Checklist for Contributors

Please refer to this checklist each time you review your assigned pages, also available in an easier-to-read PDF format: File:Checklist for Contributors (Nov 2016).pdf

1. The purpose of reviewing pages is to ensure changes in law are reflected in content.
2. Clicklaw Wikibooks provide reliable, up-to-date, plain language information to help British Columbians address legal problems or learn about the law.
3. Some Wikibooks offer brief, punctual tips — other titles offer more comprehensive guidance.
4. What is your Wikibook's editorial objective? Consider the purpose, tone and audience of the title as a whole when making edits.

1. REVIEW FOR ACCURACY
For each page you review, please go through the following steps:

Read each Page — read and take notes on pages assigned to you ............................................................................................................................... □
Review the Law

• Read laws in context — start with existing citations in the article ............................................................................................................................. □
• Review statutory law — check statutory excerpts and compare to current legislation; check Proclamations (BC & Canada) for recent changes ........................................................ □
• Check caselaw — note up cases in CanLII; note up key sections of legislation to find new cases .................................................................................................. □
• Consult secondary resources — CLE articles, treatises, journals, etc. ........................................................................................................................... □

Verify Statements and Specifics

• Procedural steps — have rules or policies changed? .............................................................................................................................................. □
• Forms— has a form changed name or been replaced? ................................................................................................................................................ □
• Deadlines — readers rely on these being correct ................................................................................................................................................. □
• Monetary amounts, costs or limits — have these details changed? ................................................................................................................................. □

Resource Links

• Check existing links — make sure they work and ALSO make sure they still point to the intended content .......................................................................................... □
• Best external resources — have newer resources arrived and did old ones get stale? .............................................................................................................. □
• Best internal links — are concepts discussed that could be cross linked to more Wikibooks and pages? ............................................................................................ □

Once you've reviewed your pages for legal accuracy, you may decide:
1. Edit not needed → Just update the “last reviewed for legal accuracy” date ...................................................................................................................... □
2. Edit is needed → See step 2.

2. EDIT & DEVELOP CONTENT

Cure Existing Legal Inaccuracies

• Fix incorrect statements — top priority is to correct wrong information, or at least remove the incorrect information ........................................................................... □
• Update citations — add new legislation or caselaw (use CanLII's short URLs) ..................................................................................................................... □
• Fix broken links and resources .................................................................................................................................................................. □

Develop & Write — write new content when tweaking existing content won't do. Please consider:

• Gaps — what is the gap in information and is filling it crucial? ................................................................................................................................ □
• Plain language — keep writing simple (here are some tips) ....................................................................................................................................... □
• Brevity —edits should clarify meaning, not add length ........................................................................................................................................... □
• Organization — lists, subheadings and short paragraphs make reading easier and orient the reader ................................................................................................ □
• Legal references — would more citations benefit or just overwhelm the reader? ................................................................................................................... □

Simple & Consistent

• Clarify legal terms, include parenthetical definitions where needed ............................................................................................................................. □
• Be consistent in word choice (e.g. choose either “renter” or “tenant”) .......................................................................................................................... □
• Familiarize yourself with and apply Style Guide:
  • Correct word emphasis, acronyms, and case citation style ....................................................................................................................................... □
  • Apply bullets/numbered lists and punctuation ................................................................................................................................................... □
• Format neutral language — writing "See the chapter/page on…" is better than "Click here for information on…" since Wikibooks are also printed ................................................... □

3. OPTIONAL CHECKLIST

• Is there extraneous information that should be removed? ......................................................................................................................................... □
• Is the overall language clear and approachable? ................................................................................................................................................. □
• Are there other Wikibooks pages that would be improved by linking to your content? Speak to that other editor ................................................................................... □

In law, the re-examination of a term of an order or agreement, usually to determine whether the term remains fair and appropriate in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time of the review. In family law, particularly the review of an order or agreement provided for the payment of spousal support. See "de novo," "family law agreements," "order" and "spousal support."

In law, (1) a written argument, or (2) a memorandum of law. A brief is usually presented to a judge as a summary of an argument or the law on a particular issue. Curiously, briefs are rarely brief.

In law, a document demonstrating ownership of a thing. See "ownership."

An act; a statute; a written law made by a government. See "regulations."

In law, a calculation of the allowable legal expenses of a party to a court proceeding, as determined by the Supreme Court Family Rules. The party who is most successful in a court proceeding is usually awarded their "costs" of the proceeding. See "account," "bill of costs," "Certificate of Costs or Expenses" and "lawyer's fees."