Legal Research and Writing

This is a guide to the key materials on legal research and writing available to students through the TMU Library. 

Legal research and writing requires unique skills, which is why reference books like research checklists, dictionaries, words and phrases books are vital tools.

Ebooks on legal research and writing are easy reference tools for learning about both sets of skills. For shorter overviews, online guides to legal research and tutorials can be useful for covering the basics.

Citation is an essential component of legal research and writing and there are guides for that, too.

For research help, ask the Law Library. We're able to answer any questions about research, from unusual citation to saving time by developing a search strategy.

Research help is available for students, faculty, and staff of TMU with legal research questions.

For one-on-one assistance in refining a legal research topic, finding legal information, and using databases and other resources, book a research appointment. Currently, all Law Library research help appointments are being conducted virtually through Zoom. Email the law librarians or book a time directly in their calendars during office hours:

John Papadopoulos is available at john.papadopoulos@torontomu.ca, with bookable office hours
Lisa Levesque is available at lisa.levesque@torontomu.ca, with bookable office hours
Sara Klein is available at sara.b.klein@torontomu.ca, with bookable office hours

Email: for general inquiries, please email lawlibrary@torontomu.ca for assistance with accessing or using legal information resources and one of the Law Library staff will respond to you.

For the most recent service information during COVID-19, see the updates for students, instructors, and researchers.

This guide has been created by the Toronto Metropolitan University Library and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License unless otherwise marked.

Date updated: August 22, 2023