04/22/23 LegalEze1

Searching QP LegalEze and BC Laws: BC Legislation and How to Find It

A Workshop for

BC Public Libraries

04/22/23LegalEze2

Acknowledgements

This workshop has been developed with the assistance of:

Nancy Hannum, Consultant

Ene Haabniit & Cheryl Stenstrom, Public Library Services Branch

Courthouse Libraries BC

The Legal Services Society

04/22/23LegalEze3

Introduction

The main focus of this workshop is on how to search QP LegalEze, the database

of B.C. statutes, regulations and other legislative materials.

Your presenters today:

04/22/23LegalEze4

Janet Freeman LawMatters Program

Coordinator, Courthouse Libraries BC

Rebecca Slaven, Client Services Librarian,

Courthouse Libraries BC

04/22/23LegalEze5

Agenda

Overview of Legal Process (in B.C.)

Comparison of BC Laws to QP LegalEze

Introduction to QP LegalEze: Quick Search & Using the Menu

Break/Practice Questions

Advanced & Boolean Search Forms

Currency of Legislation

Additional Sources of Legal Information

Questions/ Wrap-Up

Workshop Objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Understand some basic concepts about how laws are made in BC

Describe the contents of the QP LegalEze database

Navigate the database and print results

Use the advanced and boolean search forms

04/22/23LegalEze6

04/22/23LegalEze7

Types of Legal Information Sources

Primary Sources = Actual Laws Federal & Provincial statutes (acts) & regulations Case law

Secondary Sources Popular law books and pamphlets (e.g. Self-Counsel Press) Legal dictionaries Legal textbooks Government web sites & other web sites which explain the law

They can:– Provide an overview of a legal topic in plain language– Identify jurisdictions– Identify key primary sources

Sample Secondary Source:BC Employment Standards Branch Web Site

04/22/23LegalEze8

04/22/23 LegalEze9

The Legal Process A Brief Overview

Useful Resource: Legislation Made Easy, 3rd ed. by Gail Nash. Crown Publications: Victoria.2010

04/22/23LegalEze10

How A Bill Becomes A Law in B.C.

A Proposed Law is drafted - usually by a government Ministry

First Reading - Bill is introduced in Legislative Assembly [In QP LegalEze]

Second Reading - Bill is debated

Committee Stage - detailed consideration of Bill

Third Reading - FINAL version of the Bill is printed with amendments [In QP LegalEze]

Royal Assent – a law becomes “in force” upon Royal assent; or by regulation on a later date

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Table of Bills tracks status of Bills

Table of Bills in QP LegalEze

04/22/23LegalEze11

Comparing Free BC Laws Website to QP LegalEze

Free public site:  BC Laws  www.bclaws.ca

   is maintained by the BC Queen's Printer   includes BC Statutes and Regulations, Orders in Council, Regulations Bulletin  is usually current 7-14 days after changes in legislation but due to staffing issues,

is now 3-4 months behind   uses a simple search feature. Searching within a statute requires using the

Windows edit - find function on your toolbar See the BC Laws FAQ Section Tab (Question #17) for a chart showing comparison

of BC Laws to QP LegalEze.  

For checking new bills, amendments, repeals and Hansard debates use the BC Legislative Assembly site: www.leg.bc.ca

04/22/23LegalEze12

04/22/23LegalEze13

QP LegalEze License & Access

Created and maintained by the Queen’s Printer

Licensed by the Libraries and Literacy Branch for in-library use in all B.C. public libraries

For access issues contact Tami Setala, Licensing and Business Development Manager, BC Libraries Cooperative, 1.855.383.5761 ext 1015, email tami.setala@bc.libraries.coop

04/22/23LegalEze14

What’s in QP LegalEze?

B.C. Statutes and Regulations

Bills (1st & 3rd Reading)– government bills– members’ bills– private bills

Act/Ministry Responsibilities

Hansard (debates of the Legislative Assembly)

04/22/23LegalEze15

What’s Included - Bills

04/22/23LegalEze16

What’s Included – Act/Ministry Responsibilities

04/22/23LegalEze17

What’s Included - Hansard

04/22/23LegalEze18

What’s Included – Misc.

04/22/23LegalEze19

What’s Not in QP LegalEze?

Federal laws

Laws from other provinces

Case law

Secondary legal information sources

Historical material (Pre 1991 Statutes)

04/22/23LegalEze20

When to Use QP LegalEze?

To find a specific B.C. statute, regulation or other piece of legislation

When secondary sources don’t provide enough information

When someone wants to know the status of legislation

When you want to search a number of legislative materials all at once

For current B.C. legislation

04/22/23LegalEze21

Challenges to Using QP LegalEze & Legal Reference Work

The law and language of the law are often confusing to lay people – including library staff!

Navigation can be tricky (e.g. opening & closing folders; remembering “where you are” in the database)

The Law and QPLegalEze change

Clients may want you to interpret the law – or even provide legal advice – which you cannot do.

04/22/23LegalEze22

Break & Hands-On Practice (15 minutes)

If you sign off LiveMeeting, reconnect again through your email invitation

Open QP LegalEze at your workstations

If you hang up the phone, phone the conference call number again

04/22/23LegalEze23

Additional Resources

Courthouse Libraries BC www.courthouselibrary.ca– Toll Free: 1-800-665-2570 legal reference or

email to librarian@courthouselibrary.ca – LawMatters Program: www.bclawmatters.ca– Clicklaw: www.clicklaw.bc.ca includes a page for Laws, Cases and Rules

www.clicklaw.bc.ca/content/lawscases

Legal Services Society (legal aid) www.lss.bc.ca– Family Law in BC www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca includes a page for Legislation /

court rules www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/resources/legislation.php

B.C. Government Contact– Enquiry B.C.: 1 800 663-7867

04/22/23LegalEze24

Summary

1. Secondary sources are a good starting point

2. Four main ways to navigate in QP LegalEze:

- quick search box - menu - advanced search form - Boolean search form

3. Identify alternate search terms - it can take TIME.

4. Refer clients to appropriate contacts/resources.

5. Never try to interpret the law or give legal advice ( see #4 again).

6. Learning about the law is not just good for your clients – it’s good for you!

Questions or Comments?

04/22/23LegalEze25

04/22/23LegalEze26

Contact information

Janet Freeman

LawMatters Program Coordinator

Courthouse Libraries BC

Phone:604-660-9204 OR 800-665-2570

Email: jfreeman@courthouselibrary.ca

Rebecca Slaven

Client Services Librarian

Courthouse Libraries BC

Phone:604-660-2401 OR 800-665-2570

Email: rslaven@courthouselibrary.ca

QP LegalEze Webinar Pagewww.bclibraries.ca/workshops/QPLegalEze/index.php