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Legal Information Resources for the Public The BC Experience

Legal Information Resources for the Public The BC Experience. CALL - 2007. Public Legal Information Needs. Within the top 15% < 2% result in a trial <1/500 actions go to trial. Challenges for law libraries. Governance Funding & Staffing Legal advice vs. Legal information.

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Legal Information Resources for the Public The BC Experience

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  1. Legal Information Resources for the PublicThe BC Experience CALL - 2007

  2. Public Legal Information Needs Within the top 15% < 2% result in a trial <1/500 actions go to trial

  3. Challenges for law libraries • Governance • Funding & Staffing • Legal advice vs. Legal information

  4. Legal Information vs. Legal Advice • Law Librarian must be: • Neutral • Impartial • Not engage in the unauthorized practice of law

  5. Do’s and Don’ts Do: Provide legal definitions eg: What is child abuse? Answer: Legal dictionaries define it as…….. Don’t: Provide legal interpretation eg: My neighbor leaves her 10 year old alone all the time. Is that child abuse? Answer: That is a legal question I can’t answer. I can show you how to find information on child abuse.

  6. Do’s and Don’ts cont. Do: Provide procedural definitions eg: What is a defendant? Answer: Rules of court define defendant as…… Don’t: Interpret court documents eg: I just received these documents. What should I do? Answer: That is a legal question I can’t answer. I can show you how to find information on child abuse.

  7. Do’s and Don’ts cont. Do help people to find information. Don’t advise them what they should do, help them to fill out forms. Do provide general referrals. Don’t recommend particular lawyers, experts, etc.

  8. BC Model • Courthouse library is a not-for-profit society with a clear mandate to serve the public. • BC Supreme Court Self-Help Centre in Vancouver assists those acting on their own. • MOU between BCCLS, LSS and PLSB to collaborate re: legal information for the public. • Civil justice reform initiatives.

  9. Public Library Legal Resource Project • One million in funding from BC Law Foundation • Objective to put basic legal collections in public libraries around the province. • Pilot in 2007 with 3 libraries.

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