Law, Grade 12

Unit 1: Foundations of Law

Module 1: the foundations of law — its definition, history, and purpose; the classifications of law; law versus social mores; First Nations, Métis, and Inuit legal practices and the treaty relationship; how and why laws change; the origins of Canada's legal system; the jurisdiction and hierarchy of courts; the roles in the judiciary; and key legal concepts and terminology.

• Defining law and its history
• Classifications of law
• Law, mores, and inherent rights
• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit legal practices

• How and why laws change
• Origins of Canada's legal system
• Jurisdiction and the court hierarchy
• Roles in the judiciary
• Key legal concepts and terminology

Unit 2: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Module 2: the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — the history and evolution of rights leading to the Charter, its sections and enforcement, the debate over limits, the Charter and Aboriginal rights, democratic and mobility rights, legal and procedural rights, equality and equity, minority language rights, and the Charter as a living document.

• History and evolution of rights
• Charter sections and their impact
• Limits, the notwithstanding clause, and the Supreme Court
• The Charter and Aboriginal rights

• Democratic and mobility rights
• Legal and procedural rights
• Equality and equity under Section 15
• Minority language rights
• The Charter as a living document

Unit 3: Criminal Law

Module 3: criminal law — its purpose and the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the elements of an offence, offences against people and property, parties to an offence, investigation and arrest, defences, the criminal court system, the steps of a trial, sentencing, youth sentencing, restorative justice, and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people.

• Purpose and characteristics of criminal law
• The Youth Criminal Justice Act
• Retribution versus rehabilitation
• Elements of a criminal offence

• Offences against people
• Offences against property and other crimes
• Parties to an offence

• Investigation and arrest
• Defences for the accused
• The criminal court system
• Steps of a criminal trial

• Goals and types of sentencing
• Youth sentencing
• Restorative justice
• Indigenous overrepresentation in the justice system

Unit 4: Civil Law

Module 4: civil law — how it differs from criminal law, the elements of civil procedure, compensation and dispute resolution, Indigenous rights on reserves and land, torts, and contracts.

• Civil versus criminal law
• Elements of civil procedure
• Compensation and dispute resolution
• Indigenous rights, land, and civil actions
• Torts
• Contracts

Unit 5: Family Law

Module 5: family law — the legal definition of family, marriage and common-law relationships, separation and divorce, the rights of parents and children, custody, Indigenous families and past policies such as the Sixties Scoop, and current issues in family law.

• The legal definition of family
• Marriage and common-law relationships
• Separation and divorce

• Rights of parents and children
• Custody and child support
• Indigenous families and past policies
• Current issues in family law

Unit 6: International Law

Module 6, Theme 6A: international law — its nature and principles, relevant issues, concepts such as diplomatic immunity and extradition, international judicial bodies, implementing international law domestically, violations of international law, and UNDRIP's impact on Canadian law.

• Nature and principles of international law
• Issues in international law
• Diplomatic immunity and extradition

• International judicial bodies
• Implementing international law
• Violations of international law
• UNDRIP and Canadian law

Unit 7: Human Rights Law

Module 6, Theme 6B: human rights law — the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comparing the Charter with the UDHR, exercising rights and the role of human rights bodies, the limits and responsibilities of rights, conflicts of rights, unrespected rights including Indigenous and minority rights, the impact of the Indian Act and unfulfilled treaties, key human-rights figures, and collective action.

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Comparing the Charter and the UDHR
• Exercising rights and human-rights bodies
• Limits and responsibilities of rights

• When rights conflict
• Rights that have not been respected
• The Indian Act and treaty obligations
• Key people and organizations
• Collective action and legal change

Unit 8: Youth and the Law

Module 6, Theme 6C: youth and the law — children's rights and the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the effectiveness of children's-rights laws, educational inequities on First Nations reserves, why youth are treated differently, the evolution of youth law, elements of the YCJA, criminal law affecting minors, resources for young victims, and comparing adult and youth treatment.

• Children's rights and YCJA principles
• Effectiveness of children's-rights laws
• Educational inequities on reserves
• Why youth are treated differently

• Evolution of youth law
• Elements of the YCJA and the debate
• Criminal law affecting minors beyond the YCJA
• Resources for young victims
• Comparing adult and minor treatment

Unit 9: Labour Law

Module 6, Theme 6D: labour law — why it is needed, federal and provincial roles, worker protections, workers' rights and collective bargaining, legal recourses, the effects of globalization and technology, employment equity, and migrant workers.

• Why labour law is required
• Federal and provincial roles
• Worker protections and legislation

• Workers' rights and collective bargaining
• Legal recourses for workers
• Globalization and the future of work
• Employment equity
• Migrant workers

Unit 10: Environmental Law

Module 6, Theme 6E: environmental law — the need for it, the division of powers over the environment, the impact of international agreements, the roles of individuals and NGOs, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit environmental leadership, and cases related to environmental law.

• The need for environmental law
• Division of environmental powers
• International environmental agreements
• Individuals and NGOs in environmental protection
• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit environmental leadership
• Environmental law cases