Searching QP LegalEze and BC Laws: BC Legislation and How to Find It

1. Searching QP LegalEze and BC Laws: BC Legislation and How to Find It A Workshop for BC Public Libraries LegalEze

2. Acknowledgements This workshop has been developed with the assistance of: • Nancy Hannum, Consultant • Ene Haabniit & Cheryl Stenstrom, Public Library Services Branch • Courthouse Libraries BC • The Legal Services Society LegalEze

3. The main focus of this workshop is on how to search QP LegalEze, the database of B.C. statutes, regulations and other legislative materials. Introduction LegalEze

4. Your presenters today: Janet Freeman LawMatters Program Coordinator, Courthouse Libraries BC Rebecca Slaven, Client Services Librarian, Courthouse Libraries BC LegalEze

5. Agenda • Overview of Legal Process (in B.C.) • Comparison of BC Laws to QP LegalEze • Introduction to QP LegalEze: Quick Search & Using the Menu • Break/Practice Questions • Advanced & Boolean Search Forms • Currency of Legislation • Additional Sources of Legal Information • Questions/ Wrap-Up LegalEze

6. Workshop Objectives By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: • Understand some basic concepts about how laws are made in BC • Describe the contents of the QP LegalEze database • Navigate the database and print results • Use the advanced and boolean search forms LegalEze

7. Primary Sources = Actual Laws Federal & Provincial statutes (acts) & regulations Case law Secondary Sources Popular law books and pamphlets (e.g. Self-Counsel Press) Legal dictionaries Legal textbooks Government web sites & other web sites which explain the law They can: Provide an overview of a legal topic in plain language Identify jurisdictions Identify key primary sources Types of Legal Information Sources LegalEze

8. Sample Secondary Source:BC Employment Standards Branch Web Site LegalEze

9. The Legal ProcessA Brief Overview Useful Resource: Legislation Made Easy, 3rd ed.by Gail Nash. Crown Publications: Victoria.2010 LegalEze

10. How A Bill Becomes A Law in B.C. A Proposed Law is drafted - usually by a government Ministry First Reading - Bill is introduced in Legislative Assembly [In QP LegalEze] Second Reading - Bill is debated Committee Stage - detailed consideration of Bill Third Reading - FINAL version of the Bill is printed with amendments [In QP LegalEze] Royal Assent – a law becomes “in force” upon Royal assent; or by regulation on a later date -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Table of Bills tracks status of Bills LegalEze

11. Table of Bills in QP LegalEze LegalEze

12. Comparing Free BC Laws Website to QP LegalEze Free public site:  BC Laws  www.bclaws.ca •  is maintained by the BC Queen's Printer  •  includes BC Statutes and Regulations, Orders in Council, Regulations Bulletin •  is usually current 7-14 days after changes in legislation but due to staffing issues, is now 3-4 months behind  •  uses a simple search feature. Searching within a statute requires using the Windows edit - find function on your toolbar • See the BC Laws FAQ Section Tab (Question #17) for a chart showing comparison of BC Laws to QP LegalEze. • For checking new bills, amendments, repeals and Hansard debates use the BC Legislative Assembly site: www.leg.bc.ca LegalEze

13. QP LegalEze License & Access • Created and maintained by the Queen’s Printer • Licensed by the Libraries and Literacy Branch for in-library use in all B.C. public libraries • For access issues contact Tami Setala, Licensing and Business Development Manager, BC Libraries Cooperative, 1.855.383.5761 ext 1015, email tami.setala@bc.libraries.coop LegalEze

14. What’s in QP LegalEze? • B.C. Statutes and Regulations • Bills (1st & 3rd Reading) • government bills • members’ bills • private bills • Act/Ministry Responsibilities • Hansard (debates of the Legislative Assembly) LegalEze

15. What’s Included - Bills LegalEze

16. What’s Included – Act/Ministry Responsibilities LegalEze

17. What’s Included - Hansard LegalEze

18. What’s Included – Misc. LegalEze

19. What’s Not in QP LegalEze? • Federal laws • Laws from other provinces • Case law • Secondary legal information sources • Historical material (Pre 1991 Statutes) LegalEze

20. When to Use QP LegalEze? • To find a specific B.C. statute, regulation or other piece of legislation • When secondary sources don’t provide enough information • When someone wants to know the status of legislation • When you want to search a number of legislative materials all at once • For current B.C. legislation LegalEze

21. Challenges to Using QP LegalEze & Legal Reference Work • The law and language of the law are often confusing to lay people – including library staff! • Navigation can be tricky (e.g. opening & closing folders; remembering “where you are” in the database) • The Law and QPLegalEze change • Clients may want you to interpret the law – or even provide legal advice – which you cannot do. LegalEze

22. Break & Hands-On Practice (15 minutes) • If you sign off LiveMeeting, reconnect again through your email invitation • Open QP LegalEze at your workstations • If you hang up the phone, phone the conference call number again LegalEze

23. Additional Resources • Courthouse Libraries BC www.courthouselibrary.ca • Toll Free: 1-800-665-2570 legal reference or email to librarian@courthouselibrary.ca • LawMatters Program: www.bclawmatters.ca • Clicklaw: www.clicklaw.bc.ca includes a page for Laws, Cases and Rules www.clicklaw.bc.ca/content/lawscases • Legal Services Society (legal aid) www.lss.bc.ca • Family Law in BC www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca includes a page for Legislation / court rules www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/resources/legislation.php • B.C. Government Contact • Enquiry B.C.: 1 800 663-7867 LegalEze

24. Summary • Secondary sources are a good starting point • Four main ways to navigate in QP LegalEze: - quick search box • menu • advanced search form • Boolean search form • Identify alternate search terms - it can take TIME. • Refer clients to appropriate contacts/resources. • Never try to interpret the law or give legal advice ( see #4 again). • Learning about the law is not just good for your clients – it’s good for you! LegalEze

25. Questions or Comments? LegalEze

26. Janet Freeman LawMatters Program Coordinator Courthouse Libraries BC Phone:604-660-9204 OR 800-665-2570 Email: jfreeman@courthouselibrary.ca Rebecca Slaven Client Services Librarian Courthouse Libraries BC Phone:604-660-2401 OR 800-665-2570 Email: rslaven@courthouselibrary.ca QP LegalEze Webinar Pagewww.bclibraries.ca/workshops/QPLegalEze/index.php Contact information LegalEze