The ICLR has been publishing the official series of The Law Reports since 1865, and the leading general series, The Weekly Law Reports since 1953.
In addition, we publish three specialist series: on employment law (The Industrial Cases Reports), commercial law (The Business Law Reports) and on local government and charity law (The Public and Third Sector Law Reports).
All these are available as part of our online platform, ICLR.4, together with a wealth of other information about cases (including unreported cases or those reported elsewhere).
Please navigate to the relevant section on this page to find more information about each of these series.
The Law Reports
The most authoritative series of reports for England and Wales – the Gold Standard in law reporting.
Published monthly since 1865, The Law Reports are widely regarded as the most authoritative series of law reports for England and Wales. As the official series they are required to be cited in preference to any other reports of the same case. See Practice Direction (Citation of Authorities) [2012] 1 WLR 780.
Since 1890 The Law Reports have consisted of four subdivisions, respectively covering the Queen’s Bench (QB) (or King’s Bench (KB)), Chancery (Ch) and Family (Fam) (formerly Probate, Divorce and Admiralty) Divisions of the High Court and Court of Appeal, together with references from those courts to the European Court of Justice; and Appeal Cases (AC) heard in the UK Supreme Court (previously the House of Lords) and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
An argument for excellence
Although cases appearing in The Law Reports have previously been published in volumes 2 or 3 of the Weekly Law Reports, they are completely re-edited and updated to include all the latest references for any case cited.
The distinctive feature of the Law Reports is that, in addition to all the features of the Weekly Law Reports, the case reports usually include a summary of counsel’s argument, prepared by the reporter covering the hearing, and approved by counsel prior to publication.
A note of counsel’s argument can be essential in ascertaining whether and how a particular point was presented to court, or in relation to which point a previous authority was cited. It is also a unique historical record, which adds to the professional, academic and forensic value of the reports.
Mode of citation
Case reports appearing in The Law Reports are cited by year, series abbreviation (depending on the subdivision) and page number. In some earlier years, individual subdivisions may also appear with a volume number.
Appeal Cases: [1990] 1 AC 1 / [2021] AC 23
Queen’s / King’s Bench Division: [1901] 2 KB 1 / [2021] QB 1
Chancery Division: [1931] 2 Ch 70 / [2000] Ch 1
Family Division (since 1972): [1972] Fam 1
Probate, Divorce and Admiralty (until 1972): [1967] P 83
For the mode of citation for earlier series of The Law Reports, see our Guide to ICLR law reports and their citations.
Subscriptions
The Law Reports are available both in print and online.
For online subscriptions see our Pricing page.
For print subscriptions, or to obtain missing parts or volumes of the print edition, please contact the ICLR bookshop, or email: enquiries@iclr.co.uk
The print edition is supplied in 12 monthly parts. The Law Reports Bound Volume Service includes monthly delivery of paper parts as well as separate bound volumes for AC, QB, Ch and Family Divisions at the end of the year.
To view the contents of the latest part, see Printed Part Covers.
The Weekly Law Reports
The most comprehensive and up-to-date general series of law reports for England and Wales.
Published since 1953, the Weekly Law Reports (WLR) provide the best way to keep up to date with all cases of general interest heard in the superior and appellate courts. The series covers all the cases that really matter – more than 500 cases a year – including all those which either introduce a new point of law or develop the existing law in some way. As with all law reports published by ICLR, they are written by barristers or solicitors who attend the hearings of all important cases, whether conducted in a physical court or remotely.
The WLR series is divided into four volumes, according to the level of importance of the cases.
Volume 1 cases cover procedural matters and points of law of general interest. These “starred” cases appear with an asterisk before the title.
Volumes 2 and 3 contain cases which are of greater long-term significance which will subsequently appear in a revised version (with additional material) in The Law Reports.
Volume 4 was introduced in 2016 as an online-only expansion of The Weekly Law Reports and extends coverage to include additional cases of interest that illustrate the application of existing principles to particular factual situations or helpfully bring together and summarise established principles. These additional reports enable us to provide coverage of more factual cases involving aspects of family law, shipping, sentencing and awards of general damages.
Coverage
Regardless of which volume they appear in, the reports cover decisions of all the senior courts of England and Wales, including all divisions of the High Court and Court of Appeal, the UK Supreme Court (previously the House of Lords), the Privy Council, the European Court of Justice and senior tribunals such as the Upper Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Each report contains an expertly written headnote summarising the facts and issues and the principles of law established by the court’s decision, thus enabling readers to quickly identify and digest the point of the case. The report also contains information about the procedural background of the case. Judgments are set out in full, having been carefully checked to ensure that all references and quotations are accurate. Cases in volumes 1 to 3 also list all the previous cases cited in argument as well as those referred to in judgment, and proofs are sent to the judges for approval prior to publication.
Mode of citation
Case reports appearing in volumes 1 to 3 are cited by year, volume, series abbreviation and page number: [1953] 2 WLR 34
Case reports appearing in volume 4 are cited by year, volume, series abbreviation and case number: [2016] 4 WLR 1
Please note that the series abbreviation WLR (D) refers to the WLR Daily case summaries.
Subscriptions
The Weekly Law Reports are available both in print (except for Vol 4) and online.
For online subscriptions see our Pricing page.
For print subscriptions, or to obtain missing parts or volumes of the print edition, please contact the ICLR bookshop, or email: enquiries@iclr.co.uk
The print edition comprises approximately 46 weekly parts each year, with occasional breaks in publication, usually during the Easter and Summer vacations.
Each printed part may contain cases from volume 1 and either volume 2 or 3. They are designed to be bound in separate volumes at the end of each year. The WLR Bound Volume Service includes both the printed parts and the bound volumes at the end of the year, obviating the need to collect and send the parts for binding. Please note that the printed edition does not include cases in Vol 4.
To view the contents of the latest part, see Printed Part Covers.
The Industrial Cases Reports
The definitive cases on employment, discrimination and pensions law.
Published monthly since 1972, The Industrial Cases Reports (ICR) are the most authoritative employment law series and have become an indispensable resource for all lawyers specialising in employment law as well as for lay advisers and members of employment tribunals.
All case reports are written by barristers or solicitors who have attended the hearing and handing down of judgment in the senior and appellate courts or the Employment Appeal Tribunal. As with all the ICLR’s full text reports, they also contain a wealth of useful information about the procedural background of the case, and list all the previous cases cited in argument as well as those referred to in judgment. The judgments themselves are approved by the judges concerned prior to publication.
The series editor is particularly keen to ensure that the headnote to each case is written as clearly, concisely and accurately as possible, so that not only professional lawyers but also lay readers can quickly and easily understand what a case is about and why it might be of relevance to a particular issue.
Coverage
The reports cover cases from the Employment Appeal Tribunal and appeals to the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords, as well as cases originating in the High Court, cases of special interest heard in employment tribunals and cases from the European Court of Justice. Subjects covered include all aspects of employment law, health and safety, discrimination and equality, and pensions. (Until 2007 the series also covered restrictive practices and competition cases, but these are now covered by the Business Law Reports.)
As well as the full text law reports of the most important cases, the monthly parts of the series also include summaries of additional cases which may not merit full reporting but which contain practical or procedural points of interest to practitioners. Until 2011 these took the form of “Recent Points” comprising short one- or two-page summaries of cases. Since 2011 such cases have been included in the form of case digests.
Mode of citation
Full case reports are cited by year, series abbreviation and page number: [1972] ICR 1
Digest reports are cited with a D before the page number: [2012] ICR D1
Subscriptions
The Industrial Cases Reports are available both in print and online (as part of the Full Suite subscription package).
For online subscriptions see our Pricing page.
For print subscriptions, or to obtain missing volumes or parts of the print edition, please contact the ICLR bookshop, or email: enquiries@iclr.co.uk
The print edition is published in monthly parts. The ICR Bound Volume Service includes a bound volume containing the full print reports, as well as the monthly paper parts.
To view the contents of the latest part, see Printed Part Covers.
Business Law Reports
Specialist coverage of Company, Commercial and Intellectual Property law cases.
Launched in 2007 specifically to meet the needs of chancery and commercial lawyers and those working within the business community, the Business Law Reports focus on key areas that include Arbitration, Company law, Financial Services, Insolvency, Intellectual Property, Mercantile and Shipping law cases. They also offer an invaluable resource for teachers and students of accountancy, business and management courses at all levels.
All case reports are written by barristers or solicitors who, in the vast majority of cases, will have attended court for the hearing as well as attending for judgment. As with all the ICLR’s full text reports, the Business Law Reports include an expertly written headnote summarising the essential facts and clearly stating the points of law decided by the court. They are designed to be read not just by specialist lawyers but also by lay business professionals, to enable them to ascertain speedily what the case is about and why it may be relevant to a particular issue. Reports also include useful information about the procedural background of the case, and list all the previous cases cited in argument as well as those referred to in judgment. The judgments themselves are approved by the judges concerned prior to publication.
Coverage
As well as covering cases from all divisions of the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the UK Supreme Court (previously the House of Lords), Privy Council, and Court of Justice of the European Union, the Business Law Reports also cover specialist cases from the Mercantile Court and the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Coverage has been expanded from 2018 to include additional cases which illustrate the application of an existing principle of law or are in some other way peculiarly instructive.
As well as full reports, the early volumes of the series also include digests of additional cases which may not merit full reporting but which contain practical or procedural points of interest to practitioners. The digests consist of a short summary of the case together with relevant extracts from the full judgment.
Mode of citation
Full case reports are cited by year, series abbreviation* and page number: [2007] Bus LR 1
Digest reports are cited with a D before the page number: [2008] Bus LR D1
*Please note that BLR is the abbreviation for the Building Law Reports and should not be used for the Business Law Reports.
Subscriptions
The Business Law Reports were available in print and online from 2007 to 2013 and online only from 2014, as part of the Full Suite subscription package.
For online subscriptions see our Pricing page.
For missing volumes of the print edition please contact the ICLR bookshop, or email: enquiries@iclr.co.uk
Public & Third Sector Law Reports
Essential coverage of Charity, Social Enterprise and Public Service cases.
Launched in 2009, the Public and Third Sector Law Reports (PTSR) were specially designed to meet the needs of charity, social enterprise and local government lawyers and all those involved in the provision of public and community services. The reports offer essential coverage of cases in key areas relating to the exercise of public duties and functions, public benefit, and issues of public accountability.
All case reports are written by barristers or solicitors who, in the vast majority of cases, will have attended court for the hearing as well as attending for judgment. As with all the ICLR’s full text reports, the Public and Third Sector Law Reports include an expertly written headnote summarising the essential facts and clearly stating the points of law decided by the court. They are designed to be read not just by specialist lawyers but also by lay advisers, to enable them to ascertain speedily what the case is about and why it may be relevant to a particular issue. Reports also include useful information about the procedural background of the case, and list all the previous cases cited in argument as well as those referred to in judgment. The judgments themselves are approved by the judges concerned prior to publication.
Coverage
The reports cover cases from the UK Supreme Court (previously the House of Lords), Privy Council, Court of Appeal, High Court, the Upper Tribunal, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, on subjects of interest to public service providers (particularly local authorities), including Adoption, Charity, Ecclesiastical Law, Education, Environment, Housing, Human Rights, Licensing, Local Government, National Health Service, Planning, Police, Public Health, Social Security and Social Enterprise. Coverage has been expanded from 2018 to include additional cases which illustrate the application of an existing principle of law or are in some other way peculiarly instructive.
As well as the full text law reports of the most important cases, early volumes of the series (until 2015) also included case summaries or digests of recent court or tribunal decisions, providing practitioners and academics with useful additional material from cases that do not merit a full report.
Mode of citation
Full case reports are cited by year, series abbreviation* and page number: [2009] PTSR 1
Case summaries are cited with CS before the page number [2010] PTSR CS1
Digest reports are cited with a D before the page number: [2011] PTSR D1
Subscriptions
The Public and Third Sector Law Reports were available in print and online from 2008 to 2013 and online only from 2014, as part of the Full Suite subscription package.
For online subscriptions see our Pricing page.
For missing volumes of the print edition please contact the ICLR bookshop, or email: enquiries@iclr.co.uk
Printed Part Covers
View the covers and contents lists of the latest printed parts of ICLR’s law reports.
For the current year’s covers: see Printed Part Covers
For a previous year’s covers, please see the following archive pages:
