Legal Research

Books & Treatises

Books and treatises are essential for understanding the principles behind case law and legislation. They provide expert commentary, summaries of the law, and references to key cases. Use them to build foundational understanding before diving into detailed case research.

Key Canadian Legal Texts

• The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research – A comprehensive introduction to research strategy, legal databases, and citation.
  Call Number: KF240 .C364 2015 (2-hour loan)
• The Ultimate Guide to Canadian Legal Research – Explains how to find and interpret Canadian statutes, regulations, and case law.
  Call Number: KF240 .B73 2021 (Law Library Reserve)
• Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (McGill Guide) – The national citation standard for legal writing in Canada.
  Call Number: KF240 .C354 2018 (Law Library Reserve)

Major Law Report Series

Law reports publish the full text of judicial decisions. When researching case law, use these sources to find precedent and track legal reasoning over time.

• Dominion Law Reports (DLR) – Reports leading cases from all Canadian jurisdictions, with coverage dating back to 1912.
  Print: KE163.D64 (Main Floor, Law Library)
  Online: via LLMC Digital or Westlaw Edge Canada.
• Supreme Court Reports (SCR) – Official reports of decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada.
  Print: KE5175 .A45 L45 (1971–present)
  Free Access: Lexum SCC Database
• Ontario Reports – Leading decisions from Ontario courts.
  Print: KEO872 .A49 O577 (1973–present)
  Online: via Westlaw Edge Canada.

Subject-Specific Treatises

For deeper analysis in specific areas of law, consult these well-regarded treatises available in print or online:

• Fridman, G.H.L. – The Law of Contract in Canada (KF801 .F74 2019)
• McInnes, Mitchell – Canadian Tort Law (KE8445 .L34 2021)
• Hogg, Peter – Constitutional Law of Canada (KE4219 .H64 2017)
• Watters, Shannon – Canadian Family Law (KE504 .W38 2020)

Tip: Use Omni (Western Libraries’ search tool) to locate books and treatises by title, author, or subject. Narrow results to “Law Library” for best results.