Everyone's Guide to the Law: A Handbook for Canadians

Charlotte Neff is an associate professor of law and justice at
Laurentian University and the co-author of The Annotated Competition Act
1992.

This handbook provides a summary of the law relevant to individuals and
families in their everyday life, including the rights and
responsibilities of marriage and cohabitation, separation and divorce,
the regulation of childbirth, and the relationship between parents and
children. In addition, it covers personal financial issues, including
employment and labor law, real-estate transactions and other property
issues, debtor- creditor problems, rental issues, and financial
planning. There is also a chapter on human and civil rights and one on
abuse and victimization. The weight given to various issues varies
substantially. Major topics that are barely mentioned include child
protection and the rights of consumers.

The author purports to be seeking to “demystify the law” and to
provide “plainly stated information and practical advice.” The book
goes part of the way toward meeting these goals, in that an
unenlightened reader will come away with a better understanding of the
structure, process, and basic vocabulary of the law. However, the
information provided is in most cases substantially less than
individuals would require to help them understand any legal dispute in
which they might be involved. Furthermore, while there is a detailed
index to guide the reader, there are no “how-to” sections to help
those who may need to represent their own legal interests, nor is there
even a bibliography to lead them to such resources.

Essentially a compendium of answers to questions the author has
addressed for 19 years as a magazine and radio legal adviser, this book
provides a useful overview of the law but limited assistance to those
seeking help with specific legal problems.