BUS 393
Introduction to Commercial Law Resources
at
Simon Fraser University Library
Yolanda Koscielski, Liaison Librarian for Criminology,
Computing Science and Engineering
October 2009
Main Topics: How to
 1. Look up the definitions of legal terms
 2. Find textbooks or commentaries (by
lawyers and other writers) on your topic
 3. Find laws and regulations
 4. Find law cases on your topic
 5. Track down a legal case using a
citation.
First Steps:
SFU Library Website
The library’s home
page: www.lib.sfu.ca
Click on “Browse
research guides”
Click on Business
Administration,
-then on Bus Admin Area
-then on Commercial Law
Commercial Law Research Guide
@ SFU Library
1. How to: look up the definitions
of legal terms?
The Dictionary of Canadian Law
[KE 183 D852 2004]
Canadian Law Dictionary
[KE 183 Y63 1998]
2. How to: find textbooks or
commentaries by lawyers and other
writers on your topic?
 Index to Canadian Legal Literature
(Available via LawSource)
 Canadian Business Law Journal
(Available via CBCA Complete)
 SFU Library Catalogue
 Canada Corporations Law Reporter
(Bennett Library Reference: HD 2808 C343)
Index to Canadian Legal Literature
(Available via LawSource)
Canadian Business Law Journal
(Available via CBCA)
SFU Library Catalogue
Canada Corporations Law Reporter
+ Corporate Brief
3. How to: find the text of laws and
regulations?
 For BC laws, the most up-to-date
source is QP Legalese (or BC Laws)
 For BC & other jurisdictions in
Canada, use LawSource
 For BC & other jurisdictions in
Canada, use LexisNexis
 Free public websites
QP Legalese
LawSource
Free public websites
 Consolidated Acts and regulations
of Canada http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/
 BC Laws
http://www.bclaws.ca/
Free public websites
 Canadian Legal Information Institute
http://www.canlii.org/
4. How to: find law cases on your
topic?
 Use the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest
(CED) The CED will always point you to
major cases which have established the
legal points in question. The CED is
available electronically through
LawSource.
 Use the Canadian Abridgement. This is
yet another resource which we have
available online through LawSource.
CED/CAD in Lawsource
 Use the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest
(CED) The CED will always point you to
major cases which have established the
legal points in question. The CED is
available electronically through
LawSource.
 Use the Canadian Abridgement. This is
yet another resource which we have
available online through LawSource.
How to: find law cases on your
topic?
 Do a keyword search in a database of
Canadian magazine and newspaper
articles. This is useful for finding
prominent cases which have been
covered in the media.
 Recommended databases:
CBCA Fulltext Business
Canadian NewsStand
How to: find law cases on your
topic?
 Look at your course textbook.
Frequently your textbook will refer to
major cases in discussing the law on
your topic.
 Use the secondary literature. An article
on your topic will almost always refer
you to specific relevant cases.
5. I've got the citation to a specific
case. How can I get the judgment?
 Once you have the citation to a
specific case you can try to locate the
judgment. However, even just
understanding the citation can be a
challenge.
Wells v. Newfoundland (1997), 156 Nfld. &
P.E.I.R. 271, 483 A.P.R. 271, 5 Admin. L.R.
(3d) 113, 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271, NLCA
Case Citation
 This report can be found in the 69th volume of the
Dominion Law Reports on page 433
 The "2nd" tells you that the DLR has been published in
multiple series; the second series was 1956-68
 SCBC indicates this was a Supreme Court of British
Columbia decision
Case Citation
 This seems rather complicated, and it
is, but fortunately LawSource makes
it easy. From the homepage, where it
says: Case, you can type in the
names of the parties involved.
 Ex: Wells v. Newfoundland (1997), 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R.
271, 483 A.P.R. 271, 5 Admin. L.R. (3d) 113, 156 Nfld.
& P.E.I.R. 271, NLCA
Interpreting LawSource
symbols
 A red flag warns you that the case may not be
good law, indicating that the decision has been
reversed, or has not been followed within the same
jurisdiction or by the Supreme Court of Canada.
 A yellow flag warns that the decision has some
negative history or treatment, but has not been
reversed or overruled.
 Note: If a decision has a red or yellow flag, any
decision lower than it in the direct history chain will
also have a status flag at least as severe assigned
to it.
Sources for US Legal Information
 Cases:
 LexisNexis (US)
 Secondary Legal Literature:
 Books in library catalogue—may give
your legal topic (e.g., contracts) a
comparative treatment
 LexisNexis: (US and other international)
 HeinOnline: Law Journal Library:
international and non-U.S. law journals
Main Topics: How to
 1. Look up the definitions of legal terms
 2. Find textbooks or commentaries (by
lawyers and other writers) on your topic
 3. Find laws and regulations
 4. Find law cases on your topic
 5. Track down a legal case using a
citation.
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