Library staff can help you:

• Brainstorm search terms;
• Develop research strategies;
• Obtain free access to present and historical Canadian and Newfoundland & Labrador legislation and case law, as well as the Gazettes; and
• Provide referrals to organizations able to provide legal advice.

We’re available from Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (except statutory holidays) and can be reached at 709-753-7770 or lawlibrary@lsnl.ca

Members of the public may access the Law Library to obtain assistance in locating legal information under the following guidelines:

• Access to the Law Library will be during staffed hours (generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday (excluding holidays).
• Appointments are encouraged and will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Research assistance at a specific time cannot be guaranteed in the absence of an appointment*.

*We know that your time is valuable and that access to downtown can be challenging so we encourage appointments to ensure you get the most out of your visit. An appointment allows you and the Law Librarian to thoroughly discuss your research needs in advance to determine whether staff can be of assistance or whether your needs are better addressed by another service provider. If so, the Law Librarian will refer you to other service providers who can assist you. You can make an appointment by calling 709-753-7770.

Please note: Members of the public can only make use of the Law Library computers for:

• Accessing CanLII for statutes, regulations, case law, and legal commentary;
• The mysupportcalculator for spousal and child support calculations;
• The Law Library website; and
• The Law Library catalogue.

These resources are also available anywhere you have access to a computer.

• Due to licensing restrictions, there is no public access to the Law Library commercial databases, including “DivorceMate.”
• For accessing the print materials:
  • If you wish to view texts and you know the titles you want to view, you can provide the details to Law Library staff; and
  • If you would like to look at texts on a given area, but don’t know the title(s), staff will pull some suggestions based on your query.
• If you choose to make an appointment, staff will pull these resources in advance and your requested materials will be waiting for you at an assigned station when you arrive.
• When you arrive, please ring the doorbell and wait in the porch area until a staff person lets you in.
• Members of the public may make notes or photocopies of content from the texts, including commercially published content up to 10% under the Fair Dealing Guidelines of the Copyright Act.
• There is a $0.50 cents per page charge for photocopying or printing. This service is provided on a not-for profit basis. The fee charged for this service is intended to cover the costs of the Law Society.
• The Law Library accepts cash, debit or credit card.

Scanning services are available to support public access for anyone unable to attend the Law Library in person with the following limitations* required to respect the copyright of the publishers of such materials, in accordance with the Fair Dealing Guidelines of the Canadian Copyright Act.

*Only single copies of library materials from primary open-access (not commercial) print or online legal resources, which are required for research, review, private study, criticism or for court/tribunal/government proceedings may be provided to members of the public. The specific purpose(s) of the scanning must be communicated to the library staff in advance to ensure it meets these requirements.

Please note: Memorial University of Newfoundland’s (MUN) Queen Elizabeth II Library offers a free community borrowers’ card to Newfoundland and Labrador residents and has a collection of legal texts that you can find through their catalogue. If you don’t have a borrowers’ card, you can request one via email or via telephone at (709) 864-7423. They also have an online Ask a Librarian service.

• If you know which court form you need, the Law Library will download one copy of a court form upon request; however, the Law Librarian cannot tell you which forms you require or whether the forms have been correctly completed.
  • Court forms will be taken from the Law Courts of Newfoundland and Labrador website (Select Court Division > Forms).

• The Law Library will generally provide the forms in PDF format via email at no cost. The Law Library cannot print or copy forms or any other documents or submissions required for court purposes except that, if you don’t have access to email or a printer, the Law Library will make one print copy at a cost of $0.50 cents per page. You will need to arrange pickup for the document as forms will not be mailed.

You can access CanLII for legislation and case law anywhere you have access to the Internet. If you are unsure how to use CanLII or need guidance on starting or organizing your research, you can book a one-on-one half hour session with the law librarian via Zoom for help.

This service is available Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m./1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Please contact the Law Librarian and discuss your needs before booking a Zoom session. The Law Librarian may need to refer you to an organization better suited to assist you with your question. The library can be reached at 709-753-7770 or via email.

Disclaimer: Please note the Law Librarian cannot provide legal advice, interpret legislation, identify which court forms you require or answer specific questions about the viability of your issue.

You can also refer to the National Self-Represented Litigants Resources page which provides detailed guidance on being a self-represented litigant, how to read legal materials including cases, and developing court submissions. They also have a guide on how to use the CanLII database.

We also have a page of key websites for self-represented litigants that can assist you with legal questions. These sites have been reviewed by Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador lawyers to ensure the content is relevant and applicable in Newfoundland and Labrador.