Nada Khirdaji has an interesting piece on her transition from legal research skills in law school to research skills in practice in CCH's law student monthly,
Law school helped me to think like a lawyer, but it was only in practice that I began to appreciate the essential role of legal research. In fact, much to my chagrin, I remember derisively dismissing an optional course in advanced legal research on the assumption that it would be of little use to me.
I am now a research lawyer. Everything that I know about legal research I learned in practice. I am a generalist (with a growing specialization in class actions) and I provide legal advice in all areas of my firm’s practice. I write opinions, memoranda and facta, among other things. I am constantly asked to provide answers in areas of law that I know virtually nothing about.
Her tips are pretty useful, considering how quickly students and recent grads turn to databases and resources that are not always the most cost-effective or efficient. The implications of a more streamlined research work process is better service for the client, and less stress on the young associate.
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More: in Education & Training or Legal Information or Legal Information: Libraries & Research | from Omar Ha-Redeye
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There is good leagal content that doesn’t necessarily come in the neat packages that we usually look in. Though our commercial legal database subscriptions have linked, vetted, edited, and easily. […] »»Research When you need to collaborate on a document displayed on your screen, it’s great to have a colleague from down the hall come into your office and look over your … »»Technology You should assess whether you can accept the financial risks associated with taking the matter, just as clients will assess whether they can (and will) pay your fee. Spend time at the beginning of the. […] »»Practice
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Available online today are four new chapters of the publication Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report, which explores the socio-demographic and economic circumstances of Canadian women in general.
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The bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867 by readjusting the number of members and the representation of the provinces in the House of Commons.
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Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the flow of information out of Ottawa has slowed to a trickle.
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"…the IPC has exclusive jurisdiction to decide whether a record is in the custody or control of a university in the context of an access request…"
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John J.L. Hunter, Q.C. of Vancouver has been elected President for 2011-2012
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Detailed results from 321 members.
These summaries of selected recent cases are provided each week to Slaw by Maritime Law Book.
More information.
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Criminal Law - Sexual offences, public morals and disorderly conduct - Public morals - Obscenity - Possession of child pornography
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This is a listing of a few upcoming events in Canada of interest to lawyers, law students, legal librarians, and others involved in the practice of law.
Clicking on any event in the list below will give you access to more information and to links allowing you to see the full entry and to add the event to your own calendar.
Click this link for a fuller version of the TalkLaw/ParLoi calendar of events and for instructions as to how to add events and calendars to your own calendar.
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There are some internal practice memoranda that law firms, especially big Toronto firms, would be well advised not to allow to be made public, regardless of whether the memoranda are perceived to be internally necessary.
Nice article–thank you for pointing it out, Omar. And thanks to CCH for finding it and reprinting it for us.
I think her general hints are great, especially don't jump into expensive databases without checking out a good treatise on the subject. But does her firm have a law librarian? A good law librarian can help greatly. I hope she has one nearby.