Secondary Resources and How to Find Them: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:00, 28 March 2018

Secondary resources are the place to start

Secondary resources include books, websites, online guides, and pamphlets that explain the topic and provide references to case law, laws, rules, and forms.

It is generally best to start your research by looking at secondary resources. They may provide an overview in plain language. They may also save you time by pulling together a lot of the information you need in one resource.

Secondary resources range from very basic information summaries to detailed do-it-yourself guides. At the technical legal end, they also include specialist texts on various topics and lawyers’ tools.

Locations to find secondary resources

The website Clicklaw features secondary resources. See the handout How to Use Clicklaw (PDF).
Public libraries throughout the province contain many titles in print of secondary resources, depending on the size of the library. To find a library in your community, see the Map of BC Libraries and Branches. For lists of titles that a public library might have, see this guide Getting Started with Your Legal Collection (PDF).
Courthouse Libraries BC offer extensive resources of specialist texts and tools for lawyers. These are described in Research resources at Courthouse Libraries BC.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Courthouse Libraries BC staff, October 2015.

Beginner's Guide to Finding Legal Information © Courthouse Libraries BC 2015 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.

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-Secondary sources are resources such as books, websites, online guides, and pamphlets that explain the topic and provide references to case law, laws, rules, and forms. It is generally best to start your research by looking at secondary sources since they may provide an overview in plain language. They may also save you time by pulling together a lot of the information you need in one resource.
+==Secondary resources are the place to start==
-==4 Step Legal Information Pathway==
-Secondary sources can be described as a 4 step legal information pathway (*Footnote: the 4 Step Legal Information Pathway is based on a resource produced by the former [http://www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/liac/ Legal Information Access Centre] of New South Wales, Australia):
-===Step 1: Simple summaries===
-At its simplest, legal information comes as a fact sheet or pamphlet that summarizes and explains the law in plain language without legal jargon. Some examples include a [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1272 Dial a Law script], and a [http://clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2414 Live Safe — End Abuse factsheet].
-===Step 2: Practical guides===
-These plain language guides summarise and explain the law. They provide strategies, sample letters and forms, procedural information, practical tips and references to cases and Acts. Some examples include [http://wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/index.php/JP_Boyd_on_Family_Law JP Boyd on Family Law] and [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1040 Consumer Law and Credit/Debt Law].
-===Step 3: More specialized resources===
-For more detailed information about an area of law, general legal texts, often intended for law students and lawyers, can help. Some examples include ''Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law'', and the ''Wrongful Dismissal Handbook''.
-===Step 4: Lawyers’ tools===
-These are traditional legal research resources that provide detailed explanations and ways of identifying cases and legislation relevant to a legal subject area. Some examples include the ''BC Probate and Estate Administration Practice Manual'' and ''BC Supreme Court Rules Annotated''.
-==Using a Legal Information Pathway: Bankruptcy==
-The information below demonstrates a possible search using the steps of the Legal Information Pathway. The steps are suggestions only and you may wish to order your search differently, such as starting with legislation or case law.
-'''Sample question:'''  How do I file for bankruptcy, and how would RRSPs affect my application?
+Secondary resources include books, websites, online guides, and pamphlets that explain the topic and provide references to case law, laws, rules, and forms.
-'''First step:''' Search [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/ Clicklaw] resources under the key word ''bankruptcy'', or try the common question [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/question/commonquestion/1014 “I’m thinking about declaring bankruptcy”]
+It is generally best to start your research by looking at secondary resources. They may provide an overview in plain language. They may also save you time by pulling together a lot of the information you need in one resource.
-'''Second step:''' find practical guides, such as [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2530 Personal Insolvency Guide] and [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1040 Consumer Law and Credit/Debt Law] online, as well as books at public libraries such as ''Bennett on Consumer Bankruptcy'' and ''Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law''.
-'''Third step:''' find options for more in-depth research, such as the [http://opac.courthouselibrary.ca/Catalogues/CatView.aspx?id=8006&noAuthRedir=1 Annotated Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act] (Courthouse Libraries and some public libraries).
+Secondary resources range from very basic information summaries to detailed do-it-yourself guides. At the technical legal end, they also include specialist texts on various topics and lawyers’ tools.
-'''Fourth Step:''' legislation and case law
+==Locations to find secondary resources==
-*Legislation: ''Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act'', in particular  [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/B-3/page-50.html#h-26 S. 67.(1) (b.3)]
+*The website Clicklaw features secondary resources. See the handout [https://www.courthouselibrary.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/2017_clicklaw_detailed_handout.pdf How to Use Clicklaw] (PDF).
-*Case law: at [http://www.canlii.org/ CanLII]  use keywords “bankruptcy /s RRSP” Or try the larger databases of case law at Courthouse Libraries BC (available to the public on public access computers)
+*Public libraries throughout the province contain many titles in print of secondary resources, depending on the size of the library. To find a library in your community, see the [https://commons.bclibraries.ca/library_location_map/ Map of BC Libraries and Branches]. For lists of titles that a public library might have, see this guide [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Uc3DpAhUPbKc_ttFhjHcn62xQZUjsMAW/view?usp=sharing Getting Started with Your Legal Collection] (PDF).
+*[https://www.courthouselibrary.ca Courthouse Libraries BC] offer extensive resources of specialist texts and tools for lawyers. These are described in [[Recommended Secondary Resources#Research Resources at Courthouse Libraries BC | Research resources at Courthouse Libraries BC]].
-==Locations to find secondary sources include:==
+{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Courthouse Libraries BC]] staff, October 2015}}
-*The website Clicklaw includes many step 1 and step 2 resources. See the handout [http://www.courthouselibrary.ca/docs/default-source/lawmatters/Clicklaw_Handout__Top_Five_AND_HelpMap__12-08-28.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Clicklaw: 5 ways to search, and Using the Clicklaw HelpMap].
-*Public libraries throughout the province contain many titles in print of steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 resources, depending on the size of the library. To find a library in your community, see the [http://www.bclibraries.ca/contacts/ BC Libraries site]. To see a list of titles recommended for public libraries to purchase, see these [http://www.courthouselibrary.ca/docs/default-source/lawmatters/lawmatters-oct2012-final.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Reading Guides].
-*[http://www.courthouselibrary.ca/default.aspx Courthouse Libraries BC] offer extensive resources for step 3 and step 4 titles, and are described on the [[Recommended Secondary Sources#Research Resources at Courthouse Libraries BC | Research Resources at Courthouse Libraries BC]] page.
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Secondary Resources and How to Find Them: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:00, 28 March 2018

Secondary resources are the place to start

Locations to find secondary resources

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