About us
The Great Library serves the legal information needs of Law Society licensees and other legal researchers by facilitating access to an extensive collection of print and electronic resources, and providing legal research assistance and instruction.
As a licensee-funded facility, the Great Library's primary users are lawyer and paralegal licensees of the Law Society of Ontario. The library also serves articling and LPP students, summer students, law clerks, law librarians, and others who are working for licensees. The library is open to the public for legal research purposes.
We encourage you to use our website, services and resources to easily find legal information, improve your search skills and get research help.
Accessing the Great Library in Osgoode Hall
The Great Library is located in Osgoode Hall at the northeast corner of Queen Street West and University Avenue in downtown Toronto. The nearest subway station is Osgoode. Parking is available at Toronto City Hall.
When the Ontario courts are open, typically weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., all library users, including the public, can enter Osgoode Hall and access the Great Library. The entrance is through the main doors on the south side of the building, opposite Queen Street West. Ontario court security manages this entrance and will require bags to be scanned. Law Society licensees may also enter the library from the Law Society's east-facing entry.
Photography & filming in the Great Library
Visitors are welcome to take photographs of the library for their personal/non-commercial use, using hand-held cameras. No formal approval is required. We ask that you do not disturb or take photos of library users or staff.
Wedding and engagement photography is not permitted in the library.
Prior written approval from the Law Society is required for all other photography or filming in the library. Email Elise Brunet at ebrunet@lso.ca.
Our collections
Current practice resources
As the country's largest law practitioners' library, we maintain an extensive collection of texts, loose leaf services, continuing professional development (CPD) program materials, government documents, law journals and other commentary on all major areas of law, from appellate advocacy to zoning law.
Cases and legislation
The library holds Canadian law reports, statutes, regulations, bills and gazettes, as well as selected primary sources from the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
Historic legal materials
This collection includes historic statutes, early editions of leading Canadian, British and American legal texts, and sources of Canadian legal history. Also included is the Riddell Canadian Library, a unique collection of books on local history, political life, religion, government and the development of law in Canada, particularly in Ontario.
Accessing collections
InfoLocate
InfoLocate searches the print and electronic holdings of the Great Library, the Ontario County and District Law Association Libraries, as well as the contents of various websites and digital collections, such as Law Society CPD papers. Use InfoLocate to search for books, journals, other print materials, eBooks, eJournals, Law Society of Ontario CPD articles and web resources.