Precedents are easily the most common type of research material we are asked for here at the CCLA library. Earlier this year, we were very excited to hear that Sean Robichaud, Criminal lawyer in Toronto, was starting an ambitious project to upload and allow access to his firm’s Criminal Law Precedents Database (you can read more about their reasoning behind their decision here). As librarians, we love everything about this; from access to justice, to the power of open information, to the simple recognition of where a lawyer’s real value lies (also, extra points for the excellent use of the word ‘bastioned’).

As of writing there are currently 329 precedents available, representing only 3% of their internal database, with more gradually being added. You can browse the precedents by folder, or search by filename by clicking the magnifying glass in the upper right corner.

They also have a Twitter account that you can follow, which updates when new precedents are added to the database.

This is really a great initiative, and here’s hoping that it’s just the start of more of these types of projects cropping up!

 

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