Legal Research

Canadian Legal Websites

This page highlights reliable and freely accessible websites for Canadian legal information. Use these sources to find court decisions, government publications, professional commentary, and updates on current legal issues.

Government & Legislative Resources

• Justice Laws Website (Canada) – The official federal repository for consolidated statutes and regulations. Includes historical versions and repeal information.
• Ontario e-Laws – The authoritative source for Ontario’s current statutes and regulations, searchable by title or citation.
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario – Access bills, debates (Hansard), and committee reports. Useful for tracing legislative intent.
• LEGISinfo – Background and status of federal bills, with links to parliamentary debates and votes.

Courts & Tribunals

• Supreme Court of Canada – Full-text decisions since 1876, plus case summaries and bulletins. Official online source.
• Ontario Courts Portal – Links to the Ontario Court of Appeal, Superior Court of Justice, and Ontario Court of Justice. Includes practice directions and case updates.
• Federal Court of Appeal and Federal Court Decisions (Lexum) – Search or browse judgments from the federal courts.
• CanLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute) – Central open-access platform for case law, legislation, and commentary across all Canadian jurisdictions.

Professional Associations & Legal Practice

• Law Society of Ontario (LSO) – Regulator for Ontario’s lawyers and paralegals. Includes the Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyer directory, and continuing education materials.
• Canadian Bar Association (CBA) – Advocacy, practice resources, and professional development for Canadian legal practitioners.
• Department of Justice Canada – Access federal legal policy documents, reports, and publications.
• Law Times – News and analysis of developments in Ontario law and practice.

Research Institutes & Policy Organizations

• Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) – Independent law reform agency publishing research and consultation papers on Ontario legal issues.
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation – Research and reports on human rights, discrimination, and equity in Canadian law.
• Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) – Professional education and publications for judges, lawyers, and academics.
• Justice Research Resources – Comparative research and data tools for criminal justice and public policy.

Open Access Legal Education & Reference

• National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) – Guides and plain-language resources for individuals navigating the legal system without counsel.
• Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC) – Links to provincial organizations providing accessible legal information for the public.
• Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) – Free, plain-language resources on Ontario law and legal rights.
• CanLII Commentary Collection – Open-access eTextbooks and commentary written by Canadian legal scholars.