After more than 35 years of service to the Island community, the Law Libraries located at the courthouse in Charlottetown and Summerside will be closing effective May 31, 2024. This decision was not taken lightly and resulted from a review conducted by the Law Society of PEI [Society] in the Fall of 2022 of library usage. The review found that usage of both the Law Library by the public and the Society’s members was extremely limited.

Following the review of offerings, the Society undertook an organizational redesign process completed in January 2024. Part of the process was to investigate the means by which the Law Society could continue to serve and protect the public’s interest in accessing legal information. As a result, the Law Society made the decision to move away from the concept of a Law Library as a means of providing the public with access to legal information to the creation of an Education Center that will be part of the premises occupied by the Society, 119 Kent Street, Suite 300, Charlottetown.

The Education Center will be the responsibility of the Director of Public Education and Professional Responsibility [Director]. The role of Director is new within the Society’s staff team and is a critical piece of the redesign process. The Director working with other Society staff and members will help the Society respond to the increasing pressures regarding access to justice and continuing professional development of members. This position has been advertised with the intention that the position be filled by September 1, 2024.

It is planned that the Education Center will host public sessions that include explaining the role of the Society, things to think about when hiring a lawyer, what to expect of a lawyer; and will partner with lawyers and other community organizations to provide legal information programs to the public. The Education Center will also house research resources including access to electronic subscriptions that will be available to the public.

Work is underway to have the Education Center operational in the Fall of 2024.

If you have a question regarding research resources, please feel free to contact the Law Society at 902-566-1666 or by email at lawsociety@lspei.pe.ca.