comprehensive guide to legal research writing and analysis

We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

The comprehensive guide to legal research, writing & analysis

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

68 Previews

2 Favorites

Better World Books

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

No suitable files to display here.

PDF access not available for this item.

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by station34.cebu on December 27, 2021

The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis

Moira McCarney, Ruth Kuras, Annette Demers, Shelley Kierstead, The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis (3 rd ed) (Emond, 2019).

https://emond.ca/the-comprehensive-guide-to-legal-research-writing-a-analysis-3rd-edition-he.html

The third edition of  The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis  focuses on helping readers develop the competencies required by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. This is achieved through in-depth coverage of provincial, territorial, and federal research tools and processes. In addition to developing these important communication and research skills, readers will also be equipped to apply them in both academic and professional environments.

This text provides a thorough background of the foundations of the Canadian legal system so that readers fully understand the laws and issues that may impact their work. Using this fundamental knowledge, readers will build key skills related to analyzing issues and facts, researching legal statutes and cases from various levels of court, creating and maintaining research plans, developing legal arguments, and transitioning their legal writing skills from classroom to courtroom. These skills can be further refined by using the in-text sample problems created by the accomplished author team.

Skills in research, writing, and analysis are essential to anyone aspiring to work in or currently working in the legal field. From start to finish, this resource’s detailed and practical approach supports readers in developing these necessary competencies.

Legal Research Strategy

Preliminary analysis, organization, secondary sources, primary sources, updating research, identifying an end point, getting help, about this guide.

This guide will walk a beginning researcher though the legal research process step-by-step. These materials are created with the 1L Legal Research & Writing course in mind. However, these resources will also assist upper-level students engaged in any legal research project.

How to Strategize

Legal research must be comprehensive and precise.  One contrary source that you miss may invalidate other sources you plan to rely on.  Sticking to a strategy will save you time, ensure completeness, and improve your work product. 

Follow These Steps

Running Time: 3 minutes, 13 seconds.

Make sure that you don't miss any steps by using our:

• Legal Research Strategy Checklist

If you get stuck at any time during the process, check this out:

• Ten Tips for Moving Beyond the Brick Wall in the Legal Research Process, by Marsha L. Baum

Understanding the Legal Questions

A legal question often originates as a problem or story about a series of events. In law school, these stories are called fact patterns. In practice, facts may arise from a manager or an interview with a potential client. Start by doing the following:

• Read anything you have been given
• Analyze the facts and frame the legal issues
• Assess what you know and need to learn
• Note the jurisdiction and any primary law you have been given
• Generate potential search terms

Jurisdiction

Legal rules will vary depending on where geographically your legal question will be answered. You must determine the jurisdiction in which your claim will be heard. These resources can help you learn more about jurisdiction and how it is determined:

• Legal Treatises on Jurisdiction
• LII Wex Entry on Jurisdiction

This map indicates which states are in each federal appellate circuit:

Getting Started

Once you have begun your research, you will need to keep track of your work. Logging your research will help you to avoid missing sources and explain your research strategy. You will likely be asked to explain your research process when in practice. Researchers can keep paper logs, folders on Westlaw or Lexis, or online citation management platforms.

Organizational Methods

Tracking with paper or excel.

Many researchers create their own tracking charts.  Be sure to include:

• Search Date
• Topics/Keywords/Search Strategy
• Citation to Relevant Source Found
• Save Locations
• Follow Up Needed

Consider using the following research log as a starting place: 

• Sample Research Log

Tracking with Folders

Westlaw and Lexis offer options to create folders, then save and organize your materials there.

• Lexis Advance Folders
• Westlaw Edge Folders

Tracking with Citation Management Software

For long term projects, platforms such as Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, or Refworks might be useful. These are good tools to keep your research well organized. Note, however, that none of these platforms substitute for doing your own proper Bluebook citations. Learn more about citation management software on our other research guides:

• Guide to Zotero for Harvard Law Students by Harvard Law School Library Research Services Last Updated Sep 12, 2023 245 views this year

Types of Sources

There are three different types of sources: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.  When doing legal research you will be using mostly primary and secondary sources.  We will explore these different types of sources in the sections below.

Secondary sources often explain legal principles more thoroughly than a single case or statute. Starting with them can help you save time.

Secondary sources are particularly useful for:

• Learning the basics of a particular area of law
• Understanding key terms of art in an area
• Identifying essential cases and statutes

Consider the following when deciding which type of secondary source is right for you:

• Scope/Breadth
• Depth of Treatment
• Currentness/Reliability

For a deep dive into secondary sources visit:

• Secondary Sources: ALRs, Encyclopedias, Law Reviews, Restatements, & Treatises by Catherine Biondo Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 4260 views this year

Legal Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Legal dictionaries.

Legal dictionaries are similar to other dictionaries that you have likely used before.

• Black's Law Dictionary
• Ballentine's Law Dictionary

Legal Encyclopedias

Legal encyclopedias contain brief, broad summaries of legal topics, providing introductions and explaining terms of art. They also provide citations to primary law and relevant major law review articles.  

Here are the two major national encyclopedias:

• American Jurisprudence (AmJur) This resource is also available in Westlaw & Lexis .
• Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS)

Treatises are books on legal topics.  These books are a good place to begin your research.  They provide explanation, analysis, and citations to the most relevant primary sources. Treatises range from single subject overviews to deep treatments of broad subject areas.

It is important to check the date when the treatise was published. Many are either not updated, or are updated through the release of newer editions.

To find a relevant treatise explore:

• Legal Treatises by Subject by Catherine Biondo Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 3204 views this year

American Law Reports (ALR)

American Law Reports (ALR) contains in-depth articles on narrow topics of the law. ALR articles, are often called annotations. They provide background, analysis, and citations to relevant cases, statutes, articles, and other annotations. ALR annotations are invaluable tools to quickly find primary law on narrow legal questions.

This resource is available in both Westlaw and Lexis:

• American Law Reports on Westlaw (includes index)
• American Law Reports on Lexis

Law Reviews & Journals

Law reviews are scholarly publications, usually edited by law students in conjunction with faculty members. They contain both lengthy articles and shorter essays by professors and lawyers. They also contain comments, notes, or developments in the law written by law students. Articles often focus on new or emerging areas of law and may offer critical commentary. Some law reviews are dedicated to a particular topic while others are general. Occasionally, law reviews will include issues devoted to proceedings of panels and symposia.

Law review and journal articles are extremely narrow and deep with extensive references. 

To find law review articles visit:

• Law Journal Library on HeinOnline
• Law Reviews & Journals on LexisNexis
• Law Reviews & Journals on Westlaw

Restatements

Restatements are highly regarded distillations of common law, prepared by the American Law Institute (ALI). ALI is a prestigious organization comprised of judges, professors, and lawyers. They distill the "black letter law" from cases to indicate trends in common law. Resulting in a “restatement” of existing common law into a series of principles or rules. Occasionally, they make recommendations on what a rule of law should be.

Restatements are not primary law. However, they are considered persuasive authority by many courts.

Restatements are organized into chapters, titles, and sections.  Sections contain the following:

• a concisely stated rule of law,
• comments to clarify the rule,
• hypothetical examples,
• explanation of purpose, and
• exceptions to the rule  

To access restatements visit:

• American Law Institute Library on HeinOnline
• Restatements & Principles of the Law on LexisNexis
• Restatements & Principles of Law on Westlaw

Primary Authority

Primary authority is "authority that issues directly from a law-making body."   Authority , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).   Sources of primary authority include:

• Constitutions
• Statutes 

Regulations

Access to primary legal sources is available through:

• Bloomberg Law
• Free & Low Cost Alternatives

Statutes (also called legislation) are "laws enacted by legislative bodies", such as Congress and state legislatures.  Statute , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

We typically start primary law research here. If there is a controlling statute, cases you look for later will interpret that law. There are two types of statutes, annotated and unannotated.

Annotated codes are a great place to start your research. They combine statutory language with citations to cases, regulations, secondary sources, and other relevant statutes. This can quickly connect you to the most relevant cases related to a particular law. Unannotated Codes provide only the text of the statute without editorial additions. Unannotated codes, however, are more often considered official and used for citation purposes.

For a deep dive on federal and state statutes, visit:

• Statutes: US and State Codes by Mindy Kent Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 2603 views this year
• 50 State Surveys

Want to learn more about the history or legislative intent of a law?  Learn how to get started here:

• Legislative History Get an introduction to legislative histories in less than 5 minutes.
• Federal Legislative History Research Guide

Regulations are rules made by executive departments and agencies. Not every legal question will require you to search regulations. However, many areas of law are affected by regulations. So make sure not to skip this step if they are relevant to your question.

To learn more about working with regulations, visit:

• Administrative Law Research by AJ Blechner Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 535 views this year

Case Basics

In many areas, finding relevant caselaw will comprise a significant part of your research. This Is particularly true in legal areas that rely heavily on common law principles.

Running Time: 3 minutes, 10 seconds.

Unpublished Cases

Up to  86% of federal case opinions are unpublished. You must determine whether your jurisdiction will consider these unpublished cases as persuasive authority. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure have an overarching rule, Rule 32.1  Each circuit also has local rules regarding citations to unpublished opinions. You must understand both the Federal Rule and the rule in your jurisdiction.

• Federal and Local Rules of Appellate Procedure 32.1 (Dec. 2021).
• Type of Opinion or Order Filed in Cases Terminated on the Merits, by Circuit (Sept. 2021).

Each state also has its own local rules which can often be accessed through:

• State Bar Associations
• State Courts Websites

First Circuit

• First Circuit Court Rule 32.1.0

Second Circuit

• Second Circuit Court Rule 32.1.1

Third Circuit

• Third Circuit Court Rule 5.7

Fourth Circuit

• Fourth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Fifth Circuit

• Fifth Circuit Court Rule 47.5

Sixth Circuit

• Sixth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Seventh Circuit

• Seventh Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Eighth Circuit

• Eighth Circuit Court Rule 32.1A

Ninth Circuit

• Ninth Circuit Court Rule 36-3

Tenth Circuit

• Tenth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Eleventh Circuit

• Eleventh Circuit Court Rule 32.1

D.C. Circuit

• D.C. Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Federal Circuit

• Federal Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Finding Cases

Headnotes show the key legal points in a case. Legal databases use these headnotes to guide researchers to other cases on the same topic. They also use them to organize concepts explored in cases by subject. Publishers, like Westlaw and Lexis, create headnotes, so they are not consistent across databases.

Headnotes are organized by subject into an outline that allows you to search by subject. This outline is known as a "digest of cases." By browsing or searching the digest you can retrieve all headnotes covering a particular topic. This can help you identify particularly important cases on the relevant subject.

Running Time: 4 minutes, 43 seconds.

Each major legal database has its own digest:

• Topic Navigator (Lexis)
• Key Digest System (Westlaw)

Start by identifying a relevant topic in a digest.  Then you can limit those results to your jurisdiction for more relevant results.  Sometimes, you can keyword search within only the results on your topic in your jurisdiction.  This is a particularly powerful research method.

One Good Case Method

After following the steps above, you will have identified some relevant cases on your topic. You can use good cases you find to locate other cases addressing the same topic. These other cases often apply similar rules to a range of diverse fact patterns.

• in Lexis click "More Like This Headnote"
• in Westlaw click "Cases that Cite This Headnote"

to focus on the terms of art or key words in a particular headnote. You can use this feature to find more cases with similar language and concepts.  ​

Ways to Use Citators

A citator is "a catalogued list of cases, statutes, and other legal sources showing the subsequent history and current precedential value of those sources.  Citators allow researchers to verify the authority of a precedent and to find additional sources relating to a given subject." Citator , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

Each major legal database has its own citator.  The two most popular are Keycite on Westlaw and Shepard's on Lexis.

• Keycite Information Page
• Shepard's Information Page

Making Sure Your Case is Still Good Law

This video answers common questions about citators:

For step-by-step instructions on how to use Keycite and Shepard's see the following:

• Shepard's Video Tutorial
• Shepard's Handout
• Shepard's Editorial Phrase Dictionary
• KeyCite Video Tutorial
• KeyCite Handout
• KeyCite Editorial Phrase Dictionary

Using Citators For

Citators serve three purposes: (1) case validation, (2) better understanding, and (3) additional research.

Case Validation

Is my case or statute good law?

• Parallel citations
• Prior and subsequent history
• Negative treatment suggesting you should no longer cite to holding.

Better Understanding

Has the law in this area changed?

• Later cases on the same point of law
• Positive treatment, explaining or expanding the law.
• Negative Treatment, narrowing or distinguishing the law.

Track Research

Who is citing and writing about my case or statute?

• Secondary sources that discuss your case or statute.
• Cases in other jurisdictions that discuss your case or statute.

Knowing When to Start Writing

For more guidance on when to stop your research see:

• Terminating Research, by Christina L. Kunz

Automated Services

Automated services can check your work and ensure that you are not missing important resources. You can learn more about several automated brief check services.  However, these services are not a replacement for conducting your own diligent research .

• Automated Brief Check Instructional Video

Contact Us!

  Ask Us!  Submit a question or search our knowledge base.

Chat with us!  Chat   with a librarian (HLS only)

Email: [email protected]

 Contact Historical & Special Collections at [email protected]

  Meet with Us   Schedule an online consult with a Librarian

Hours  Library Hours

Classes  View  Training Calendar  or  Request an Insta-Class

 Text  Ask a Librarian, 617-702-2728

 Call  Reference & Research Services, 617-495-4516

This guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License .

You may reproduce any part of it for noncommercial purposes as long as credit is included and it is shared in the same manner. 

• Last Updated: Sep 21, 2023 2:56 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/law/researchstrategy

Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy

• Research Help

Legal Research and Writing

• About this Guide
• Reference Books
• Legal Research, Writing & Analysis
• Academic Writing Books
• Legal Citation This link opens in a new window

Legal Research, Writing & Analysis Books

Online Legal Research Guides

• The Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide
• Beginning Your Research (UBC Law Library)
• << Previous: Reference Books
• Next: Academic Writing Books >>
• Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 9:54 AM
• URL: https://learn.library.torontomu.ca/LegalResearch

Osgoode Digital Commons

• < Previous

Osgoode Home > Osgoode Digital Commons > Scholarship > Books > 382

The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing and Analysis, 3rd Edition

Moira McCarney Ruth Kuras Annette Demers Shelley Kierstead , Osgoode Hall Law School of York University Follow

Available in the Osgoode Hall Law School Library

Description

The third edition of The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis focuses on helping readers develop the competencies required by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. This is achieved through in-depth coverage of provincial, territorial, and federal research tools and processes. In addition to developing these important communication and research skills, readers will also be equipped to apply them in both academic and professional environments.

This text provides a thorough background of the foundations of the Canadian legal system so that readers fully understand the laws and issues that may impact their work. Using this fundamental knowledge, readers will build key skills related to analyzing issues and facts, researching legal statutes and cases from various levels of court, creating and maintaining research plans, developing legal arguments, and transitioning their legal writing skills from classroom to courtroom. These skills can be further refined by using the in-text sample problems created by the accomplished author team.

Skills in research, writing, and analysis are essential to anyone aspiring to work in or currently working in the legal field. From start to finish, this resource’s detailed and practical approach supports readers in developing these necessary competencies.

9781772555356

Publication Date

Emond Publishing

Disciplines

Law | Legal Writing and Research

Repository Citation

McCarney, Moira; Kuras, Ruth; Demers, Annette; and Kierstead, Shelley, "The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing and Analysis, 3rd Edition" (2019). Books . 382. https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/faculty_books/382

Since September 04, 2019

Advanced Search

• Osgoode on Twitter
• Osgoode on Facebook
• Osgoode on LinkedIn
• Osgoode on YouTube
• Email or RSS Notifications
• Osgoode Hall Law School
• Osgoode Law Library
• York University
• Collections
• Osgoode Faculty Authors
• All Authors
• Faculty Research Profiles

Author Corner

Home | About | FAQ | My Account | Accessibility Statement

Privacy Copyright

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing and Analysis : Ontario and Quebec Paperback – January 1, 2013

• Language English
• Publication date January 1, 2013
• ISBN-10 1552395243
• ISBN-13 978-1552395240
• See all details

Product details

• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1552395243
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1552395240
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
• Best Sellers Rank: #9,118,444 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books )

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

No customer reviews

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

🇺🇦    make metadata, not war

The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing and Analysis, 3rd Edition

• Moira McCarney
• Annette Demers
• Shelley Kierstead
• Legal Writing and Research

Similar works

bepress Legal Repository

This paper was published in bepress Legal Repository .

Having an issue?

Is data on this page outdated, violates copyrights or anything else? Report the problem now and we will take corresponding actions after reviewing your request.

Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfilment centres, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA products qualify for FREE Shipping

If you're a seller, Fulfilment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video, download Flash Player

THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO LEGAL RESEARCH, WRITING & ANALYSIS Paperback – Jan. 1 2013

• Language English
• Publisher Emond Montgomery Publications
• Publication date Jan. 1 2013
• ISBN-10 1552396525
• ISBN-13 978-1552396520
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Emond Montgomery Publications (Jan. 1 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1552396525
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1552396520
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 358 g
• Best Sellers Rank: #376,422 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books )

Customer reviews

Reviews with images.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• Amazon and Our Planet
• Investor Relations
• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon Cash
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns Are Easy
• Manage your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Customer Service
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads
• Amazon.com.ca ULC | 40 King Street W 47th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 3Y2 |1-877-586-3230

• Queen's University Library
• Research Guides

The Practice of Law School: Legal Skills and Mental Health and Wellness

Legal reasoning and analysis.

• Ways of Learning the Law
• Legal Writing
• Preparing for Law Exams
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Citation Style Guides

• << Previous: Ways of Learning the Law
• Next: Legal Writing >>
• Last Updated: Apr 19, 2024 1:53 PM
• Subjects: Law
• Tags: law exams , law library resources , law school , law student wellness , legal analysis , legal reasoning , legal skills , legal writing , studying law

The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis, 4th Edition

The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis , 4th Edition offers an in-depth, comprehensive, and up-to-date resource to help readers develop the practical competencies required by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The text provides coverage on provincial, territorial, and federal research tools and processes. It places a keen emphasis on applying research techniques in both academic and professional settings.   The text is designed to help readers build key skills, such as analyzing issues and facts, researching legal statutes and cases from various levels of court, creating and maintaining research plans, developing legal arguments, and transitioning their legal writing skills from classroom to courtroom. The newest edition also features a brand new chapter dedicated to Indigenous legal research, written by the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria.

Buying Options

• ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-77462-494-4
• Status: Available
• Cover: Softcover
• ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-77462-496-8
• Status: Coming Soon
• ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-77462-495-1

Supplements

New chapter dedicated to Indigenous legal research written by Tara Williamson and Jessica Asch of the University of Victoria’s Indigenous Law Research Unit.

Insights from expert contributors: Chuck Andary, Jessica Asch, Pam Borden, Kim Clarke, Katarina Daniels, Jacob Ericson, Nadine Hoffman, Michèle LeBlanc, Kelly McLaughlin, Timothy Morris, Emily Nickerson, Donna Sikorsky, Tara Williamson, Natalie Wing, and Greg Wurzer.

Content tied to the newest edition of The Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (McGill Guide).

In-text sample problems to complement student learning.

Tables and figures throughout the text.

Sample legal documents such as memoranda of law and case briefs.

Part I: Becoming a Competent Lawyer Chapter 1: Foundations Chapter 2: Problem Analysis: Facts and Issues

Part II: Legal Research Chapter 3: An Introduction to Legal Research of Indigenous Legal Orders Chapter 4A: Federal Bills, Annual Statutes, and Regulations as Registered Chapter 4B: Consolidated and Revised Federal Statutes and Regulations Chapter 5: Researching Provincial and Territorial Legislation: An Introduction Chapter 6: Locating and Working with Judicial Decisions Chapter 7: Researching Secondary Sources of Law Chapter 8: Introduction to International and Foreign Legal Research in a Canadian Context Chapter 9: Legal Research: Creating a Plan and Maintaining a Record

Part III: Legal Analysis Chapter 10: Foundations of Statutory and Case Analysis Chapter 11: Developing Legal Arguments

Part IV: Communication: Legal Writing Chapter 12: Legal Writing: Organizing Principles Chapter 13: Vehicles of Legal Communication

Part V: Applying Legal Skills to Legal Practice Chapter 14: Transitioning from Classroom to Courtroom

Appendixes A: Sample Problem B: Academic Success C: Glossary

For Instructors

Chapter 7: Researching Secondary Sources of Law

Casebook+ (Coming Fall 2024)

• Multiple choice and true/false topical quizzes
• Short answer questions with model answers
• Study skills videos
• A leading cases podcast featuring interviews with counsel who have argued key appellate cases
• Big Picture Outline subject matter summaries
• A guide to writing essay answers on law school exams
• Games and flashcards based on subject-specific key terms
• A downloadable Table of Contents to use as the basis of your own course outline

“[F]rom the territories in the north to the provinces coast-to-coast and even beyond Canadian borders, this text provides insightful and practical instruction on the art of legal research…The fourth edition introduces a fresh and essential perspective in Chapter 3, An Introduction to Legal Research of Indigenous Legal Orders… As courts begin to draw more and more on these insights, this new chapter promises to equip readers with a foundational understanding of how to research and draw on this unique and important legal order. I have no doubt that law students, lawyers, and scholars alike will be enriched by this new addition.”

—The Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada

Related Products

Administrative law: principles and advocacy, 5th edition, canadian constitutional law, 6th edition, civil litigation process: cases and materials, 9th edition, decoding canadian legal research, writing, and conventions, legal ethics: theories, cases, and professional regulation, 3rd edition, legal research: step by step, 5th edition, public law: cases, commentary, and analysis, 4th edition, real estate transactions: cases, text and materials, 2nd edition.

Legal Research Guides

• The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis, 3rd ed. by Moira McCarney et al Call Number: KE250 .C66 2019 Course Reserves
• La Recherche Documentaire en Droit, 5th ed. by Denis Le May et Dominique Goubau avec la collaboration de Nathalie Giguère Call Number: KEQ140 .L45 2002 Course Reserves
• The Law Workbook: Developing Skills for Legal Research and Writing, 2nd ed. by Shelley Kierstead, Suzanne Gordon, & Sherifa Elkhadem Call Number: KE250 .G67 2012 Course Reserves
• Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research & Writing, 8th ed. by Maureen F. Fitzgerald with Susan Barker Call Number: KE250 .F57 2019 Course Reserves
• Legal Research and Writing, 4th ed. by Ted Tjaden Call Number: KE250 .T52 2016 Course Reserves Also available online to the U of T community
• Legal Research Handbook, 6th ed. by D.T. MacEllven Call Number: KE250 .M33 2013 Course Reserves
• Legal Writing and Research Manual, 8th ed. by Philip W. Whitehead & Anne Matthewman Call Number: KE265 .Y64 2019 Course Reserves
• The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research, 4th ed. by Nancy McCormack, John Papadopoulos, & Catherine Cotter Call Number: KE250 .C37 2015 Course Reserves
• Last Updated: Nov 8, 2023 2:36 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/legal_research

Library links

• Library Home
• Renew items and pay fines
• Library hours
• Engineering
• UT Mississauga Library
• UT Scarborough Library
• Information Commons
• All libraries

University of Toronto Libraries 130 St. George St.,Toronto, ON, M5S 1A5 [email protected] 416-978-8450 Map About web accessibility . Tell us about a web accessibility problem . About online privacy and data collection .

© University of Toronto . All rights reserved. Terms and conditions.

Connect with us