Legal Research & Writing

1. Legal Research & Writing UBC – Law in Context Using secondary sources 30 January 2007

3. Contents • Why secondary sources? • Use of s.s. in facta • Use of s.s. in decisions • Finding secondary sources

4. Why secondary sources? • Useful overview of issue • narrative form • References to key cases & statutes • starting point • find primary – note up • Advocacy – fresh arguments & rhetoric • Useful authority in court • e.g. Stoney Creek Indian Band – factum (slide) • e.g. aboriginal title & rights cases

5. Using s.s. in memos/facta • “Secondary sources”: • Texts (note bibliographies) • Journal/law review/trade articles • Law reform reports & consultations • Government publications • Conference proceedings • e.g. CLE updates - current

6. Using s.s. in memos/facta • Bonnie Mooney v. A.G. (B.C.) • Pages 86-90 of LiC readings • paras. 6-10 – social-science evidence of problem – police experience in practice • 11 – judicial notice: Oppal commission • 12 – crafting evidence into argument • 13-17 – s.s. to bolster the argument • 18 – connecting to facts of Mooney case • 19-20 – policy arguments built on s.s.

7. Use of s.s. in decisions • Bazley v. Curry, [1999] 2 S.C.R. 534 • Authors cited: major works + articles • Fleming on torts: at paras. 26, 29-30 • Others on specific points • R.D.S. v. Canada (A.G.) – S.C.C. 1997 • LiC readings at 25-56: • at 28 – para. 17 – leg. history (found via s.s.) • at 31 – Blackstone; Cardozo; Devlin (cf. LiC at 57)

8. Finding secondary sources • Handout – “Secondary Sources Online” • UBC – full catalogue search • E-journals: http://toby.library.ubc.ca/ejournals/ejournals.cfm • Commercial databases: • QuickLaw, WestlaweCarswell, Lexis/Nexis • Hein Online • Legal Trac (texts and articles) • Journals note 1: always check lists of sources • note 2: start with indexes + lrw page (& youtube)

9. Gratuitous feline photos www.kittenwar.com