RESEARCH SERVICES

Let us help you with your next research project.
The Archives is the central repository in Alberta for the study of law and society. LASA serves lawyers, judges, scholars, students, educators, genealogists, and the broader public by providing access to its collections. The Archive’s ability to preserve the memory of Alberta’s legal community relies on its collections, which include photographs, artifacts, films, archival documentation, books, and oral interviews of individuals who played a role in the development of the law in the province. To view LASA photographs and fonds level archival descriptions, keyword search ‘Collections Online’ on the Archives Society of Alberta (ASA) website: www.archivesalberta.org

STEP ONE

Contact us by phone or email and let us what you’re looking for including the topic and any specific materials you hope to obtain from LASA.

STEP TWO

LASA’s research team will provide you with a list of relevant sources available for on-site consultation.

STEP THREE

Select from the list of materials provided and LASA will arrange a date for you to view the material in person.

Research Services

Research: First three (3) hours FREE
each hour thereafter – $30/half hour

General Research can be completed by LASA staff. In order to research on the client’s behalf LASA will need as much information about the research project as possible. The client will authorize a certain amount of hours and if LASA cannot finish the project in the allotted time then the client will be notified to see if they would like to add additional hours. There are no research fees for clients wishing to conduct their own research.

Price List

Photocopies: $0.25/page

Image Reproduction: $15/image

Digital Interview Copies: Audio $40 / Video $60

Shipping and Handling: Alberta $10 / Beyond – TBD

EXHIBIT SERVICES

Feature a historical display at your next special occasion.
Large or small, LASA historical exhibits add visual excitement for every occasion.
Special exhibits focusing on selected legal topics frequently assembled to enhance an event. Exhibits are available for:
  • Retirements
  • Appointments
  • Law Centennials
  • Law firm histories
  • Famous Cases
  • Other Milestones

Exhibits have been created for the Law Society of Alberta’s 100th Anniversary, the Court of Appeal of Alberta’s centennial, Milner Fenerty, Bennett Jones LLP, and the Hon. Mr. J.V.H. (Val) Milvain. Contact the Legal Archives Society of Alberta to discuss adding historical context to your next special occasion.

CONSULTATION SERVICES

Records of enduring value.

The Legal Archives Society of Alberta (LASA) exists to document and preserve the history of the legal and judicial communities in Alberta by collecting historical primary source material. LASA is available as an appropriate place to preserve your personal papers and/or organization’s business papers for the benefit of future generations. The Society preserves original documents which provide authoritative sources for legal precedents and other historical research related to the legal profession. Records are selected for permanent retention based on their continuing historical and archival value. Generally, records are transferred to archival storage once their operational value has lapsed and the material is no longer required on a day-to-day basis. As you may appreciate, LASA’s collecting interests are quite wide and we appreciate the opportunity to review a listing of your material to determine the extent and scope of the holdings before records that appear to be irrelevant are culled and destroyed. The Legal Archives Society of Alberta encourages all legal organizations and individuals to keep a detailed file listing of their records. Not only does this ensure a smooth business operation, but it also makes good business sense to keep a written record documenting the final disposition of your files – whether they have been transferred to an archives, other long-term storage facility, or reached their end of lifecycle.

Records Containing Archival Value

  • Legal contracts – signed documents;
  • Meeting minutes including all records generated by the Executive Officers, Board of Directors and Committee or Commission records;
  • Annual Financial Statements/Audited Reports;
  • Photographs – Images that record personalities and important events in the history of the organization or during the individual’s career;
  • Professional correspondence including letters, memos, and reports;
  • Judge’s notebooks; Reasons for Judgement; and
  • Day-to-day operational records for legal organizations.

Records with No Enduring Value

  • General ledgers/daily journals;
  • Duplicates and irrelevant information bearing no relationship to the organization or the individuals connected to the organization;
  • Documentation regarding equipment and supplies;
  • Receipts, cancelled cheques, bills, invoices, bank statements and tax returns; and
  • Other short-term financial records including accounts receivable/payable, and payroll
OUR FACILITY

With over 1,000 metres of documents, photographs, audio-visual and sound recordings generated by the legal and judicial communities throughout the province, the Legal Archives contains an environmentally-controlled archival vault, a dedicated area for processing documents and performing conservation work, and a reference area for researchers.

Access to Holdings

Restrictions apply as stipulated by the donor, and where access compromises standards and rights of personal privacy and legal privilege.

CONTACT US NOW