Legal Sourcery’s Top Three Picks for Legal Research Textbooks (Tip of the Week)
June 19, 2015By Alan Kilpatrick
Today lawyers are faced with what seems like an overwhelming number of legal research resources, textbooks, and guides. With your busy schedule, how can you quickly and easily identify the most useful resources from this multitude of information? That’s where the Law Society Library comes in.
Law librarians are here to aid you in selecting the most relevant resources to save you time and energy. On Firmer Ground, a blog promoting the value of law librarians, explains that “in an era of information overload, law librarians possess the expertise to find those golden nuggets of information that allow law firm leaders to make actionable decisions that benefit firms and clients alike.”
As one of the librarians with the Law Society Library, I work with legal resources on a daily basis and am familiar with many research guides. For those interested in learning more about the legal research process, here are my top three pick for legal research textbooks:
The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis
By Moira McCarney, Ruth Kuras, Annette Demers, and Shelley Kierstead
Emond Montgomery Publications, 2013
From the Emond Montgomery website:
The Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research, Writing & Analysis offers systematic, practical instruction, taking readers through context-based research problems. The book highlights examples and research tasks graphically and in full colour to facilitate the pedagogic experience. Screen captures of online resources are also included, assisting the researcher’s understanding.
Legal Research and Writing, Third Edition (Ebook)
By Ted Tjaden
Irwin Law, 2010
Available as an ebook through the Member’s Section
From the Irwin Law website:
Legal Research and Writing, Third Edition seeks to explain the practical skills needed for print and online legal research and for legal writing. It provides a current and comprehensive look at the topic, consolidating information on legal research and writing into one handy, easy-to-use resource. The book is written for both seasoned practitioners, seeking to add the latest sources and techniques to their research arsenals, and for beginning law students who face a bewildering array of information.
The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research, 4th Edition
By Nancy McCormack, John Papadopoulos, and Catherine Cotter
Carswell, 2015
From the Carswell website:
Now in this fourth and completely revised edition, this essential guidebook to legal research introduces users to the various legal research materials available to lawyers, law students, law clerks and legal academics. It teaches readers efficient legal research skills, and acts as a reference source by providing some of the essential background required to research specific areas of the law. Along with detailed research strategies, a comprehensive checklist is included.
If you have any questions about legal resources, ask a Law Society Librarian. We are pleased to provide high-quality legal research services to Saskatchewan members in person, on the telephone, or by email.
Email reference@lawsociety.sk.ca
Call 306-569-8020 in Regina
Toll-free 1-877-989-4999
Fax 306-569-0155
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