Reading Comprehension: Cheat Sheets
February 4, 2024
Top 10 Strategies to Stay on Top of Legal Developments in Canada
- Law Prep with Josh
- Top 10 Strategies to Stay on Top of Legal Developments in Canada
Top 10 Strategies to Stay on Top of Legal Developments in Canada
In the rapidly changing legal environment, staying informed is crucial for anyone in the legal field, as well as for those with a vested interest in navigating the legal system in Canada and the United States.
Here’s your guide to staying updated:
1. Follow Canadian Legal News Sources:
Prioritize Canadian legal news outlets for the latest on court decisions, legislative updates, and legal news across Canada, complemented by international insights from platforms like Law360 and JD Supra.
News Source | Focus Area | Update Frequency | Content Depth | Format |
CanLII Connects | Comprehensive Legal Updates | Daily | High | Online Articles |
Canadian Lawyer | Legal News & Analysis | Weekly | Moderate-High | Magazine/Online |
The Lawyer’s Daily | National Legal News | Daily | High | Online Articles |
Law Times | Ontario Legal News | Weekly | Moderate | Online/Print |
Slaw | Legal Technology & Commentary | Weekly | High | Blog Posts |
2. Subscribe to Legal Journals:
Enhance your legal knowledge base with subscriptions to prestigious journals. For Canadian law, consider the University of Toronto Law Journal or the McGill Law Journal, alongside international reads like the Harvard Law Review.
Legal Journal | Focus Area | Citation Impact | Interdisciplinary Focus | Accessibility |
University of Toronto Law Journal | General Legal Scholarship | High | Moderate | Subscription/Some free content |
McGill Law Journal/Revue de droit de McGill | Bilingual, General Legal Issues | High | Low | Open Access |
Canadian Bar Review | Comprehensive Legal Analysis | Moderate | Low | Subscription |
Dalhousie Law Journal | General Legal Scholarship | Moderate | High | Limited free/Subscription |
Osgoode Hall Law Journal | Broad Legal Topics | Moderate | High | Open Access |
3. Bar Association Resources:
Leverage the resources offered by Canadian bar associations such as the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and provincial bar associations for updates.
4. Legal Blogs:
Explore blogs by Canadian legal experts and law firms for nuanced discussions on legal developments. Don’t overlook blogs from U.S. law professionals to gain a comparative understanding.
Legal Blog | Thematic Focus | Contributor Expertise | Update Frequency | Reader Engagement |
Slaw | Legal Technology, Practice, and Education | High | Daily/Weekly | High (Comments, Social Media) |
Michael Geist’s Blog | Internet and E-commerce Law | Very High | Weekly | Moderate (Comments, Shares) |
Canadian Privacy Law Blog | Privacy Law | High | Bi-weekly | Moderate (Comments, Social Media) |
Law of Work | Employment and Labor Law | High | Weekly/Bi-weekly | High (Comments, Social Media Interaction) |
The Court | Supreme Court of Canada Decisions | Moderate-High | As decisions are released | Moderate (Academic and Practitioner Discussion) |
Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog | Not a real blog. | Throwaway gag | never | If 1 person laughed, this was worth it. |
5. Social Media:
Follow Canadian legal professionals, law firms, and legal organizations on platforms like LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is like the suit-and-tie of social media for work stuff. It’s great for legal content because people write longer articles and have serious discussions. You can find detailed posts on legal topics that are perfect for learning more in-depth stuff.
Twitter keeps things short and sweet. It’s not the best for explaining complicated legal ideas because you’ve only got a few words to work with. But, it’s super for getting quick updates, links to longer articles, and seeing what’s trending in the legal world.
Facebook’s a mixed bag. You can write long posts or share videos, but it’s all over the place. You might find some good legal groups or pages, but you’ll have to sift through a lot of other stuff not related to law.
Instagram is all about pictures and short clips. It’s not the go-to for deep legal discussions. Some folks get creative, using images to highlight key points or updates, but don’t expect to get into the nitty-gritty of legal concepts here.
Reddit’s a wild card. You can find long posts and deep dives into legal topics in specific communities. It’s good for asking questions and getting a bunch of perspectives. Just remember, the quality of info can really vary, so take what you read with a grain of salt.
6. Online Legal Research Tools:
Platforms like CanLII for comprehensive access to Canadian legal documents, alongside international databases such as Westlaw and LexisNexis, can inform you about case law, statutes, and regulations across jurisdictions.
Platform | Jurisdictions Covered | Database Size (Est. Number of Documents) | Speed of Updates | Unique Features |
CanLII | Canada | 2+ Million | Daily | Free access, CanLII Connects for commentary |
Westlaw | International (incl. US, Canada, UK, AU) | 100+ Million | Daily | AI-assisted research, KeyCite for citation checking |
LexisNexis Quicklaw | International (Strong Canadian) | 60+ Million | Daily | QuickCITE for citation checking, Practical Guidance |
HeinOnline | International (Strong US, historical documents) | 200+ Million | Weekly | Historical legal documents, Law Journal Library |
vLex Justis | International (110+ countries) | 120+ Million | Daily/Weekly | Vincent AI for legal research |
7. Participate in CLE Programs:
Engage in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) offered by Canadian law societies and legal organizations. These programs often cover the latest legal developments and offer networking opportunities with professionals from both Canada and the U.S.
8. Monitor Government Websites:
Keep an eye on Canadian government websites for legislative updates and official announcements.
Province/Territory | Legislative Updates | Official Announcements | Court-Related Information | Public Engagement on Legislation |
Federal | ||||
Alberta | ||||
British Columbia | ||||
Manitoba | ||||
New Brunswick | ||||
Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||
Northwest Territories | ||||
Nova Scotia | ||||
Nunavut | ||||
Ontario | ||||
Prince Edward Island | ||||
Quebec | ||||
Saskatchewan | ||||
Yukon |
9. Tune into Podcasts and Webinars:
Listen to Canadian legal podcasts or join webinars hosted by Canadian law schools and legal organizations. These forums frequently feature discussions on current legal issues with insights from experts in both Canada and the U.S.
Podcast/Webinar Name | Practice Area(s) | Average Episode Length | Speaker Style |
The Docket | Criminal Law | 60 mins | Casual |
Building NewLaw | Legal Innovation & Technology | 45 mins | Technical/Casual |
Lawyer Life Podcast | Work-Life Balance in Law | 30-40 mins | Casual |
SterlingLaw | Various Legal Topics | 50 mins | Formal |
Of Counsel | Interviews with Legal Experts | 60-70 mins | Formal/Casual Mix |
10. Network at Legal Events:
Attend legal conferences, seminars, and networking events within Canada to connect with peers and gain insights into recent developments.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Josh's LSAT Tutoring
Related Post
Logical Reasoning: Cheat Sheets
February 4, 2024
Why You Should Do Nothing
January 28, 2024
9 ways to Build a Strong Foundation in Legal Writing
January 28, 2024