The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lectures, audio-visual material, group work, library research, guest lectures, seminars and presentations.
- The Nature of Law
- Why we have laws, legal philosophy
- Introduction to the Legal System
- Main divisions of law, how to read and cite cases and statutes, the court structures
- Sources of Law
- Historical sources, legal sources, constitutional sources, the legislative process
- British Legal Tradition
- The Canadian acceptance of this tradition, the basis of our constitutional system, the rule of law, parliamentary sovereignty, common law and equity.
- The Constitution
- BNA Act, Statue of Westminster, The Canada Act, The Constitution Act of 1982, Quebec Legal System.
- Constitutional change, Meech Lake Accord, Charlottetown Accord, Quebec Referendum, First Nations Treaties
- Canadian Legal Institutions
- The courts, the role of judges and lawyers
- The Basic Elements of Legal Reasoning
- Precedent and Stare Decisis
- The process of distinguishing
- Statutory interpretation
- Introduction to Administrative Law
- Tribunals, principles of natural justice and fairness, federal and provincial rule making agencies
- The Nature of Tort Law
- Definition of torts, distinction between tort and crime, categories of torts, the principle of vicarious liability, remedies for tort actions.
- The Law of Contract
- Elements of a contract, remedies for breach of contract
- Law Reform
- alternative methods of dispute resolution, court reforms
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- Define the major philosophies of law.
- Identify how the legal system derives its authority and legitimacy.
- Describe the historical development of Canadian law.
- Discuss the Canadian Constitution, Canadian legal institutions and the role of judges and lawyers.
- Describe how law is made and changed.
- Describe administrative law, tort law, and contract law.
- Conduct legal research.
- Discuss the basic elements of legal reasoning.
Evaluation will be based on course objectives and carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will include some of the following:
- Quizzes
- Mixed format exams (e.g. multiple choice, essay)
- Term papers
- Research project
- Class participation
- Oral presentations
An example of an evaluation scheme would be:
| Legal Research Assignment | 10% |
| Midterm exam | 30% |
| Term Paper | 30% |
| Final exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:
Boyd, Neil. (2002). Canadian Law, An Introduction, (3rd ed.). Toronto: Nelson Thomson Learning.
Gall, G. (2004). The Canadian Legal System, (5th ed.). Toronto: Carswell.
Olivo, Laurence (2009) Introduction to Law in Canada (custom ed.). Concord. Captus Press.
Yates, Richard, Yates, Ruth & Bain, Penny. (1999). Introduction to Law in Canada, (2nd ed.). Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc.