BCCLS
Tutorials
The British Columbia Courthouse Library Society (BCCLS) has recently launched
a new series of legal research video tutorials, available for viewing on
their website and on YouTube. While some segments pertain specifically to the
BCCLS system, others are of general interest. Especially helpful is the
segment called Researching Legislation, Part 1, Tracing Legislation back.
This eight minute segment uses both online and print sources to clearly
explain how to research the origins and history of a federal statute section.
Other segments include researching legislative intent and finding precedents.
These are nice refreshers for experienced researchers, and a good
introduction for new ones. Type bccourthouselibrary in the YouTube search
box, or
http://www.bccls.bc.ca/cms/index.cfm?group_id=86163 in your browser.
Best's Guide to Canadian Legal Research
Catherine Best is a research lawyer with the Vancouver
law firm of Campney & Murphy, and an Adjunct Professor with the Faculty of
Law at U.B.C., with whose support this site has been developed. The main page
of the site is divided into four parts: Research Essentials, Electronic
Research, Statutory Research and Other Jurisdictions. Each of these sections
is logically broken down into various sub-headings, each of which can be
clicked on for a step by step explanation of the topic. Statutory Research is
divided into provinces and some have guides on how to do legislative research
in that jurisdiction. As far as manual research goes, the Research Essentials
section offers effective strategies for Canadian legal research, including
finding and using secondary sources, finding and analyzing cases and updating
your research. This site is a great place to go to learn as much or as little
as you want - you can easily look up a specific research question, or browse
for more wide-ranging information.
http://LegalResearch.org
Bora Laskin Law Library Alphabetical Listing of
Electronic Journals
The popular
Bora Laskin Law Library Alphabetical Listing of Electronic Journals has been
converted into an easily searchable database of full text law journals
available on Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, WestlaweCarswell, Quicklaw, University of
Toronto Electronic Resources or the Internet. As stated on the home page, the
list includes direct links to full-text law journals. Wherever possible
holdings information (e.g., from 1992) has been included. Some databases
include only selected coverage. Although Lexis-Nexis,
Westlaw and Quicklaw are pay-per-use services, these services are
available either free or for a small fee here at the MLA Library. Items
marked (Full text through U of T Library Resources) are available only to the
University of Toronto Community.
http://www.law-lib.utoronto.ca/journals/search.asp
Canadian National Class
Action Database
As noted by Simon
Chester at www.slaw.ca, the
Canadian Bar Association has launched its National
Class Action Database, a
repository for information and documents about new class actions across
Canada. It is intended that the public, counsel, and courts need only
look to one source, at no cost, for this information.
The National Class Action Database is a voluntary
initiative and as such does not claim to provide a comprehensive listing of
all class action lawsuits currently underway in Canada. It
includes brief descriptors of the class action proceedings, namely, the
filing date, style of cause, description of the class, subject-matter of the
action, and status of the case. A search engine allows users to
identify quickly the existence of class action proceedings with overlapping
class members or subject matter. Users can also browse class action
proceedings, obtain useful information and download relevant documents. All
class actions will be listed annually in chronological order beginning with
the most recent. The jurisdiction where each proceeding is filed will be
indicated on the list.
http://www.cba.org/ClassActions/main/gate/index/
