Focusing on the common law jurisdictions of Canada, the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand as well as international and comparative law.
The BJLL subscribes to many legal databases and has access to hundreds of non-legal electronic resources. Access to the legal electronic resources is from the Legal Databases link on the BJLL webpage.
Law Subject/Call Number Index (XLS)
Technology
Computer lab provides 20 workstations with access to word processing, library and legal databases, and the Internet.
Five workstations located in the reference area.
Special Collections
The Ernest S. Watkins Rare Book Collection is named for a man well known for his contribution to Alberta's legal profession, its legal history and the life of the University of Calgary Law School. The Special Collections holds some of Mr. Watkins personal and business correspondence, legal documents, photographs, political speeches and other related material.
The Law Library collection consists largely of the following:
18th- and 19th-century English and pre-1900 Canadian materials
A copy of each graduate thesis from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law
An almost-complete collection of the Canadian Parliamentary Guide from 1909 to 1995
All items in the collection are listed in the Library catalogue. Many of the titles are available in the regular Law Library collection as reprints. Later editions are available online.
Law Library privileges
Access and Borrowing Privileges
Students from other institutions are welcome to visit the BJLL, use our collections, and seek research assistance from the reference personnel. Most Alberta and Canadian university students will also be able to borrow books from the University of Calgary libraries, in accordance with various reciprocal agreements. Please make arrangements to receive these privileges with your home institution before visiting our library.
Study Environment
The BJLL is a quiet study environment. Please keep conversations short and at a low volume. The 1st floor and Mezzanine are quieter than the 2nd floor as the staff members assist patrons with circulation, technology and research questions on that floor. Do not use cell phones in the BJLL. Take your cell phones into the rotunda on the 2nd floor if you are having a conversation.
All University of Calgary students are welcome to use the facilities, collections and services of the Bennett Jones Law Library.
Work Spaces
All students may use the carrels and tables located on the 1st and 2nd floors for study purposes and the computers located in the computer lab and reference area. All students may also use available group workrooms located on the mezzanine and 2nd floors; however, students may be asked to vacate the room by law students who have reserved the room. The Mezzanine level is designated as Law Students Only so non-Law students may be asked to move to another section in the library if all the tables on the Mezzanine are in use.
Study Environment
The BJLL is a quiet study environment. Please keep conversations short and at a low volume. The 1st floor and Mezzanine are quieter than the 2nd floor as the staff members assist patrons with circulation, technology and research questions on that floor.
Do not use cell phones in the BJLL. Take your cell phones into the rotunda on the 2nd floor if you are having a conversation.
Legal Databases
The databases that the BJLL subscribes to are available to every member of the University of Calgary community. The broadest legal database is Westlaw Canada, for which we have a campus-wide licence. See our complete database listing on the BJLL website by clicking on the Legal Database link.
There are two databases included on our database list which are restricted to the Law faculty members and students, and which are marked “UofC Law School Only.” These databases are provided by the vendors directly to the Faculty of Law and their usage is restricted to persons associated with that Faculty. They are included on our database list for convenience for the Law students and faculty members. The campus-wide version of Westlaw Canada contains the same information as the password-protected version of WestlawNext Canada.
Tours and Training
Tours and legal database training are available through the law library, either provided by reference staff or legal database trainers. For any research assistance and/or library instruction in effective search strategies for library databases and the Internet, please contact lawlib@ucalgary.ca.
Booking Workrooms
There are a variety of study and work spaces available for law students in the BJLL. There are both individual carrels and tables on the 1st floor and tables on the Mezzanine and 2nd floor. The Mezzanine is designated “law students only”; however, non-Law students should be asked to vacate the space only if all tables are in use.
Law students may also use the group workrooms in the BJLL. The rooms can be booked online up to a week in advance. All University of Calgary students, faculty and staff can also book workrooms in the Taylor Family Digital Library.
Study Environment
The BJLL is a quiet study environment. Please keep conversations short and at a low volume. The 1st floor and Mezzanine are quieter than the 2nd floor as the staff members assist patrons with circulation, technology and research questions on that floor.
Do not use cell phones in the BJLL. Take your cell phones into the rotunda on the 2nd floor if you are having a conversation.
Databases and Passwords
Most legal databases do not require passwords and can be accessed from the Legal Databases link on the BJLL webpage. The two premier legal databases, Quicklaw and WestlawNext Canada, are available to students, faculty and staff of the Faculty of Law only and do require passwords to access them. First year law students will receive passwords to these databases at the beginning of January, as they begin the legal research component of Fundamental Legal Skills. We also have a campus-wide version of WestlawNext Canada which contains the same content as the Faculty of Law version but does not require a password.
Tours and Training
If you are interested in participating in a guided tour of the Bennett Jones Law Library please email lawlib@ucalgary.ca. We will be happy to set up a group library orientation for students new to the Faculty, whether you are on an exchange or visiting as a letter of permission. Tours of the law library and training sessions by legal database trainers are offered for first year law students enrolled in Fundamental Legal Skills. Other database training is also available through the law library, either provided by reference staff or legal database trainers. The Workshop and Events page will host online registration for tours. For any research assistance and/or library instruction in effective search strategies for library databases and the Internet, please contact lawlib@ucalgary.ca.
Moot Teams
Moot teams get exclusive use of a shared discussion room for the duration of their moot preparation. A key may be issued to one member per team who must complete the Key Request Form obtained from the BJLL Service Desk. The key must be returned upon termination of the moot or upon request by library staff. A key to the room is also available at the Circulation Desk during regular operating hours only. There is a charge of $15.00 for lost keys.
