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• Introduction

1. Introduction to Secondary Sources

• 1.1 What are Secondary Sources?
  
  
• 1.2 Why Search for Secondary Sources?
  
  
• 1.3 When to Search for Secondary Sources
  
  
• 1.4 Choosing a Source: How to Locate Secondary Sources
  
  

2. Textbooks

• 2.1 Textbooks: Expert Authority on Settled Law
  
  
• 2.2 Locating Textbooks: Using the Library Catalogue
  
  
• 2.3 e-Books
  
  

3. Legal Encyclopedias

• 3.1 Legal Encyclopedias
  
  
• 3.2 The Canadian Encyclopedic Digest
  
  
• 3.3 Using the CED
  
  
• 3.4 The CED Online
  
  
• 3.5 Halsbury's Laws of Canada
  
  
• 3.6 Using Halsbury's Laws of Canada
  
  

4. Government Documents

• 4.1 Government Documents
  
  
• 4.2 Locating Law Reform Commission Reports
  
  

5. Legal Dictionaries

• 5.1 Legal Dictionaries & Books of Words and Phrases
  
  
• 5.2 Legal Dictionaries
  
  
• 5.3 Books of Words and Phrases
  
  
• Review and Conclusion
  
  

Secondary Sources – Using Halsbury's Laws of Canada

STEP 1: Consult the Consolidated Index

• By this time, you should already have a pretty good idea of the legal issues at play.

  EXAMPLE: Imagine that your client, Local Charity, received a letter in the mail from Mr. Smith. In that letter, Mr. Smith expresses his intention to donate his estate to Local Charity. Mr. Smith passes away. His estate is sold. Local Charity comes to see you to determine its legal rights to the proceeds of the sale of Mr. Smith's estate.
  
  Does your client's problem involve a contract dispute or a dispute over personal property?

• Once you've identified the main legal issues, consult the Companion Guide and Consolidated Index to locate the relevant volume of Halsbury's Laws.
• Familiarize yourself with the "Title Identifiers” and "Paragraph Numbers”:
  • Every Halsbury's Laws volume is assigned a 3-letter title identifier for reference purposes.

    EXAMPLE 1: "HCO” denotes the "Contracts” volume.

    EXAMPLE 2: "HAD” denotes the "Administrative Law” volume.

  • A full listing of title identifiers is found in the Companion Guide and Consolidated Index, and the Cumulative Supplements.
  • Similarly, each paragraph is given a paragraph number so that you may locate it within its particular volume.

    EXAMPLE: HCO-45 refers to the 45th paragraph of the "Contracts” volume title.

• Imagine, once again, that you are looking for information on the law of "Gifts”. You will quickly notice that there is no Halsbury's Laws volume dedicated to the law of gifts. In order to determine which volume covers the law of gifts you must begin by consulting the Companion Guide and Consolidated Index. See Fig 1.1

Fig 1.1 Halsbury's Laws of Canada: Companion Guide and Consolidated Index

Fig 1.2 Consolidated Index: "Gifts”

STEP 2: Locate the Information using the Title Identifier and Paragraph Number

• Use the title identifiers and paragraph numbers indicated in the Index to locate your information.

  EXAMPLE: According to the Companion Guide and Consolidated Index shown above you can find information on donatio mortis causa at HPS-78.

  So, locate the "Personal Property and Secured Transactions” volume title. See Fig 2.1

Fig 2.1 Halbury's Laws of Canada: "Personal Property and Secured Transactions”

Fig 2.2 HPS-78: Donatio Mortis Causa

STEP 3: Use the Cumulative Supplement to Update your Info

• Finally, you must update your information using the Cumulative Supplement that is released annually. See Fig 3.1.
• This supplement is shelved at the end of the Halsbury's series.

Fig 3.1 Halsbury's Laws of Canada: Cumulative Supplement

Fig 3.2 Cumulative Supplement: General Table of Contents