Finding Canadian Laws & Cases Online Using CanLII.org

A webinar for BC public librariansMay 2011 Presenters: Janet Freeman, Courthouse Libraries BC Meghan Maddigan, Courthouse Libraries BC

Training provided by the program of

Today’s Presenters

Janet MeghanLawMatters Program Coordinator Client Services Legal Community Liaison

Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this session, you will be able to

• Conduct searches for Canadian laws and cases using the CanLII web site

• Have a basic understanding of how the public can use case law when preparing for court

• Identify three additional sources of information on legal research: - Courthouse Libraries BC video tutorials - Clicklaw - Court Services Online

Agenda• LawStartBC.ca

• CanLII tour and search strategies

• Break for practice questions [about 10 minutes]

• Discussion of practice question answers

• Additional sources of information on legal research

• Wrap-up and names for further contact

LawStartBC Four pieces of the puzzle for British Columbia legal information and assistance

A website featuring plain language legal information and education for the public in BC.

A search tool to find someone in your community who can help with legal problems.

A program that helps public libraries in BC in provide current legal information.

A non-profit that works to enhance access to legal information & assistance for the legal community and the public in BC.

www.clicklaw.bc.ca

Courthouse Libraries BC• libraries in 30 courthouses

across BC

• in-depth law books & free use of legal databases on public access computers

• assistance from law librarians (in Vancouver and 6 regional libraries or 1.800.665.2570)

• website courthouselibrary.ca features legal information aimed at legal community

LawMatters at your local public library• All public libraries in BC have

increased their legal information collections through grants from LawMatters

• Our Legal Information Reading Guides highlight the titles available bclawmatters.ca

• Public librarians have been receiving training on handling legal questions from the public

LawMatters collection at Chilliwack Public Library

Getting to Know CanLii

Why CanLii?

• Locate a particular case• Look up cases on a topic• Find laws – provincially and federally • Compare changes in older versions

of the law• Bring it together with law and cases

Some Examples

Finding an Out of Province Statute

• A woman tells you that she has recently moved from Alberta and is fighting with her landlord there. She would like to see a current version of the Alberta Residential Tenancies Act, and read the section on security deposits.

Finding a law from another provinceFinding a law from another province

Some Examples

• A patron comes into your library and has heard that a recent change came into effect concerning the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. They would like to review the sections that changed. Can you help?

Comparing old and new legislationComparing old and new legislation

Some Examples

• A student comes in and says that they read about that case in the news last year where a man was tried in Vancouver concerning an assault against a homosexual man at a pub and there was a lot of public opinion weighing in on whether it was a hate crime. He doesn’t remember the name. Can you help him find the decision?

Finding a Specific CaseFinding a Specific Case

Some Examples

• A woman comes in and wants to read about family custody cases. She says that she specifically wants to know about cases that have talked about “parental alienation” from the last two years in British Columbia.

Finding cases about a topicFinding cases about a topic

Some Examples

• A man comes in and explains that he wants to research interest rates charged by pay day loan places. In particular, he has heard that section 347 of the Criminal Code says that some interest rates are criminal. He would like to read that section and then read cases from BC that have dealt with that section, particularly as they relate to pay day loan businesses.

Bringing it all togetherBringing it all together

www.courthouselibrary.ca/research/HowToGuides/FindingCasesOnPoint.aspx

See Modules 4 and 6 for a demonstration of CanLII searching cases for the question “Must an engagement ring be returned if the wedding is called off?”

www.clicklaw.bc.ca

www.eservice.ag.gov.bc.ca/cso/index.do

Let us know how we’ve donePlease take 3 minutes to fill out our evaluation survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/courthouselibrariesbcCanLII

Contact UsTo connect with us:•Janet: jfreeman@courthouselibrary.ca or 604-660-9204•Meghan: mmaddigan@courthouselibrary.ca •Toll-free: 1-800-665-2570

Websites: •CanLII: canlii.org•Courthouse Libraries BC: courthouselibrary.ca•Clicklaw: clicklaw.bc.ca•LawStartBC: lawstartbc.ca •LawMatters: bclawmatters.ca