BUS 393 Introduction to Commercial Law Resources

atSimon Fraser University

Library

Yolanda Koscielski, Liaison Librarian for Criminology,

Computing Science and EngineeringOctober 2009

Main Topics: How to

1. Look up the definitions of legal terms 2. Find textbooks or commentaries (by

lawyers and other writers) on your topic 3. Find laws and regulations 4. Find law cases on your topic 5. Track down a legal case using a

citation.

First Steps: SFU Library Website

The library’s home page: www.lib.sfu.ca

Click on “Browse research guides”

Click on Business Administration,

-then on Bus Admin Area

-then on Commercial Law

Commercial Law Research Guide @ SFU Library

1. How to: look up the definitions of legal terms?

The Dictionary of Canadian Law [KE 183 D852 2004]

Canadian Law Dictionary [KE 183 Y63 1998]

2. How to: find textbooks or commentaries by lawyers and other writers on your topic?

Index to Canadian Legal Literature (Available via LawSource)

Canadian Business Law Journal (Available via CBCA Complete) SFU Library Catalogue Canada Corporations Law Reporter

(Bennett Library Reference: HD 2808 C343)

Index to Canadian Legal Literature (Available via LawSource)

Canadian Business Law Journal(Available via CBCA)

SFU Library Catalogue

Canada Corporations Law Reporter + Corporate Brief

3. How to: find the text of laws and regulations?

For BC laws, the most up-to-date source is QP Legalese (or BC Laws)

For BC & other jurisdictions in Canada, use LawSource

For BC & other jurisdictions in Canada, use LexisNexis

Free public websites

QP Legalese

LawSource

Free public websites

Consolidated Acts and regulations of Canada http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/

BC Laws http://www.bclaws.ca/

Free public websites

Canadian Legal Information Institutehttp://www.canlii.org/

4. How to: find law cases on your topic?

Use the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest (CED) The CED will always point you to major cases which have established the legal points in question. The CED is available electronically through LawSource.

Use the Canadian Abridgement. This is yet another resource which we have available online through LawSource.

CED/CAD in Lawsource

Use the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest (CED) The CED will always point you to major cases which have established the legal points in question. The CED is available electronically through LawSource.

Use the Canadian Abridgement. This is yet another resource which we have available online through LawSource.

How to: find law cases on your topic?

Do a keyword search in a database of Canadian magazine and newspaper articles. This is useful for finding prominent cases which have been covered in the media.

Recommended databases: CBCA Fulltext Business Canadian NewsStand

How to: find law cases on your topic?

Look at your course textbook. Frequently your textbook will refer to major cases in discussing the law on your topic.

Use the secondary literature. An article on your topic will almost always refer you to specific relevant cases.

5. I've got the citation to a specific case. How can I get the judgment?

Once you have the citation to a specific case you can try to locate the judgment. However, even just understanding the citation can be a challenge.

Wells v. Newfoundland (1997), 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271, 483 A.P.R. 271, 5 Admin. L.R. (3d) 113, 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271, NLCA

Case Citation

This report can be found in the 69th volume of the Dominion Law Reports on page 433

The "2nd" tells you that the DLR has been published in multiple series; the second series was 1956-68

SCBC indicates this was a Supreme Court of British Columbia decision

Case Citation

This seems rather complicated, and it is, but fortunately LawSource makes it easy. From the homepage, where it says: Case, you can type in the names of the parties involved.

Ex: Wells v. Newfoundland (1997), 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271, 483 A.P.R. 271, 5 Admin. L.R. (3d) 113, 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271, NLCA

Interpreting LawSource symbols A red flag warns you that the case may not be

good law, indicating that the decision has been reversed, or has not been followed within the same jurisdiction or by the Supreme Court of Canada.

A yellow flag warns that the decision has some negative history or treatment, but has not been reversed or overruled.

Note: If a decision has a red or yellow flag, any decision lower than it in the direct history chain will also have a status flag at least as severe assigned to it.

Sources for US Legal Information

Cases: LexisNexis (US)

Secondary Legal Literature: Books in library catalogue—may give

your legal topic (e.g., contracts) a comparative treatment

LexisNexis: (US and other international) HeinOnline: Law Journal Library:

international and non-U.S. law journals

Main Topics: How to

1. Look up the definitions of legal terms 2. Find textbooks or commentaries (by

lawyers and other writers) on your topic 3. Find laws and regulations 4. Find law cases on your topic 5. Track down a legal case using a

citation.

Reference & Research Assistance

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