Law 12

Unit 1: Unit I: Foundations of Justice and Law

The foundations of the Canadian legal system: how to research legal issues, what law is and why it is needed, the historical roots of Canadian law, how laws are made, and the impact of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the administration of justice.

• Applying research methods to legal issues
• What law is and why laws are needed
• The historical roots of Canadian law

• Law-making processes in Canada
• The Charter's impact on justice

Unit 2: Unit II: Criminal Law

Criminal law in Canada: what makes conduct a criminal offence, the procedures and parties in bringing a case to trial, criminal trial principles and processes, the objectives and effectiveness of sentencing, and how criminal law affects young people under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

• What constitutes a criminal offence
• Bringing a criminal case to trial

• Criminal trial principles and processes
• Objectives and effectiveness of sentencing
• How criminal law affects young people

Unit 3: Unit III: Civil Law

Civil law in Canada: how civil law differs from criminal law, and how the law applies to torts, contracts, and family matters - with particular attention to how each area affects young people.

• Civil law vs criminal law
• Tort law and young people
• Contract law and young people
• Law and family matters

Unit 4: Unit IV: Other Areas of Law

Specialized areas of law: Aboriginal law (Aboriginal and treaty rights, the Indian Act, sentencing circles), international law, immigration law, human rights law, environmental law, employment law, consumer law, and media and internet law. All outcomes are built; teachers and students select coverage in class (the source's selection note is a delivery choice, not a content exclusion).

• Aboriginal Rights and Treaty Rights
• Legal effects of the Indian Act and Constitution Act
• Sentencing circles

• How international law is made and applied
• The effectiveness of international law
• The Canadian immigration process
• Comparing immigration acts

• Human rights legislation
• How safeguarded are human rights today
• Landmark human rights cases and events

• Environmental protection laws
• Effectiveness of environmental laws
• Statutes that govern employment
• Balancing employer and employee rights
• Consumer protection laws
• Effectiveness of consumer laws
• Contracts and internet commerce
• Canadian law and the internet