Blog

  • 18 May 2021 8:22 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    We all have a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to performing legal research. We sometimes share them with clients. And sometimes, we like to use those tricks to hunt down seemingly impossible to find material and wow them. Because nothing is “impossible” for law librarians.

    The CALL blog has started a new regular series of research tips and tricks.

    Please share your favourite or coolest strategies with Michel-Adrien Sheppard to have them published on the CALL blog.

    Today: Sources for Finding Canadian Court Records

    Members of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries from across the country chipped in recently to compile a list of sources for obtaining court documents from different jurisdictions.

    The idea came from Sarah Richmond, Manager of Research Services with the Vancouver law firm Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP.

    Meris Bray, Reference Librarian at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, converted the information into a webpage.


    Nous avons tous nos trucs favoris quand il s'agit de faire de la recherche juridique. Parfois, nous les partageons avec nos clients. Et parfois, nous aimons les épater en utilisant ces trucs et astuces pour mettre la main sur des informations apparemment impossibles à trouver. Car rien n’est « impossible » pour des bibliothécaires de droit.

    Le blogue de l'ACBD a lancé une nouvelle série sur les trucs et astuces de recherche.

    SVP partagez vos stratégies les plus intéressantes ou les plus « cool » avec Michel-Adrien Sheppard afin de les faire publier sur le blogue de CALL/ACBD.

    Aujourd'hui: où trouver des dossiers judiciaires des différents tribunaux au Canada

    Des membres de l'Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit de toutes les régions du pays ont mis la main à la pâte récemment pour dresser une liste des sources où il est possible d'obtenir des documents relatifs aux instances judiciaires.

    L'idée vient de Sarah Richmond, Gestionnaire des services de la recherche au cabinet vancouvérois Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP.

    Meris Bray, bibliothécaire de référence à la Faculté de droit de l'Université de Windsor, a converti toute l'information recueillie en page web.


  • 16 May 2021 9:54 AM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    Le texte français suit.

    The most recent issue of the Canadian Law Library Review (CLLR) is available online. The CLLR is the official journal of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL). It is an open access publication.


    You can browse the regular sections of books reviews, bibliographic notes, local and regional updates, as well as news from the UK, the US and Australia.

    And be sure to check out the feature articles: 

    • "The Law Librarian’s Role in Reconciliation", Alexi Fox, p. 11:

      “Reconciliation is an effort that must be taken by all professions if the harm that colonization did to the Indigenous Peoples who reside in what is now Canada is to be truly rectified. For the legal profession, an aspect of reconciliation is recognizing Indigenous law as a legitimate source of law alongside common and civil law. Law librarians have their place in this, as they now have the duty to become familiar with the sources of Indigenous law, and how to find them, if they are to support the legal community in taking this step. To do this requires turning current thinking on its head: customs and traditions need to be embraced as valid sources of law, just as statutes and acts are. While finding these sources will require creativity and ingenuity on the part of the law librarian, it is necessary to do so if they are to take an active role in reconciliation.”

    • "Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice: A New Frontier for Law Librarians", Laura Viselli, p. 17:

      “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created new tools for legal research and changed the law librarian’s role. In addition, it has been suggested that AI will have a positive effect on Access to Justice (A2J), the lack of which is a significant issue in Canada. Despite this positive viewpoint, biases in systems using AI—be they related to access to resources, user ability, or the inherent biases in data—are likely to perpetuate the digital divide rather than ameliorate it. These biases undermine the ability of the most vulnerable members of society to benefit from A2J tools, despite the fact they are the ones who need them most. Bringing these discussions together demonstrates how law librarians can take their evolving responsibilities and blend their passions for technology and A2J initiatives to ensure these technologies get into the hands of those who are in dire need. Law librarians are among the best suited to stand guard against proponents of AI interventions who will rush to bring products to the market that Canada’s most vulnerable cannot access, afford, or understand. Law librarians can facilitate equitable A2J in Canada using AI by being reliable educators, experienced researchers, meticulous consultants, and relentless advocates for those in most need.”

    Le numéro le plus récent de la Revue canadienne des bibliothèques de droit (RCBD) est maintenant disponible en ligne. La RCBD est la revue officielle de l'Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit. C'est une publication en libre accès.


    Vous pouvez consulter les recensions de livres, la chronique bibliographique, les mises à jour locales et régionales de même que les nouvelles des États-Unis, du Royaume-Uni et de l'Australie.

    Et ne manquez pas les nouveaux articles de fond:
    • "The Law Librarian’s Role in Reconciliation", Alexi Fox, p. 11:

      La réconciliation est un effort qui doit être entrepris par toutes les professions si l’on veut, que le tort causé par la colonisation aux peuples autochtones qui résident dans ce qui est aujourd’hui le Canada, soit vraiment réparé. Pour la profession juridique, il s’agit notamment de reconnaître le droit autochtone comme une source légitime de droit, au même titre que la common law et le droit civil. Les bibliothécaires juridiques ont leur place dans ce processus, car ils ont maintenant le devoir de se familiariser avec les sources du droit autochtone et la façon de les trouver, s’ils veulent aider la communauté juridique à franchir cette étape. Pour ce faire, il faut renverser la pensée actuelle : les coutumes et les traditions doivent être considérées comme des sources de droit valables, au même titre que les lois. Trouver ces sources exigera de la créativité et de l’ingéniosité de la part des bibliothécaires juridiques, mais il est nécessaire de le faire s’ils veulent jouer un rôle actif dans la réconciliation. [sommaire]

    • "Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice: A New Frontier for Law Librarians", Laura Viselli, p. 17:

      L’intelligence artificielle (IA) a créé de nouveaux outils pour la recherche juridique et a modifié le rôle du bibliothécaire juridique. De plus, il a été suggéré que l’IA aura un effet positif sur l’accès à la justice (A2J), dont le manque est un problème important au Canada. Malgré ce point de vue positif, les biais des systèmes utilisant l’IA, qu’ils soient liés à l’accès aux ressources, à la capacité de l’utilisateur ou aux biais inhérents aux données, sont susceptibles de perpétuer le fossé numérique plutôt que de l’améliorer. Ces biais sapent la capacité des membres les plus vulnérables de la société à bénéficier des outils de l’A2J, alors qu’ils sont ceux qui en ont le plus besoin. La réunion de ces discussions montre comment les bibliothécaires juridiques peuvent assumer leurs responsabilités en constante évolution et combiner leurs passions pour la technologie et les initiatives d’accès au droit pour s’assurer que ces technologies se retrouvent entre les mains de ceux qui en ont le plus besoin. Les bibliothécaires juridiques sont parmi les mieux placés pour se tenir à l’écart des partisans des interventions de l’IA qui se précipiteront pour mettre sur le marché des produits auxquels les plus vulnérables du Canada ne peuvent avoir accès, qu’ils ne peuvent se permettre ou qu’ils ne peuvent comprendre. Les bibliothécaires de droit peuvent faciliter l’accès équitable à la justice au Canada (aux outils utilisant l’IA) en étant des éducateurs fiables, des chercheurs expérimentés, des consultants méticuleux et des défenseurs acharnés de ceux qui en ont le plus besoin. [sommaire]

  • 04 May 2021 4:07 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    By Andrea Black, Research Specialist, Dentons Canada LLP, Montreal / Co-chair, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization Committee

    The Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization Committee (DIDC) is pleased to let you know about the many sessions at this year’s virtual CALL/ACBD Conference that relate to issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

    A pre-conference presentation in French on inclusive language will start off the proceedings: join us for "Formation sur la langue inclusive: le masculin ne l’emporte plus!" by Michaël Lessard and Suzanne Zaccour.

    On June 1st, Val Napoleon will give the keynote on Indigenous legal research. "There Are Lots of Boxes: Engaging with Indigenous Laws Today" will explore legal pluralism and Indigenous intellectual property law.

    Later that afternoon, learn how law librarians have been monitoring COVID-19 legal responses in Latin America and the Caribbean with Abby Dos Santos, Jeanette Bulkan, Marcelo Rodriguez, and Yemisi Dina.

    On June 3rd, Avnish Nanda’s keynote, "Law as a Public Space," will explain how democratizing the law can serve the most marginalized in our society.

    Next, a panel discussion with Grace Lo, Kathy Fletcher, Ronald E. Wheeler, and Yasmin Sokkar Harker will teach us about bias in legal information through the lenses of Critical Legal Theory and Critical Race Theory.

    Rounding off Thursday’s program, Professor Colleen Sheppard will tell us how the pandemic has created systemic discrimination, and what legal remedies are needed to respond to these harms.

    DIDC thanks all these speakers for sharing their work on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in law and legal research.

    Register for the conference now!

  • 28 Apr 2021 5:15 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    We all have a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to performing legal research. We sometimes share them with clients. And sometimes, we like to use those tricks to hunt down seemingly impossible to find material and wow them. Because nothing is “impossible” for law librarians.

    The CALL blog has started a new regular series of research tips and tricks.

    Please share your favourite or coolest strategies with Michel-Adrien Sheppard to have them published on the CALL blog.

    Nous avons tous nos trucs favoris quand il s'agit de faire de la recherche juridique. Parfois, nous les partageons avec nos clients. Et parfois, nous aimons les épater en utilisant ces trucs et astuces pour mettre la main sur des informations apparemment impossibles à trouver. Car rien n’est « impossible » pour des bibliothécaires de droit.

    Le blogue de l'ACBD a lancé une nouvelle série sur les trucs et astuces de recherche.

    SVP partagez vos stratégies les plus intéressantes ou les plus « cool » avec Michel-Adrien Sheppard afin de les faire publier sur le blogue de CALL/ACBD.

    Today: Noting Up Specific Paragraphs of Cases (by Sharona Brookman, Reference Librarian, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto).

    Have you ever wanted to find cases that deal with a specific section of a case, but don’t want to look through all the cases that cite your case? Here are some tips to do just that.

    CanLII

    If you want to note up a particular paragraph on CanLII, look for the text box to the right of the case paragraph that interests you.

    The example below is taken from Dunsmuir v. New Brunswick, 2008 SCC 9.


    The number in the box on the right (in this case "12") gives the number of cases that cite paragraph 9. Click on the box, and it will open up different functionalities. Click on "Citing documents" it will take you to the list of cases that mention paragraph 9.


    JustisOne

    JustisOne (also known as vLexJustis) is a huge subscription-based caselaw database that includes Canadian cases and has a feature similar to CanLII for finding cases that cite a specific paragraph of a case. Here’s how to do it:

    • Click on the settings icon and select Canada as your jurisdiction.

    • Search for a case, e.g. Rizzo v. Rizzo Shoes Ltd. (Re), [1998] 1 SCR 27, 154DLR 4th 193.

    • The case appears on the right side of the screen. The paragraph or paragraphs that are most heavily cited appear on the left side of the screen, along with an option to highlight all quoted passages. In this case, para. 27 is cited most frequently.

    • Click on “Highlight all quoted passages”. “Displaying quoted passages” now appears on top of the case, along with a “heat map” in varying shades of purple running along the right-hand side of the screen. The darker the shade of purple, the more that paragraph has been cited by other cases.

    • Scroll down the case until you see the paragraph that interests you. Using paragraph 27 as an example, you’ll see that most of it is highlighted in the darkest shade of purple, as this is the part that has been cited most often.

    Left click on any part of this section and a “Quoted in” list of citing cases will come up on the left. You can scroll through all the cases and click on any of them to go to the citing case, with the option of going to the specific paragraph in that case that cites the Rizzo v Rizzo Shoes case.

    The list of citing cases includes cases from all the different jurisdictions JustisOne covers. If your subscription doesn’t include a specific jurisdiction you will still be able to see the citation for the case but won’t be able to access it through JustisOne. Links to free sources to the case may be available, for instance to New Zealand cases on the New Zealand Legal Information Institute (NZLII).

    Lexis Advance and/or Westlaw Canada

    On Lexis Advance Quicklaw and WestlawNext Canada there is no automatic or perfect way to do this, but there’s a partial workaround. Select some consecutive words in the paragraph that are likely to be cited.

    The words should be distinct enough so as not to appear exactly in the same way in any other case and short enough that a search engine can handle the search.

    Try 5 to 8 words. Then do a phrase search in a full text database. In Westlaw select Cases, use the Advanced Search function and enter the terms in the "This exact phrase" search box.


    In Quicklaw select cases, use the Advanced Search function and put quotation marks around the phrase.

    With thanks to CanLII's Sarah Sutherland, vLex Justis’s Mary Ibrahim and Ken Fox of the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

  • 18 Apr 2021 5:45 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    By Erin Clupp, Research Librarian in Norton Rose Fulbright’s Vancouver office.

    Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed library school and are a freshly minted information professional. What is an exciting time in your life can also be overshadowed by what comes next: the dreaded job hunt, heightened by the fact that we are still struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Despite this being a challenging and unprecedented time to enter the workforce, there are still many exciting opportunities that await you. Here are some tips and words of advice that I hope are helpful and comforting as you navigate through this next phase of your career:

    1) Manage your expectations but be kind to yourself

    First and foremost, job hunting can really suck. It’s important to acknowledge this and understand there will be periods of frustration, self-doubt, and worry (especially when we have bills to pay). This is normal! Rejection can be painful, and sending applications into that black hole where resumes seem to go can be demoralizing but don’t give up!

    When job hunting, be mindful of the following:

    As a new grad, you are probably eager and excited to land that first job and start working! Have some patience, the process may take longer than you would like it to be (before and during the interview process).

    It is also great to have goals, but realize you may not get your “dream job” right outside the gate. That is fine! Along the way, you may find you don’t have one dream job after all, and that you enjoy doing many types of work.

    Resist the urge to compare yourself to others. Some people may seem to have better “luck” or have more apparent success early on. We don’t always know their stories, what their past experiences are or who they may know. Just remember, we are all operating on different timelines and your opportunity will come. It doesn’t make you a failure or unworthy if it takes you a bit longer or if you end up in an area completely different than you originally thought.

    While job hunting can become a full time job, don’t forget to take breaks and don’t let it become all-consuming. Focus some energy on your hobbies, personal relationships, and most importantly rest!

    2) Beyond the library – be flexible and think outside the box

    The information profession is evolving, and while there are still plenty of “traditional” LIS jobs in academic and public library settings, there are increasingly more jobs in special libraries and in larger “information teams” in government, private corporations, and non-profits. When searching for job postings, don’t just focus on the job title, be sure to also read the descriptions and position requirements. Look for buzz words like “information analyst”, “knowledge management”, “content creation”, “competitive intelligence”, “prospect research”, “information architecture”, or “data curation”, all of which use the skills of an LIS professional and are increasingly in demand as businesses recognize the need for improved information governance and user experience.

    I know people with LIS backgrounds who work in academic institutions, museums, archives, law firms, government, telecommunications companies, non-profit organizations, healthcare, and international organizations doing a variety of work including research, privacy, information security, instruction, technical writing, and management. Basically any organization that deals with information and people (read: all of them) may have a position that you can apply for. Now is the time to experiment and try new opportunities. Don’t worry about pigeonholing yourself, because you can always leverage your transferable skills and move within industries and organizations.

    3) Take a leap – consider a move!

    While not possible (or desirable) for some, consider moving to a new city (or country!), especially if you are in a very competitive market and do not have a lot of library experience. When I struggled to find a job after graduating, I ended up taking an amazing opportunity overseas in Qatar. Not only did this give me adventure and a life changing experience, it allowed me to gain some solid work experience quicker than if I stayed in Canada the whole time. When I returned, I found I was more marketable and my application to interview ratio was noticeably higher.

    While moving overseas is scary, you can also stay within Canada and still have some great experiences (many of my peers accepted jobs in northern and smaller communities). Remember, if you move away, it doesn’t have to be forever!

    4) Networking Building relationships

    Our profession is quite small. Chances are, if you look someone up on LinkedIn, you probably have connections in common. Use this to your advantage!

    Best way to network? Stay in touch with your peers from library school. Reach out to LIS professionals on LinkedIn who are in jobs you are interested in. See how they got their current gig and if they have any advice or know of specific training available that is helpful for that role. Join a professional association where you will likely meet an array of other new professionals as well as more seasoned pros (often in management roles). You can also look into mentorship programs and alumni associations.

    Treat every encounter as a potential lead. Be genuine, but always be polite and courteous as you never know who will end up on the other side of the interview table. Knowing someone may not guarantee you get a position, but it may help secure that all-important interview.

    5) Be prepared – do your research!

    When sending out applications, think quality over quantity. Avoid firing off generic applications to every post you see. Be discerning, take your time and use those honed research skills to learn more about different roles or industries you are interested in and tailor your application accordingly.

    Understand that there are varied requirements and expectations for different industries. For example, academic libraries often require more detailed C.V.’s and have prolonged interview and hiring processes; government applications often require lengthy online questionnaires and testing phases; private companies often prefer shorter resumes and cover letters.

    Make your application stand out by showing you’ve done your homework. When applying for a job, research the organization and find out what their mandate is, their history, what their biggest successes are, and who their key players are. When preparing for an interview, find out the names of the interviewers and do some research on their backgrounds. This will show interest and will create conversation points in your interview (remember you are interviewing them too).

    Conclusion

    Lastly, be patient with yourself and the process. It’s a marathon, not a race and you have your whole career to look forward to. Treat each opportunity as a new stepping stone and learning opportunity and over time you will build a rewarding professional experience for yourself.

    While job hunting can sometimes feel gruelling, it doesn’t have to be soul sucking! Make a plan for yourself, stay organized, have a good support system, and prioritize wellness in the process.

    Most importantly, if you’re feeling burnt out, take a rest and don’t forget to reward yourself!

    Good luck!

    Speaker Bio

    Erin Clupp is the Research Librarian in Norton Rose Fulbright’s Vancouver office. A self-proclaimed “accidental law librarian”, she previously worked in various archives and records management roles, including the BC Securities Commission, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the College of the North Atlantic’s campus in Doha, Qatar, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s iSchool.

    Erin completed her MLIS from the University of Western Ontario in 2014 and has a BA in History and Classical Studies from the University of Ottawa. In addition to being a member of CALL, she is currently Co-Chair of the Program Committee with the Vancouver Association of Law Libraries (VALL). Outside of work, she enjoys dabbling in voice acting and bookbinding, various fitness activities, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.


  • 04 Apr 2021 3:36 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    2021-2022 CALL President Kim Nayyer was the subject of a recent leader profile in On Firmer Ground, the blog of the Private Law Librarians (PLLIP) Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries.

    She was one of 3 panel members on the topic of "Diversity Shares: Listen to Learn" that took place during a PLLIP Diversity Summit.

    Excerpt:

    Name one thing that you or your team is doing this year to meet the challenges ahead.

    The past year has presented some challenges that are new and others that are long-standing but more widely evident or understood. One that I feel most strongly about is the work we are doing to both interrogate and work to dismantle structural exclusion and inequalities—racial, socioeconomic, ability, for example. Structural exclusion and inequalities exist in so many facets of life, domestically and globally too, and we can focus our efforts on those closest to our home and on which our own work centers. Our team is creating learning resources to assist with learning about how structural racism and other forms of exclusion in the legal and justice systems affect or skew the legal information we research and apply in practice. We are developing our collections in ways that amplify voices and perspectives that have not traditionally been centered in legal information, even if substantively valuable. We are assisting faculty in growing their curricular resources in ways that can help them adapt their teaching. We are working to improve communication internally to ensure all members of our workplace recognize their voices matter and their work matters.


  • 14 Mar 2021 8:06 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    We all have a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to performing legal research. We sometimes share them with clients. And sometimes, we like to use those tricks to hunt down seemingly impossible to find material and wow them. Because nothing is “impossible” for law librarians.

    The CALL blog has started a new regular series of research tips and tricks.

    Please share your favourite or coolest strategies with Michel-Adrien Sheppard to have them published on the CALL blog.

    Nous avons tous nos trucs favoris quand il s'agit de faire de la recherche juridique. Parfois, nous les partageons avec nos clients. Et parfois, nous aimons les épater en utilisant ces trucs et astuces pour mettre la main sur des informations apparemment impossibles à trouver. Car rien n’est « impossible » pour des bibliothécaires de droit.

    Le blogue de l'ACBD a lancé une nouvelle série sur les trucs et astuces de recherche.

    SVP partagez vos stratégies les plus intéressantes ou les plus « cool » avec Michel-Adrien Sheppard afin de les faire publier sur le blogue de CALL/ACBD.

    Today: Law Reform Commission Reports - Hidden Treasures for Legal Research (by M-A Sheppard).

    Where in-depth legal analysis is required, law reform publications can prove to be an excellent resource. 

    Law reform commissions are often sponsored by, but are independent from governments. The advantage they have is that they can deal with important public policy issues that are not on the government agenda but may nevertheless require critical analysis and potential reform.

    Also, many of the reports provide historical background and you can often find comparative information about how different jurisdictions have responded to an issue.

    Recent examples of reports that contain comparative information include:

    Des trésors cachés: les rapports des commissions de réforme du droit (par M-A Sheppard)

    Quand vous avez besoin d’une analyse approfondie d’une question, ces publications se révèlent être une excellente source d’information.

    Ces commissions sont souvent mises sur pied par les gouvernements mais en demeurent néanmoins indépendantes. Leur grand avantage est de pouvoir se pencher sur des questions importantes de justice ou de politique publique qui ne font pas encore l'objet de l'action gouvernementale mais qui nécessitent une analyse critique ou qui méritent des réformes.

    De plus, plusieurs de ces publications offrent une analyse historique d’une question ou adoptent une perspective comparatiste vraiment intéressante.

    Voici quelques exemples récents de rapports qui contiennent une dimension comparatiste:

    • la Commission de réforme du droit de l'état de Victoria en Australie a publié un document de consultation sur les jurés sourds, malentendants, aveugles ou malvoyants l'annexe B décrit les mesures d'accommodement des jurés avec des déficiences visuelles ou auditives en Nouvelle-Zélande, en Angleterre et au Pays de Galles, en Écosse, en Irlande, aux États-Unis et au Canada 
    • la Commission de réforme du droit de l'état de la Nouvelle-Galles du Sud a publié un rapport sur les ordonnances de non-publication le document examine la situation dans d'autres états australiens, en Nouvelle-Zélande, et en Angleterre et au Pays de Galles
    • la Commission de réforme du droit du Manitoba a publié un rapport sur les comptes abandonnés - on jette un regard sur ce qui se passe en Colombie-Britannique, en Alberta, au Québec, en Ontario et au Nouveau-Brunswick
    • l'Institut de réforme du droit de l'Alberta a publié un rapport sur la question connue sous le nom de Adverse Possession ["possession acquisitive" en common law] - on peut y trouver une annexe intitulée "Cross-Jurisdictional Comparison of Adverse Possession in Canada".








  • 28 Feb 2021 11:37 AM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    We all have a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to performing legal research. We sometimes share them with clients. And sometimes, we like to use those tricks to hunt down seemingly impossible to find material and wow them. Because nothing is “impossible” for law librarians.

    The CALL blog has started a new regular series of research tips and tricks.

    Please share your favourite or coolest strategies with Michel-Adrien Sheppard to have them published on the CALL blog.

    Nous avons tous nos trucs favoris quand il s'agit de faire de la recherche juridique. Parfois, nous les partageons avec nos clients. Et parfois, nous aimons les épater en utilisant ces trucs et astuces pour mettre la main sur des informations apparemment impossibles à trouver. Car rien n’est « impossible » pour des bibliothécaires de droit.

    Le blogue de l'ACBD a lancé une nouvelle série sur les trucs et astuces de recherche.

    SVP partagez vos stratégies les plus intéressantes ou les plus « cool » avec Michel-Adrien Sheppard afin de les faire publier sur le blogue de CALL/ACBD.

    Today: Secret Search tips from an Information Sleuth by George Roy, Law Society of Manitoba (originally published February 1, 2021 on the Great LEXpectations blog):

    Sometimes an article can be very tricky to track down. It might be from an obscure journal, or maybe from something old enough that no one carries it any more. That may require tracking down a print version hidden away in some library’s archives, but sometimes some creative searching online can provide surprising results.

    Limit where you look

    Sometimes too much is just as bad as not enough. If you find yourself searching for an article title on a web search engine you may get hundreds or thousands of results. Most of us will scan the first page, and maybe the second, but are quick to give up after that.

    A lot of the time, articles will be published as a PDF, so limit your search to that file format by either using the advanced search function 


    Or use the limiter “filetype” in the search field.


    Change where you are looking

    Most articles are often published as part of a journal. That means you might limit your search to libraries or sites that have access to that publication. If you separate the article from the journal, you can look in unusual places that have already uploaded or published that article separate from its original publication.

    When you browse the search results, try looking at academic websites. Again, you can use the advanced search, or use the limiter “site:” and limit to academic domains such as “.edu.” Sometimes universities publish their syllabi online and will link to any reading or documents for a course. Often they link to paywall sources, but it’s worth a look because when there is no online resource the organization may upload the document itself, or provide alternative sites.

    Let someone do the looking for you

    Those alternative sites may lead you to sites that may have already compiled or collected documents and journals you are looking for. If I haven’t found the specific article I am looking for, I may try to search by journal issue or volume. Article titles aren’t always indexed so once you’ve narrowed your search, you can widen it again when you’ve found a resource that is more specific to your interest. 

    There are a few popular sites like SSRN, but I am always stumbling upon other  sites that provide other avenues of searching. These can often be open-access, but they may also have a soft paywall that requires signing up, or using a free trial.

    Look out

    The internet is an amazing resource but just like every other tool, it can be used to harm as well. A lot of sites use your google search to create a link that may look like exactly what you are looking for but may contain a virus or spam. Be careful what you are downloading. Watch for unusual file types such as .exe or suspicious looking sites.

    As an information professional I am an advocate for open information, but I am always mindful of copyright restrictions. Fair use allows some leeway when sharing articles and texts, but it may not always be clear where that leeway ends.

    Some sites such as Sci-Hub might be a bit of a grey area, and I tend to err on the side of caution, so use reputable sites as much as you can.

    Bonus tip

    One piece of advice I haven’t used much but is worth a shot is contacting the author directly. Some authors will provide their articles for free upon request. So if they are a contemporary author, try giving them a search on LinkedIn or at their organization.

    Of course sometimes no matter how hard you look, you just can’t find what you are looking for. Sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes. Even if you try thinking outside the box, everyone has their own way of looking at things. So ask someone else to give it a gander, they may be able to see things from a different perspective. They can be colleagues, or professional listservs, or even your friendly library.


    Edit   •   Delete




  • 17 Feb 2021 8:48 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    We all have a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to performing research. We sometimes share them with clients. And sometimes, we like to use those tricks to wow them.

    The CALL blog is starting a new regular series of research tips and tricks. Please share your favourite strategies with Michel-Adrien Sheppard and we will do our best to publish them on this blog.

    Nous avons tous nos trucs favoris quand il s'agit de faire de la recherche juridique. Parfois, nous les partageons avec nos clients. Et parfois, nous utilisons ces trucs et astuces pour les épater.

    Le blogue de l'ACBD lance aujourd'hui une nouvelle série sur les trucs et astuces de recherche. SVP partagez vos meilleures stratégies avec Michel-Adrien Sheppard. Nous nous ferons un plaisir de les publier ici sur le blogue.

    Today: There Are Some Hard to Find Foreign Cases on CanLII  by Susannah Tredwell, Manager of Library Services at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP in Vancouver (originally published February 3, 2021 on the Slaw.ca website):

    One of CANLII’s lesser known resources is its Foreign reported decisions database which “includes some decisions issued by foreign courts and tribunals and that are of special interest for Canadian law.”

    For example, should you be interested in Browne v. Dunn (1893), 6 R. 67 (a decision sufficiently challenging to find online that someone created a dedicated website for it) you can find it on CanLII.

    While the collection of foreign decisions is not large, CanLII will on request add cases that are of interest to Canadian legal practitioners.

    (And for all your regular British case law needs, there is always BAILII).

  • 12 Feb 2021 3:11 PM | Anonymous


    Julie Boon, Reference Librarian | Great Library, Law Society of Ontario, Toronto

    1. Tell us a little about your educational background and how you entered the legal information industry. 

    I have an undergraduate honors specialization in history from King’s University College, affiliated with Western University in London, Ontario (where I am from). Going into my undergraduate degree, I certainly did not know what I wanted to do with a history degree, I just hoped that studying something I loved would get me somewhere professionally that I would love too. As luck would have it, it worked!

    I didn’t get into the legal information industry right away, and in fact, that wasn’t even on my radar. I was very certain I would be going into public librarianship. I held down a couple of jobs at a couple academic libraries while attending U of T for my master’s in information. During the summer of my first and second year, I worked at the Ministry of Attorney General library. I had never worked in a legal environment before and hadn’t taken a class in law since high school! However, I had some awesome colleagues who helped me along the way and showed me the ropes.

    My job at the MAG gave me a sense of how challenging and exciting the legal industry could be and encouraged me to apply for my current job at the Law Society of Ontario’s library – the Great Library – as a reference librarian. Again, I have been incredibly fortunate to meet some really great mentors here, and love working at a job that constantly challenges me to learn new things and create valuable content.

    2. How has being involved in CALL helped you professionally? 

    CALL has helped me professionally in that I have met some really, really great people through the organization. Whether it was through the CALL mentorship program or the CALL Conference in 2019, it has given me the opportunity to meet amazing professionals I otherwise may not have crossed paths with. Recently, CALL has acted as a balm to the isolation and disconnect that the pandemic has brought into everyone’s lives in some way. Attending virtual conferences and tutorials has maintained my feeling of connection to the legal industry and its professionals, which has been a huge relief.

    3. What was your first library-related job? 

    While I was attending King’s University College, I applied for a job posting at the London Public Library. I had never worked in a library before, but I had worked at Chapters for a couple of years and knew that I loved being surrounded by books and people who loved books. I was lucky enough to land that position at LPL, and absolutely loved every second I worked there. From then on out, I knew that I would be pursuing a job in library sciences.

    4. What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to break into the legal information industry?

    Don’t be intimidated! There is a lot to learn, but it’s kind of great in a lot of ways to be working in an industry where there is so much to know and understand – it never gets boring! Plus, it’s important to remember that even if you don’t remember every legal concept, term or piece of jargon off the top of your head, it doesn’t mean that you’re bad at your job, or not learning quick enough. Far from it! There is a vast ocean of legal information in the world, and even those legal professionals who have worked in the industry for years and years still need refreshers from time to time. Just remember that there are people out there, like your colleagues, who are probably happy to lend a helping hand!

    5. What is your greatest professional success? 

    My greatest professional success would definitely be taking the plunge and entering the legal information industry in the first place. Entering special libraries was not on my horizon mentally, and I wasn’t sure I was cut out for the legal world which I viewed as very big and very scary. Even though I do have those moments of feeling a little overwhelmed over all there is to learn, I’m really proud of myself for putting in the work to become attuned to an industry to which I was completely and utterly new. I’d like to say I’ve done a pretty good job so far and look forward to learning more and improving more as I go forward in my career.

    Member Profile nominations and Project Profile ideas are welcome for 2021. Please email Alexandra Farolan at afarolan@courthouselibrary.ca for more information, ideas, and nominations.

    Julie Boon, bibliothécaire de référence | Grande bibliothèque, Barreau de l’Ontario, Toronto

    1. Parlez-nous un peu de vos antécédents scolaires et de la manière dont vous vous êtes intégrée au secteur de l’information juridique. 

    Je possède un baccalauréat spécialisé en histoire du King’s University College, qui est affilié à l’Université de Western Ontario à London (d’où je suis originaire). Je ne savais pas vraiment ce que je voulais faire avec un diplôme en histoire en commençant mes études. J’espérais juste quand étudiant quelque chose que j’adorais cela me mènerait vers une carrière que j’aimerais aussi. Le hasard fait bien les choses, et ma stratégie a fonctionné!

    Je ne me suis pas lancée tout de suite dans l’information juridique et, en fait, ce domaine ne faisait pas partie de mes plans (j’étais sûre que j’allais travailler en bibliothéconomie publique). J’ai occupé quelques emplois dans des bibliothèques universitaires pendant mes études de maîtrise en science de l’information à l’Université de Toronto. Au cours de l’été de mes deux premières années de maîtrise, j’ai travaillé à la bibliothèque du ministère du Procureur général (MPG). Je n’avais jamais travaillé dans un milieu juridique et mon dernier cours en droit remontait au secondaire! Cependant, j’ai eu la chance de travailler aux côtés de collègues formidables qui m’ont aidée en m’apprenant le métier.

    Mon travail au MPG m’a ouvert aux possibilités de carrière stimulantes et passionnantes dans le secteur juridique et c’est ce qui m’a poussé à postuler pour l’emploi que j’occupe actuellement à la bibliothèque du Barreau de l’Ontario – la Grande bibliothèque – à titre de bibliothécaire de référence. Encore une fois, j’ai eu l’occasion rêvée de rencontrer des mentors vraiment formidables dans le cadre de mon travail, et j’adore travailler dans un milieu qui me pousse à apprendre de nouvelles choses chaque jour et à créer du contenu intéressant.

    2. En quoi votre adhésion à l’ACBD/CALL vous a-t-elle été utile sur le plan professionnel (p. ex. bourses et subventions, formation continue, réseautage)? 

    L’ACBD/CALL m’a aidée sur le plan professionnel en me donnant la possibilité de rencontrer des gens remarquables. Que ce soit par l’intermédiaire du programme de mentorat de l’association ou de son congrès annuel en 2019, ces activités m’ont donné l’occasion de rencontrer des professionnels extraordinaires que je n’aurais probablement jamais rencontrés. Récemment, l’ACBD/CALL a agi comme un baume pour rompre l’isolement et la coupure causés par la pandémie que chacun vit différemment. Le fait de participer à des conférences et des formations virtuelles m’a permis de maintenir mon sentiment d’appartenance au secteur juridique et à ses professionnels, ce qui a vraiment fait du bien pour le moral.

    3. Quel a été votre premier emploi ou votre premier emploi lié à la bibliothéconomie? 

    Pendant mes études au King’s University College, j’avais postulé à un poste à la bibliothèque publique de London. Même si je n’avais aucune expérience de travail dans une bibliothèque, j’avais travaillé chez Chapters pendant quelques années et je savais que j’aimais être entourée de livres et de personnes qui adorent les livres. J’ai eu la chance de décrocher ce poste, et j’ai bien aimé chaque seconde de mon expérience. À partir de ce moment-là, je savais que j’allais travailler dans le domaine de la bibliothéconomie.

    4. Quel conseil donneriez-vous à quelqu’un qui cherche à percer dans l’industrie de l’information juridique? 

    Ne vous laissez pas intimider! Même s’il y a beaucoup de choses à apprendre, travailler dans un secteur où il y a tellement de choses à savoir et comprendre est fantastique à bien des égards – on ne s’ennuie jamais! De plus, il est important de se rappeler que même si on ne se souvient pas spontanément de chaque concept, terme ou jargon juridique, cela ne signifie pas que vous n’êtes pas à votre place ou que vous n’apprenez pas assez vite. Loin de là! Le monde regorge d’un vaste océan d’informations juridiques, et même les professionnels juridiques de longue date doivent encore suivre des cours de recyclage de temps à autre. N’oubliez pas qu’il y a des gens, comme vos collègues, qui seraient probablement heureux de vous donner un coup de main!

    5. Quelle est votre plus belle réussite professionnelle? 

    Ma plus belle réussite professionnelle serait sûrement d’avoir fait le saut dans le domaine de l’information juridique. Je ne pensais pas travailler dans les services bibliothécaires spécialisés, et je ne savais pas trop si j’étais faite pour le travail dans le milieu juridique (que je jugeais immense et intimidant). Même si je me sens parfois un peu dépassée par toutes les choses qu’il y a à savoir, je suis très fière d’avoir effectué le travail nécessaire afin de m’adapter à un secteur entièrement nouveau. Je tiens à dire que je me débrouille très bien jusqu’à maintenant et que j’ai hâte d’en apprendre davantage et de m’améliorer au fil de ma carrière.

    Nous acceptons les propositions pour les blogues Profil de membres et Profil de projets en 2021. Pour obtenir de plus amples informations ou proposer une idée ou une candidature, n’hésitez pas à envoyer un courriel à Alexandra Farolan (afarolan@courthouselibrary.ca).

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