How do I search case law?

Case law is the collection of past decisions made by judges in court. These decisions are important because they show how laws have been applied in real situations. Case law creates a legal precedent for how laws have been applied. When you look up case law, you can see how judges interpreted the law in cases similar to yours.

If you are building a legal case, case law can:

• Support your argument – You can point to past decisions that back up your position.
• Show what to expect – Reading similar cases helps you understand possible outcomes.
• Clarify the law – Sometimes legislation is general; case law shows how it works in practice.

Lawyers and judges often rely on case law to make fair and consistent decisions. Even if you are representing yourself, knowing the main cases related to your issue can strengthen your preparation.

To research case law, a good place to start is CanLII (opens in a new tab) (the Canadian Legal Information Institute). CanLII is free and includes decisions from courts and tribunals across Canada.

To search, type in keywords, a person’s name, or a law (for example, “Small Claims debt collection” or “Family Law Act”). You can narrow your search to British Columbia courts or tribunals by using the filters on the left side of the page. CanLII also lets you sort results by date or relevance.

Reading case law can be tricky, since judges often use legal language. Focus on the “headnote” or summary at the top for the main points.

For step-by-step help, see the CANLII Legal Research Guide (opens in a new tab) from Courthouse Libraries BC.