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Finding relevant case law requires time and research. Each case is different and so there is no simple answer for how to find cases most similar to yours.  
Finding relevant case law requires time and research. Each case is different and so there is no simple answer for how to find cases most similar to yours.  


Before looking for case law you may want to look at more general sources for information. Sometimes, these more general sources of information may provide you with useful legal keywords that may help you find case law. Secondary sources may also provide a list of relevant case law, along with relevant BC legislation, or court rules. For example, [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2273 JP Boyd on Family Law] frequently refers to case law.
Before looking for case law you may want to look at more general information resources. These information resources may provide you with useful legal keywords that help you find case law. Information resources may also provide a list of relevant case law, along with relevant BC legislation, or court rules. For example, [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2273 the Clicklaw wikibook JP Boyd on Family Law] frequently refers to case law.


To find case law, search a legal database such as [http://canlii.org/ CanLII], which is a free database. Other case law databases available at Courthouse Libraries BC include LawSource and Quicklaw (you must be physically in one of our Courthouse Library locations to access one of these subscription databases).
To find case law, search a legal database such as [http://canlii.org/ CanLII], which is a free database. Other case law databases available at Courthouse Libraries BC include LawSource and Quicklaw (you must be physically in one of our Courthouse Library locations to access one of these subscription databases).


===How to search on CanLII===  
===How to search on CanLII===  
Go to [http://www.canlii.org/en/ CanLII] and enter in keywords related to your case in the top search box. For example, if your neighbour keeps a beehive and the bees have damaged your property you may want to use keywords such as: '''bees neighbour "property damage"''' Then click on the dropdown labelled '''All jurisdictions''' and select '''British Columbia'''.
Go to [http://www.canlii.org/en/ CanLII] and enter in keywords related to your case in the top search box.  


It may take some time to find a case related to your own. If you are having difficulty, substitute your keywords for similar words. For example, substitute '''land''' for '''property'''. If you are finding too many cases, add more keywords or more specific keywords. For example, substitute '''roof''' for '''property'''. If you are not finding enough cases, use more general keywords. For example, substitute '''bees''' for '''insects'''. Place quotation marks around any phrases that you are using as keywords, such as '''"property damage"'''.
For example, if your neighbour keeps a beehive and the bees have damaged your property you may want to use keywords such as: '''bees, neighbour'''. Place quotation marks around any phrases that you are using as keywords, such as "property damage."


Once you have found a case you are interested in, click on the link at the top '''Cited by''' This leads you to a list of cases that have mentioned the case you are interested in and is referred to as "noting up" a case.
Then click on the dropdown labelled '''All jurisdictions''' and select '''British Columbia'''.


Noting up a case may lead you to find other, more recent cases dealing with similar circumstances
It may take some time to find a case related to your own. If you are having difficulty, substitute similar words as your keywords. For example, substitute '''land''' for '''property'''. If you are finding too many cases, add more keywords or more specific keywords. For example, substitute '''roof''' for '''property'''. If you are not finding enough cases, use more general keywords. For example, substitute '''insects''' for '''bees'''.


===Understanding How Cases are Reported and Cited===
Once you have found a case you are interested in, click on the link at the top '''Cited by'''. This leads you to a list of cases that have mentioned the case you are interested in and is referred to as "noting up" a case.
 
Noting up a case may lead you to find other, more recent cases dealing with similar circumstances.
 
===Understanding how cases are reported and cited===
   
   
Although all decisions are filed in a court registry, not all cases are reported. A case is usually not reported if there was a jury trial or if the judgment was delivered orally. The written decisions of judges are published on databases or in printed law reports, which are books published in a series. Newer reported cases are available online through free databases like [http://www.canlii.org/ CanLII] or paid databases like Quicklaw or WestlawNext Canada. Older law reports can be found both online and in print law reports, which are all available to the public at branches of Courthouse Libraries BC.
Although all decisions are filed in a court registry, not all cases are reported. A case is usually not reported if there was a jury trial or if the judgment was delivered orally. The written decisions of judges are published on databases or in printed law reports, which are books published in a series. Newer reported cases are available online through free databases like [http://www.canlii.org/ CanLII] or paid databases like Quicklaw or WestlawNext Canada. Older law reports can be found both online and in print law reports, which are all available to the public at branches of Courthouse Libraries BC.
   
   
It is up to the editor of a law report to decide which written judgments are published. Law reports can be specialized and report only selected cases. A law report may report cases from a particular court level (Canada Supreme Court Reports), a geographical region (Western Weekly Reports), a province (British Columbia Law Reports), or a subject area (Reports of Family Law). A particular case can appear in more than one report.
It is up to the editor of a law report to decide which written judgments are published. Law reports can be specialized and report only selected cases. A law report may report cases from a particular court level (e.g. Canada Supreme Court Reports), a geographical region (e.g. Western Weekly Reports), a province (e.g. British Columbia Law Reports), or a subject area (e.g. Reports of Family Law). A particular case can appear in more than one report.
 
Law reports are usually referred to by an abbreviation of the title. For example, Western Weekly Reports are referred to as W.W.R. The titles of law reports are always abbreviated in citations; these abbreviations may be identified in an abbreviations dictionary such as ''Index to Legal Citations and Abbreviations'' available in print, or the online [http://www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk/ Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations].
 
===Understanding how cases are cited===


Law reports are usually referred to by an abbreviation of the title. For example, Western Weekly Reports are referred to as W.W.R. The titles of law reports are always abbreviated in citations; these abbreviations may be identified in an abbreviations dictionary such as ''Index to Legal Citations and Abbreviations''.
Since the late 1990s, Canadian courts have been assigning what is called a "neutral citation" to each case. A neutral citation consists of the year, an abbreviation for the province and the court, and a number assigned by the court. The citation does not include a reference to any printed series of law reports. A neutral citation is the type of citation you will see on CanLII.


Since the late 1990s, Canadian courts have been assigning a neutral citation to each case, which is the type of citation you will see on CanLII, there is no physical publication cases with only a neutral citation.
For example, a neutral citation appears as follows:
A neutral citation consists of the year, an abbreviation for the province and the court and a number assigned by the court. It appears as follows:


''Kits v. Kits'', 2001 BCCA 284
''Kits v. Kits'', 2001 BCCA 284


In the above case, Kits v. Kits was the 284th decision issued by the BC Court of Appeal in 2001.
In this case, Kits v. Kits was the 284th decision issued by the BC Court of Appeal in 2001.


 
When you are researching a case, you may find a neutral citation (as on Can LII) or you may find a citation that does refer to a printed series of law reports. Here is an example:
A case citation usually appears as follows:


[[File:Case_citation_example_1.jpg| right | frame | link= | <span style="font-size:60%;">Copyright www.shutterstock.com</span>]]
[[File:Case_citation_example_1.jpg| right | frame | link= | <span style="font-size:60%;">Copyright www.shutterstock.com</span>]]
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[[File:Case_citation_example_2.jpg| right | frame | link= | <span style="font-size:60%;">Copyright www.shutterstock.com</span>]]
[[File:Case_citation_example_2.jpg| right | frame | link= | <span style="font-size:60%;">Copyright www.shutterstock.com</span>]]


===More Case Law Resources===
===More case law resources===
 
To learn more about searching for case law, good starting points include:
To learn more about searching for case law, good starting points include:
*[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2986 The CanLII Primer: Legal Research Principles and CanLII Navigation for Self-Represented Litigants] This extensive guide explains the Canadian legal system, the principles of precedent, binding and persuasive case law, and how to search on CanLII.
*[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2986 The CanLII Primer: Legal Research Principles and CanLII Navigation for Self-Represented Litigants]. This extensive guide explains the Canadian legal system, the principles of precedent, binding and persuasive case law, and how to search on CanLII.
*[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2864 How can I research other family law cases?]  This web page explains a series of steps to research family law cases.  
*[http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/2864 How can I research other family law cases?]  This web page explains a series of steps to research family law cases.  


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