1. To begin Search.   A user name and password is required to search the NRS Databases. Register online (click on Register Online on the opening screen) or call 1- 800-561-0220 and ask for customer service. Registration provides immediate access to the databases.

To see list of databases click on Databases on the opening screen.

On the opening screen, the link Quick Search automatically searches all 12 databases (10 provincial databases plus databases for the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Canada). Also on the opening screen the link Standard Search provides the option of searching one or more databases.

2. Operators or commands

- // two forward slashes - within the same paragraph - e.g. /2/ = within two words in the same paragraph;

- \\ two back slashes - within a paragraph of - e.g. \2\ = within two paragraphs;

- and - e.g. criminal and negligence - finds cases containing words "criminal" and "negligence" - using criminal negligence finds phrase "criminal negligence"
(Caveat: do not use an ampersand for the word and);

- or - e.g. criminal or negligence - finds cases containing words "criminal" or "negligence";

- not - e.g. criminal not negligence - finds cases containing the word "criminal" but not "negligence";

- in - e.g. 298 in criminal code - finds cases containing 298 in a paragraph starting with the words "criminal code" - e.g. Jones in Indexed - finds the name Jones in Indexed As case names;

- label - e.g. label Pelech - finds cases with paragraphs starting with the word "Pelech";

- except - e.g. highways except negligence - finds cases containing word "highways" but only if word "negligence" is not in the same paragraph as "highways";

- ( ) - parentheses - e.g. (298 or 299 or 300) in Criminal Code - finds cases containing 298 or 299 or 300 in a paragraph starting with the words "criminal code". The use of parentheses can shorten the number of searches required; e.g. Damage Awards Topic (125 or 126 or 127) - finds cases containing Topic 125 or Topic 126 or Topic 127 in one search

- * - asterisk - use to search for tenses or plurals of words - e.g. divorc* will find words such as divorce, divorcing, divorced, divorces, etc.

- ... - three dots - followed anywhere by - e.g. Pelech ... Indexed As - finds cases where Pelech appears anywhere before Indexed As.

Caveat: If you want to search using an operator (and, or, not, in, label, except, to) as an ordinary word, you must use a shift dash immediately before the first letter of the word, e.g. fraud _and misrepresentation.

For more details re operators click on Help on the opening screen; on the next screen click on Search Hints and Tips, Advanced Help.

3. Searching using a key number.    Use of a Key Number saves time and ensures a complete list of cases on point. To find a key number click on Key Number Search on the opening screen or call 1-800-561-0220 and ask for an editor or service representative. Note that a Key Number search searches only headnoted cases and does not search unedited cases.

Search without links. If you are searching without using the key number links and you are searching all databases for cases involving sentences for the crime of arson you can use a key number as follows:

click on Quick Search on the opening screen; in the query box on the next screen type Criminal Law Topic 5867; click on the Search button; the next screen will list the cases; to view or download a case click on the "view document" button.

Note: our editors recommend the use of key numbers as our quickest and most effective search strategy.

4. Searching for a case by name of party.    If you are searching all databases for a case and you are searching by using a name of one of the parties; you can search the Indexed As names for the name Pelech by doing the following:

If you are searching all databases for a case and you are searching by using a name of one of the parties; you can search the style of cause for the name Pelech by doing the following:

5. Searching for cases using a citation.    If you are searching all databases for a case by using a citation; do the following if you are searching for 9 B.C.A.C. 1:

Note: This type of search will find the case at 9 B.C.A.C. 1, plus all those cases in which the cite 9 B.C.A.C. 1 is found. If you want only the one case at 9 B.C.A.C. 1, then type in the query box 9 B.C.A.C. 1 ... indexed as.

6. Searching for cases that refer to a particular case.    If you are searching all databases for cases that refer to the Supreme Court of Canada case of Pelech v. Pelech, do the following:

Note: The addition of the word Label before the word Pelech will create a list of all cases with paragraphs that start with the word Pelech, such as entries under Cases Noticed in a headnote. This type of search targets cases listed in headnotes and not necessarily cases in the text of a decision.

7. Searching for cases that refer to a particular section of a statute.    If you are searching all databases for cases that refer to s. 298 of the Criminal Code (defamatory libel) do the following:

To search simultaneously for several sections of a statute do the following:

Note: The addition of the word in before the words Criminal Code will create a list of all cases with paragraphs that start with the words Criminal Code, such as entries under Statutes Noticed in a headnote. This type of search targets statutes listed in headnotes and not necessarily statutes in the text of a decision.

8. After you have found your case, how to find other similar cases?

Use the links in the headnotes as follows:

- click on the cite at the top of headnote -
the next screen will list other cases where this case was judicially considered.

- click on the "Indexed As" name -
the next screen will list other decisions with the same "Indexed As" name (i.e. a case history).

- click on a topic number -
the next screen will list cases that have the same topic or point of law.

- click on a case name in Cases Noticed -
the next screen will list other cases that referred to the case noticed.

- click on the citation following the case name in Cases Noticed -
the next screen will show the full text of the case cited.

- click on a section number in Statutes Noticed -
the next screen will list other cases where this section was judicially considered.

9. Searching a single database.    If you would like to search one or more databases for tort cases on the standard of care expected of a child do the following:

10. Date searching - Find judgments by date.

11. Query Within

Use this feature to reduce or refine a hit list.

After you have generated a hit list do the following:

For example, if you are searching for damage awards for knee injuries do the following:

2. If you only want Alberta Court of Queen's Bench cases, click on the Query Within button and type Label Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in the search box and click the Search button;

3. The next screen will display a list of approx. 15 cases from the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench that were included in the original hit list of over 250 cases

You may continue to refine your search by continuing to use the Query Within option.

12. Searching for Words and Phrases Topics in Headnotes.

This search strategy will find cases that include a Words and Phrases topic in a headnote.
For example, find cases where the word "parent" has been judicially considered by doing the following:

- click on Quick Search on the opening screen;
- in the query box on the next screen, type label words \1,1\ label parent;
- click on the Search button;
- the next screen will list the cases.

13. Searching for Words and Phrases Topics in Headnotes.

In 2007 MLB stopped adding key number references to cases from the Ontario Superior Court and the British Columbia Supreme Court due to the volume of decisions from those courts. Therefore, to find cases from these two courts, users of the National Reporter System or Raw Law should search by key word(s) instead of MLB's key numbers.