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Difference between revisions of "The Law for Family Matters"
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Thankfully, these days almost every important decision is published online as well. This makes research a lot easier and saves a lot of time travelling to and from libraries. [http://canlii.org CanLII], the Canadian Legal Information Institute, has a collection of most cases published since 1990 and a growing number of older cases from all parts of Canada. There are video tutorials on using CanLII effectively, courtesy of [http://www.canlii.org/en/blog/index.php?/archives/70-One-minute-legal-research-A-student-made-video-series.html CanLII's blog] and [http://www.courthouselibrary.ca/training/videos/FindingCasesOnPoint.aspx Courthouse Libraries BC's website]. | Thankfully, these days almost every important decision is published online as well. This makes research a lot easier and saves a lot of time travelling to and from libraries. [http://canlii.org CanLII], the Canadian Legal Information Institute, has a collection of most cases published since 1990 and a growing number of older cases from all parts of Canada. There are video tutorials on using CanLII effectively, courtesy of [http://www.canlii.org/en/blog/index.php?/archives/70-One-minute-legal-research-A-student-made-video-series.html CanLII's blog] and [http://www.courthouselibrary.ca/training/videos/FindingCasesOnPoint.aspx Courthouse Libraries BC's website]. | ||
The courts also post case law on their respective websites: | The courts also post case law on their respective websites. Search the judgments of: | ||
* | *the [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/judgments-decisions Provincial Court of British Columbia], | ||
* | *the [http://courts.gov.bc.ca/search_judgments.aspx?court=0 Supreme Court of British Columbia], | ||
* | *the [http://courts.gov.bc.ca/search_judgments.aspx?court=0 Court of Appeal for British Columbia], and | ||
* | *the [http://scc.lexum.org/decisia-scc-csc/scc-csc/en/nav.do Supreme Court of Canada]. | ||
These websites also keep lists of recently released decisions that may be published there before making it to CanLII. | These websites also keep lists of recently released decisions that may be published there before making it to CanLII. | ||
Another way to look up case law is to read digests of the law on particular subjects. The best materials on family law are two books published by the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia: | Another way to look up case law is to read digests of the law on particular subjects. The best materials on family law are two books published by the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia:the ''Family Law Sourcebook for British Columbia'', and the ''British Columbia Family Practice Manual''. These books are available in some public libraries (the website [http://www.worldcat.org WorldCat] <span class="noglossary">will</span> tell you if a library near you has copies) or at a branch of [http://www.courthouselibraries.ca Courthouse Libraries BC]. | ||
These books are available in some public libraries (the website [http://www.worldcat.org WorldCat] <span class="noglossary">will</span> tell you if a library near you has copies) or at a branch of [http://www.courthouselibraries.ca Courthouse Libraries BC]. | |||
Legal research can be terribly complex, partly because there are so many different reporters and partly because there are so many cases. In fact, legal research is the subject of a whole course at law school. You can get some help from the librarians at your local courthouse law library or university law library, all of whom are really quite helpful. In fact, the law library at UBC has a research desk that can help with certain limited matters. You might also consider hiring a law student to plough through the law for you, and the law schools at UBC, the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University <span class="noglossary">will</span> have job posting boards where you can put up a note about your needs and <span class="noglossary">contact</span> information. If all else fails, or your issue is really complex, try hiring a professional legal researcher. | Legal research can be terribly complex, partly because there are so many different reporters and partly because there are so many cases. In fact, legal research is the subject of a whole course at law school. You can get some help from the librarians at your local courthouse law library or university law library, all of whom are really quite helpful. In fact, the law library at UBC has a research desk that can help with certain limited matters. You might also consider hiring a law student to plough through the law for you, and the law schools at UBC, the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University <span class="noglossary">will</span> have job posting boards where you can put up a note about your needs and <span class="noglossary">contact</span> information. If all else fails, or your issue is really complex, try hiring a professional legal researcher. | ||