Course

Introduction to the Canadian Legal System

Important Notice

This course is not active. Please contact Department Chair for more information.

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Office Administration
Course code
OADM 1431
Credits
1.50
Semester length
6 weeks X 5 hours = 30 hours
Max class size
24
Method(s) of instruction
Online
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This is a BCCampus online provincial course. This course provides the student with a general understanding and a working knowledge of the Canadian legal system in preparation for working as a legal administrative assistant in British Columbia.
Course content

1. Canadian judicial system

1.1 Federal court systems
1.2 Provincial court systems
1.3 role of judges

2. Canadian and provincial governments

2.1 review and contrast Canadian constitution and The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
2.2 review and contrast federal and provincial jurisdiction

3. Legal principles

3.1 common-law and statutory principles of torts
3.2 common-law and statutory principles of contracts
3.3 case analyses

4. Roles and Duties  to be Performed by a Legal Administrative Assistant

4.1 duties set out in the Law Society’s Professional Conduct Handbook
4.2 other requirements and restrictions

Learning activities

Communication between instructor and students will be conducted online using WebCT e-mail, discussion, chat utilities, guided practices, assignments, and case studies.  Students will work both independently and collaboratively to learn and apply procedures and tasks carried on in a legal office.  Both learning activities and evaluations will be structured to stress problem solving, accuracy, and working within time constraints.

Means of assessment
Assignments  20%
Quizzes (2)  20%
Midterm Exam    25%
Final Exam  25%
Participation  10%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes

The learner has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

 

  1. Identify the hierarchy and structure of the Canadian and BC Courts.
  2. Understand the importance of our constitution and of The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
  3. Identify the federal and provincial areas of legislative jurisdiction.
  4. Articulate and apply basic principles of law in the subject areas of torts and contracts.
  5. Recognize restrictions on non-lawyers and the various ethical duties imposed on members of the legal profession as defined in the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Legal Profession Act.
  6. Identify the role of judges, their ethical duties, and the importance of the independence of the judiciary.
  7. Read cases and identify the key principles.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

 

Dukelow, Daphne A. and Betsy Nuse.  Pocket Dictionary of Canadian Law, Latest Ed., Carswell, Barrie, Ontario

 

. WAV pedal & computer headphones are required for digital transcription activities.

Requisites

Prerequisites

English 11 with a grade of “C” or better or equivalent and 50 NWPM

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for OADM 1431
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Winter 2025