The document discusses how to evaluate the reliability of legal and ethical resources online. It provides guidance on interpreting web addresses or URLs and common second-level domains in Australia. Government websites ending in .gov.au are generally the most reliable as they are required to provide accurate information. Educational websites like those ending in .edu.au are also usually reliable sources of research, while commercial websites like .com.au require more scrutiny as their goal may be profit-driven.

1. Working legally
and ethically
CHCLEG001
Access and
interpret legal
resources

2. Learning outcomes
In this session, we will begin to learn about how
to access and evaluate legal and ethical
resources.

3. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
Language used by the internet
Browser software is clever enough to skip this
http://www.google.com.au

4. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
HTTPS indicates that it is a secure website
(usually with password access)
https://www.google.com.au

5. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
Bottom level domain
Indicates country of origin
– Eg .uk, .au, .nz, .ru
US websites skip this level
http://www.google.com.au

6. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.google.com.au
Google’s Australian
website

7. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.google.com.cn
Google’s Chinese website

8. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.google.com
Google’s US website

9. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.google.com.au
Australian second level domain traditionally
indicates type of website

10. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)

11. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
State based third level domains also exist
for these, such as:
.act.edu.au
.nt.edu.au
.wa.edu.au
.sa.gov.au
.qld.gov.au
.nsw.gov.au
.tas.gov.au

12. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most reliable:
Governments are required to not
give false information

13. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Highly reliable- but rarely seen,
data and research driven

14. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Mostly reliable:
Educational institutes are sources
of reliable research and
information, but can include
student work, blogs and opinions
etc

15. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
(By the way, there is a
consistent rule for individual
schools, colleges and
universities both state and
private)

16. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
(By the way, there is a
consistent rule for individual
schools, colleges and
universities both state and
private)
Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School
www.mggs.vic.edu.au Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School
www.cit.edu.au Canberra Institute of Technology
www.katoomba-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ Katoomba High
www.katoomba-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/ Katoomba Primary

17. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?

18. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?

19. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?
www.whitehouse.gov
www.whitehouse.net
www.whitehouse.org
Only one of these if the real US
White House website

20. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?

21. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?
www.martinlutherking.org (Stormfront)
www.ihr.org (Institute for Historic Review)

22. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?

23. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Most common, mixed reliability:
- Is this really the company you think it is?
- Is the company or site a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?
www.cafeherpe.com “Everything you’ve wanted to know
about genital herpes but were afraid to ask.”
www.aefweb.info Australian Environment Foundation

24. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Often reliable, because they are less likely to
be selling you something:
- Is this really the org you think it is?
- Is the org a reliable source?
- What is their incentive?

25. ‘second level’ domains
.gov.au – Governments and their departments
.csiro.au – CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation)
.edu.au – Educational institutions
.com.au – Commercial entities
.net.au – Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use
has been broadened)
.org.au – Associations and non-profit organisations (historically
only for organisations that did not fit in other categories)
.asn.au – Associations and non-profit organisations
.id.au – Individuals (by real name or common alias)
Mixed reliability, rarely used
- Typically on line resumes, sales pages,
research blogs

26. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.google.com
Google’s US commercial
website

27. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.google.org
Google’s (US) non profit
section’s website

28. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.burnside.org.au
An Australian not for
profit’s website

29. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.bookshop.com.au
An Australian commercial
website

30. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.ato.gov.au
An Australian government
website

31. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
Remember: The Australian government has
made third level domains for each state
• .nsw.gov.au
• .qld.gov.au
• .act.gov.au etc
http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au

32. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au
A NSW government
website

33. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au
A NSW government
website

34. A word about web addresses (URL’s)
http://www.ato.gov.au
A federal government
website

35. Reputable organisation-
yaay!

36. www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au
An Australian government
website
Yaay!

37. www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au
An Australian government
website
Yaay!
But not for our state
(Boo!)

39. www.legaladvice.com.au
An Australian commercial
website

40. What is their incentive?
“General disclaimer:
The purpose of this website is to help you, the user,
find a legal practitioner who is ready, willing and
able to help you with your legal matter…”

41. Reliable websites and sources
The following slides include a variety of websites
and resources that have been found to be
reliable, for both NSW and the ACT (or Australia
wide).
(We may have mentioned some of these in
previous classes)

42. No 1 on line resource
the Australasian Legal Information Institute.
www.austlii.edu.au
The ultimate source for the law- legislation and
common law.
Not plain English, but way too much information
Sort of...
4:16 AM

43. Gov’t legislation sites
www.comlaw.gov.au (federal)
www.legislation.act.gov.au (ACT state)
www.legislation.nsw.gov.au (NSW state)
www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au (NSW state)
4:16 AM

44. NSW Government Departments
Including:
• Workcover Authority
www.WorkCover.nsw.gov.au
• Awards on line
www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/awards
• DoCS www.community.nsw.gov.au
• DoHousing www.housing.nsw.gov.au
• Dept of Fair Trading www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

45. Government Departments
Including:
• ACT Community Services
www.communityservices.act.gov.au
• Centrelink www.centrelink.gov.au
• www.ag.gov.au Attorney General’s Department
site- gateway to many others
4:16 AM

46. Other legal services
Relating to youth in the ACT.
http://www.legalaidact.org.au
Relating to youth in NSW
www.theshopfront.org
Remember to take an attitude of empowering clients, and avoiding
‘negligent misstatement’
The following plain language websites are valuable for exploring with
your clients

47. Your local library

49. Primary resource
13th Edition
published August
2014
Currently
available on line
via NSW state
library
http://www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/guides/law_handbook/index.html

50. 4:16 AM

51. Other legal services
www.lawstuff.org.au useful, brief info designed
for young people
www.legalaidact.org.au ACT legal Aid
www.welfarerights.org.au The Welfare Rights
Centre
www.actlawsociety.asn.au ACT Law Society
www.nationalprobono.org.au/publications/legal
rguide/act.html National Pro Bono
4:16 AM

52. Other legal services
www.legalaidact.org.au ACT legal Aid
www.actlawsociety.asn.au ACT Law Society
www.nationalprobono.org.au/publications/legalrgu
ide/act.html National Pro Bono
4:16 AM
These are considered ‘reliable sources’ despite not being government
sites, as they are
- Local and
- Reputable organisations

53. ACT Peak bodies*
Including:
• www.tenantsact.org.au/Publications ACT
Tenants Union
• www.youthcoalition.net Youth Coalition
• www.welfarerights.org.au The Welfare Rights
Centre
(and many others)
4:16 AM
*A club for organisations within an industry to join
which will represent their interests, develop
standards, inform them of new developments

54. NSW Peak bodies*
Including:
• www.tenants.org.au Tenants Union
• www.yapa.org.au Youth Action and Policy
Association
• www.welfarerights.org.au The Welfare Rights
Centre
4:16 AM

55. Wikipedia
What do we know already
about Wikipedia?

56. Wikipedia
How do I use Wikipedia for research?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Research_help
includes:
When is Wikipedia useful for research?
Should I cite Wikipedia?
How reliable or accurate is Wikipedia?
How are Wikipedia articles structured?
How can I know a Wikipedia article's quality?
What if I can't access sources cited in a Wikipedia article?
What if Wikipedia doesn't have the information I need?
Or, the same topic but with lots more detail:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Researching_with_Wikipedia

57. Learning outcomes
In this session, we have begun to learn
about how to access and evaluate legal
and ethical resources.
In our next session, we will learn more
about interpreting the law, looking at
individual Acts and case law to see for
ourselves what the law says.