Law Resources
Law Resources
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Link to Bonnycastle Library Catalogue
General information
General information
In this guide you will find information about locating information about topics related to Law topics. The guide includes information about the research process and researching databases. It also includes information about researching on the web and NoodleTools.
This page includes search boxes for the databases used most often. For more information about a specific database or to view all the online resources and tutorials to help you get the most out of the online databases, please visit the Library Resources page or click the Databases icon.
Remember, to access the databases at home you will need the usernames and passwords found on mySJR under links. Click on the link to the page entitled Educational Resources Log in and Password Information.
Steps in the Legal Research Process
Steps in the Legal Research Process
When thinking about law resources you first need to choose what area of law you want to research and then narrow your topic within that field of law. Thinking about what you are looking for is a critical first step in this area of research because of the subject-specific vocabulary.
Possible areas of Law (I've linked to research guides for each area. Look at the subject headings and click through the tabs for open source and online resources):
Family Law, Aboriginal Law, Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, Youth and the Law, Environmental Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Civil, Administrative Law
Develop the parameters/boundaries of your legal research. After you have chosen a topic, think about the following:
Jurisdiction: Laws are made at both federal and provincial levels. For this assignment you will likely be researching at the federal level
Key sources and search terms (key words, phrases, etc.):
Each area of law uses subject-specific vocabulary. Spend some time looking at that vocabulary - it will help you locate information!
Time frame you are working in. Laws change. Looking at the historical context can be useful but you need to be aware of what is current and what is historical
2. Gather background knowledge **do not skip this step
a. Start with secondary sources (also known as commentaries) before looking at case law and legislation. Secondary sources are scholarly materials written by legal experts. They provide a good overview of the law and the text or footnotes can refer to relevant legislation or case law. Secondary sources are useful for putting the law into context, and often will lead a researcher to relevant primary sources (case law, legislation, treaties, etc) that will be helpful later in the research process.
b. Secondary sources include: Textbooks, treatises, casebooks, journals, government documents, legal education materials, law wikis and blogs, news sources
**secondary sources are extremely important in law research however, it is very important for you to assess the credibility of the author. Blogs can be helpful if the person writing it is an expert in the field. If the author is unknown or is not credible DO NOT USE
3. Look at the primary sources
When reviewing secondary sources, you should be taking note of the cases and legislation (primary sources) that relate to your research. Follow up on these primary sources. One good case decision or statute may be all it takes to make an impact on your research.
Take good notes! Document everything you used and viewed.
One of the best research guides that is used widely by students and field researchers is The Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide
To find news articles
To find news articles
Locating articles to use for your project means you will need to pay attention to the news.
Google News - is a news aggregator. You can quickly review headlines in the news across Canada and the world. You can also set up alerts to track stories or topics of your choice.
Maclean's Archive - Maclean's is Canada's main news magazine.
Databases - the databases listed below are periodical databases. In other words, they include the text from magazines, newspapers, and journals. They are a quick way of researching a lot of sources quickly
Curio - provides streaming video. Their channels, News in Review covers prominent Canadian new stories.
Searching terms or background information
Searching terms or background information
Encyclopedias and dictionaries are great sources for gathering background information.
Canadian Online Legal Dictionary - short, easily understood definitions of legal terms
Canadian Encyclopedia - provides an excellent overview of the Canadian court system and also provides information about prominent court cases and other aspects of Canadian law.
The Law is (Not) for Kids: A Legal Rights Guide for Canadian Children and Teens - ebook that discusses law concepts in easy to understand terms
Databases:
Databases:
Bonnycastle Library does not have a specific law database. However, the general databases will have articles about law and cases within them. A library database is an online collection of organized and searchable resources, such as journals, newspapers, and videos. You can search databases to find the most reliable, academic information for assignments. This information cannot be found through the Internet (i.e. Google) because a subscription is needed to access it.
Basic tips:
Keep short strings short. Go to the Advanced Search page to separate keywords into multiple boxes.
Keyword
If you are not find what you want, try changing the keywords.
Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and truncation (*) to expand and narrow results.
Use the filters/limiters provided by the database to refine your results.
Remember to add Canada to your search if you want only Canadian law content.
For more information about using databases, please view Databases 101 page.
Gale databases
Gale databases
Gales's PowerSearch allows you to search all the inContext databases at one time.
Start by using the search string: youth criminal justice act (capitalization does not matter)
EBSCO databases
EBSCO databases
EBSCO is good choice when looking for current information from magazines, journals, and newspapers. Click the link to search EBSCo's periodical databases.
Discovery - search everything at once
Discovery - search everything at once
EBSCO Discovery, once it is fully enabled, will search all the resources Bonnycastle Library has at one time. It can be a great search but will provide you with a lot of results. Consider using a specific database if you know what you are looking for.
Law websites:
Law websites:
There are several excellent resources for law available on the open web but you must always check to ensure your source is appropriate and authoritative. The first three sources are "must view sites".
Sites to use:
Sites to use:
This is a good starting place to get a background on the area of law that you are researching.
Use the drop down boxes on the top menu bar or search for your topic in the search box
The Justice site provides background information on all the major areas of law in Canada.
Justice Laws website - the online source of the consolidated Acts and regulations of Canada. The consolidations are generally updated every two weeks.
Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLii)
This is a must use resource for law projects.
Free to use database that provides access to Canadian case law, legislation, and tribunal decisions
It also provides:
Commentaries
Cases.
A news feed.
Legal Blogs and Wikis
Legal Blogs and Wikis
Legal Blogs
Blogs are online self published commentary on legal issues.
Blogs are a useful tool for current awareness and commentary and exchange of ideas by experts in the law field, such as academics, practitioners and law librarians.
Blog entries may include background information, case commentary, research tips and resources and/or links to full text material.
As with any publication, be sure to consider the authority and quality of the blog. Information found on blogs and wikis is not authoritative and subject to change. Make sure to confirm all information.
An current directory of those blogging about the law in Canada; includes hundreds of blogs; is searchable and arranged by subject and area of law.
Wikis
Legal Wikis are online collaborative websites that contain a collection of legal information.
Legal Tree - is the most prominent Canadian legal wiki; it includes articles on many legal topics authored by lawyers and experts.
Wex – provided by the Legal Information Institute (LII) of Cornell Law School. It is a public access collaborative legal dictionary and encyclopedia; however, authors and articles are pre-screened by the institute.
As with any publication, be sure to consider the authority and quality of the wiki. Information found on wikis is not authoritative and subject to change. Make sure to confirm all information
Legal Tree is Canada's most prominent legal wiki; it includes articles on many legal topics authored by lawyers and experts.
Wex – provided by the Legal Information Institute (LII) of Cornell Law School. It is a public access collaborative legal dictionary and encyclopedia; however, authors and articles are pre-screened by the institute.
TheCourt.ca is a interactive blog where academics, practitioners and the public may publish, review and discuss recent Supreme Court judgments and current or upcoming cases. The blog is managed by students of the Osgoode Hall Law School, under the supervision of a faculty editor-in-chief.
Additional sources:
Additional sources:
· Justice Education Society of BC
A non-profit organization serving to educate the public about law, courts, and the legal system. The site contains many resources in both print and effective streaming-video presentations. It serves the general public, youth, persons with disabilities, Aboriginals and immigrants.
· LawyerShop.ca: Legal Information Centre
Over 500 current, informative articles and 200 podcasts about civil, criminal, employment, estate, family, immigration and personal injury law. Note: Written by Ontario lawyers.
ClickLaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC is intended as “online legal information for British Columbians”
Courthouse Libraries BC also has a Legal Knowledge Base
Provides in-depth analysis and detailed statistics on issues related to justice and public safety. Topics include crime, victimization, homicide, civil, family and criminal courts, and correctional services.
Google Scholar - helpful for case law
Search tips:
Search tips:
In browser type:
site:.gc.ca AND search term will limit to government of Canada sites
site:.edu AND search term will limit to education institutional sites
A word about bias
A word about bias
Confirmation Bias: When you only pay attention to resources that support your opinion. Often people don't even realize they are filtering out other opinions and facts. To avoid confirmation bias, get your information from a variety of sources. Look at both "pro" and "con" arguments.
It is up to you to assess the validity of a source.
Remember to cite your sources.
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