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Legal Research Manual

This edition of Legal Research Manual builds on many previous editions. While the manual is designed principally for use with the first year legal research classes, upper year law students will also find it a useful reference.

Stage 5: Statute/Regulation Research

Step 5 is to check for any statutes or regulations, as well as cases which have considered these statutes or regulations. Depending on the nature of the problem being researched, you may have been made aware of relevant statutes early on in the research process. If so, this research may already have been undertaken.

Statutes and regulations are primary sources of law. No research can be complete without searching for relevant statutory authority in your jurisdiction.

Consult the chapters on Legislation, Finding Federal and Ontario Statutes, Statutes Considered, and Regulations in the manual for further information.