Research Guides: Historical Legal Research for Law 398: Introduction

William R. Lederman Law Library

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A core aim of legal history is to provide insight into the mechanisms and dynamics of legal change. ... The legal historian has to be able to employ historical methodologies at the same time as showing a lawyer's sensitivity to doctrine and legal processes.

Philip Handler, "Legal History" in Dawn Watkins & Mandy Burton, eds, Research Methods in Law, 3rd ed (Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2025) 105 at 116-117.

This guide will highlight resources that assist specifically with historical legal research. Conducting historical legal research builds on and broadens your existing legal research skills. For a refresher on legal research, please consult our Canadian Legal Research Manual. Particular sections you may find useful include:

Stages in Legal Research
This introductory chapter breaks legal research into six general stages and gives an overview of each: Topic Definition, Exploratory Research, In-Depth Secondary Sources, Legislation, Case Law, and Finalize Research.
Secondary Sources
This chapter discusses secondary sources, including what they are, where to find them, and how to evaluate them. It focuses on legal encyclopedias, textbooks, journal literature, legal dictionaries, and other sources.
Legislation
This chapter provides an introduction to researching Canadian legislation. It includes an overview of the legislative process and how bills are published.
Case Law
This chapter covers key background information about Canadian case law, as well as research strategies for finding cases.

Helpful Books

The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis, 4th ed by Moira McCarney et al.
Call Number: ebook

Publication Date: 2024

Chapter 5 gives clear step-by-step instructions on researching legislation for every Canadian jurisdiction.
Updating Statutes and Regulations for all Canadian Jurisdictions by Nancy McCormack & Nathalie Léonard
Call Number: KE 250 .S47 2012 LAW (Reserve)

Publication Date: 2012

A comprehensive guide to updating statutes and regulations for all Canadian jurisdictions. Includes charts allowing you to find a statute volume by date, Parliament and session number, or regnal year.