Research Guides: Canada: Home

About This Guide

This research guide provides a brief introduction to Canadian legal research.

Good Starting Points

Halsbury's Laws of Canada
Call Number: KE180 .H351x
ISBN: 9780433454946
Publication Date: 2014
The link is to the MNCAT entry for the index, but this is a 76-volume set with titles ranging from Aboriginal to Youth Justice. For basic information on any aspect of Canadian law, starting with Halsbury’s Laws of Canada is advisable. It provides summaries of relevant laws, with citations to statutes, cases, and regulations.

Handbooks and Textbooks

If you are new to legal research, or just want a good primer on Canadian legal research, start with one of the texts listed below.

The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research by Nancy McCormack John Papadopoulos; Catherine Cotter; Michael Silverstein
Call Number: Reference Office KE250 .C37x 2015
ISBN: 0779864999
Publication Date: 4th ed. 2015
Legal Research Handbook by Douglass T MacEllven, et al.
Call Number: Reference Office KE250 .M33x 2013
ISBN: 9780433465355
Publication Date: 6th ed. 2013
Legal Research and Writing by Ted Tjaden
ISBN: 9781552214145
Publication Date: 4th ed. 2016

Other Tools:

Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII)
This website provides access to both federal and provincial statutes, regulations, and cases for Canada.
Foreign Law Guide: Current Sources of Codes and Basic Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World
Popularly referred to as "Reynolds & Flores", this guide is an essential resource for locating primary and secondary foreign law resources as well as information regarding the legal histories and legal systems of countries worldwide.
Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources Policy
Access to some of the databases in this guide is restricted to members affiliated with the Law School or the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Please see our Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources Policy for details.

Credits: This guide is based on an earlier version created by Mary Rumsey.