Use a dictionary for concise legal definitions of words and concepts. Unfortunately, many legal dictionaries are still only available in print format. However, many of these print dictionaries can be checked out of the library.

Online

• Barron's Canadian Law Dictionary, 6th ed. Available through Quicklaw.
  • In Quicklaw, select Secondary materials--> Dictionaries
• Glossary of Criminal Justice Terms (BC Government) and Court jargon...what the alphabet soup means (BC Provincial Court)
• Irwin Law's Canadian Online Legal Dictionary. A crowdsourced Canadian legal dictionary, maintained by a reputable legal publisher.

Print

• Black's Law Dictionary, 11th edition. A classic for practicing lawyers (2019, current to 2022) [print]
• The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Canadian Law (2021) [print]. Winner of the 2022 Hugh Lawford Award for Excellence in Legal Publishing.
• The Dictionary of Canadian Law (2011) [print]
• Barron's Canadian Law Dictionary (2009) [print]
• Sanagan's Encyclopedia of Words and Phrases, Legal Maxims, Canada (2005) [print]

To find more do a browse search by subject in the Library Catalogue for law--dictionaries, law--canada--dictionaries, or law--canada--terminology.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias can provide a helpful overview of a topic, listing key concepts, further readings, and terminology.

• Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine 2005
• Legal systems of the world: a political, social, and cultural encyclopedia [print]

Books

Don't forget books! A book or book chapter can be tremendously useful for gaining an overview of your legal research area. Here are some sample legal books owned by SFU Library:

• An introduction to environmental law and policy in Canada 2015
• The end of the Charter revolution: looking back from the new normal [print]
• Sex and the Supreme Court: obscenity and indecency law in Canada [print]

Specialized texts and legal commentary

There are a number of key sources in various areas of the law that outline, define, and explain the law. For instance, in Criminal Law, there are several annotated Criminal Codes, such as Martin's Criminal Code of Canada which presents criminal cases by section of criminal law and discuss how the law has been applied.

Please contact your liaison librarian for more information in your topic area.

Introductions to Canadian legal research

• The Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide (via CanLII)
• Guide to Legal Research (from the U of Toronto. Bora Laskin Law Library)
• Doing Legal Research in Canada by Ted Tjaden (lawyer/law librarian at the Bora Laskin Law Library, U of Toronto)

Legal help

• The CanLII Manual to British Columbia Civil Litigation (2020). Comprehensive online manual to assist self-represented litigants navigate the legal system, with many subject pathfinders including Criminal Law and lists of online and in-person supports. 
• Legal Aid BC -- Online publications, such as Sponsorship Breakdown or Defending Yourself: Possession of an Illegal Drug, provide practical, introductory material about BC court procedures and laws
•  People's Law School (BC) -- Publishes dozens of DIY and introduction legal materials, in print and downloadable PDF format.
•  Clicklaw -- Legal resources for the community: "Understand your rights, solve legal problems". Clicklaw provides access to many publications providing plain-language overviews of legal topics, ranging from the Guide to the Mental Health Act to Buying a Used Car
• Courthouse libraries are good resources for searching for case law and other information to support you in a legal case -- Courthouse Libraries of BC Library Use Protocol