Commentary Research using e-LiRN resources

Secondary sources often explain legal principles more thoroughly than a single case or statute, so using them can help you save time.
– Harvard Law School Library

B.O.O.K. – Best Organization Of Knowledge – Denis LeMay, Canadian law librarian
LeMay’s acronym explains why consulting a book is often more efficient then spending hours searching reems of case law.  Books are written by experts in the field and will include the key cases and legislation that explain why they are important and their context, as well as their expert analysis.  This can save a lawyer lots of time if you can find relevant commentary intead of a primary source such as just the case that they are asking for if they are doing research.

How to use Commentary Resources on e-LiRN

Megan McDonnell (TLA) skillfully presented a session for the network about searching for commentary/secondary sources using e-LiRN.  The session included detailed steps about how to use these resources, their contents,  provided some tips & tricks as well as practice questions to demonstrate how she would find an answer for a question received.  Megan explains that even if a lawyer asks for a case, she often provides commentary about the case to assist the lawyer to quickly understand the case and its context or relevance.   This also applies to a request for a section of legislation, etc.

A Few Highlights:

  • Halsbury’s Laws of Canada (over 72 books) – on Lexis+
  • Williston & Rolls Court Forms can be found on Lexis+
  • Lexis+ Practical Guidance has drafting notes & clauses as well as all Ontario Practice Directions in one place, in addition to Toolkits, Resource Kits & Calculators.  Created by known expert lawyers.
  • Irwin Law texts (0ver 160 books) on vlex are searchable using the Downloadable version
  • Blogs, such as on vLex, are very useful for new cases, or legislation that have not yet been processed through the traditional publishing process and into a text.
  • Tips & Tricks included the spelling of judgement/judgment which varies sometimes due to errors/typos

For a detailed list of contents of what is available for each e-LiRN resource, please search the wiki by the Topic such as Criminal Law resources.

Research using CPD materials

CPD binders are great topical materials and a good place to start your research.  If you have limited shelf space, just keep just the current year of CPD titles on the shelf or if it is the only one of its kind.  The CPD contents are available electronically via the GL’s & Courthouse libraries’ catalogue.  You can offer to email lawyers a chapter from this online resource called AccessCLE.

Search for LSO CPD Materials (catalogue)

  • GL & Courthouse libraries catalogues have CPD materials dating back to 2004.
  • If a chapter is missing, a presenter may not have included it when submitting their materials to the LSO CPD department.
  • GL has created a Guide to assist you with CPD Searching:  Full Text Searching of CPDs
  • Browse the CPD collection
  • How to Browse Instructions from the GL:
    • The LSO CPD Materials Collection is organized by practice area. Scroll down to load a full list of sub-collections. Browse a sub-collection by clicking on the sub-collection.
    • Practice-area sub-collections are then organized by year, beginning with the most current year. Scroll down to load a full list of years. Click on the year to browse the year’s CPD programs. Users may have to scroll down to load a full list of CPD programs.
    • Selecting a CPD program sub-collection will give users a list of the program’s articles.

Why search CPD Programs?

  • A great starting point for legal research, offering practical advice from experts, especially on new or developing areas of law, cases, or legislation
  • Materials are available shortly after the program concludes
  • For further information about CPD resources, please see the CPD topic on the wiki.

HeinOnline

HeinOnline’s Core for Canada is an entire digital library containing the full text of more than 3,000 scholarly journals, access to U.S. federal and state case law, thousands of classic legal treatises, and a wealth of government publications.

Among the package’s many databases, access the Provincial Statutes of Canada, Revised Statutes of Canada, Canada Supreme Courts, and more—all are exact replicas of the original print publications and all are fully searchable.

To set up access for HeinOnline

  • Lawyers and library staff have access to HeinOnline
  • Send an email to is [email protected] to request access
  • Access is through the Great Library catalogue.  When searching for a title, you will see the link to the journal (etc.).
  • Hein is provided to LiRN library via the Great Library’s subscription to HeinOnline.
  • For further Information see HeinOnline as a Topic on the wiki