sections in the same Act.

If you want, click on the download icon to save the section to your computer

Click "Halsbury's Annotations" on the right to see detailed notes on this section. The most helpful part of this tool is the definitions and explanations for words and phrases found in your section.

3. Browsing an alphabetical list of Acts

Instead of using the search box, you can see an alphabetical list of all UK legislation, both current and repealed. On the Lexis+ homepage, click "Content" under the long search box.

Click "Legislation"

Click "Acts"

Click "UK Parliament Acts"

Click on the arrow symbol next to any letter of the alphabet.

You'll now see options with the first two letters of names. Choose a category by clicking on the arrow symbol next to it.

Click on the name of an Act to see a list of its sections. Click on the name of any section to view it.