Nova Scotia · Grade 12
Law 12
- LAW12
Nova Scotia’s Grade 12 social studies course, from Unit I: Foundations of Justice and Law to Unit IV: Other Areas of Law.
- Units
- 4
- Lessons
- 9
- Skills
- 32
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, with its official code.
Unit 1 · 5 skills
Unit I: Foundations of Justice and Law
Foundations of Justice and Law
What Law Is and Where It Comes From
Applying research methods to legal issues
I can apply research methods to a legal issue - finding, evaluating, and citing relevant statutes and cases.
Official code: F1
What law is and why laws are needed
I can explain what law is and why laws are needed in a society.
Official code: F2
The historical roots of Canadian law
I can investigate the historical roots of Canadian law and identify the traditions that shaped it.
Official code: F3
Making Laws and the Charter
Law-making processes in Canada
I can explain the law-making processes in Canada, including how a bill becomes law and how powers are divided.
Official code: F4
The Charter's impact on justice
I can analyze the impact of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the administration of justice and law in Canada.
Official code: F5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- F1
- apply research methods to legal issues
- F2
- explain what law is and why laws are needed
- F3
- investigate the historical roots of Canadian law
- F4
- an understanding of the law-making processes in Canada
- F5
- analyze the impact of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the administration of justice and law in Canada
Key ideas
Primary legal sources are statutes (written laws) and case law (court decisions); secondary sources explain and comment on them.
A bill becomes a statute by passing readings in the House of Commons and Senate and receiving Royal Assent.
A case citation identifies the parties, year, and court (e.g. R. v. Marshall, 1999) so it can be found and verified.
The Constitution Act, 1867 divides law-making powers between the federal Parliament and the provincial legislatures.
Good legal research evaluates the authority and currency of a source - which court, and whether the law has since changed.
Watch out for
- Treating an opinion blog as authoritative law - primary sources (statutes, cases) govern.
- Thinking one level of government makes all laws - powers are divided constitutionally.
- Assuming a law found online is current - laws are amended and cases can be overturned.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 5 skills
Unit II: Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Offences and Bringing a Case to Trial
What constitutes a criminal offence
I can explain what constitutes a criminal offence in Canada, including the two elements a crime generally requires.
Official code: CR1
Bringing a criminal case to trial
I can describe the procedures and parties involved in bringing a criminal case to trial.
Official code: CR2
Trial, Sentencing, and Youth Justice
Criminal trial principles and processes
I can describe the principles and processes of a criminal trial in Canada.
Official code: CR3
Objectives and effectiveness of sentencing
I can evaluate the objectives and effectiveness of various sentencing options.
Official code: CR4
How criminal law affects young people
I can investigate and assess how criminal law affects young people under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Official code: CR5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- CR1
- an understanding of what constitutes a criminal offense in Canada
- CR2
- the procedures and parties involved in bringing a criminal case to trial
- CR3
- criminal trial principles and processes
- CR4
- the objectives and effectiveness of various sentencing options
- CR5
- investigate and assess how criminal law affects young people
Key ideas
Most crimes require both a guilty act (actus reus) and a guilty mind (mens rea) - the wrongful conduct and the intent.
The Crown must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; the accused is presumed innocent and need not testify.
Criminal offences are defined in federal statutes, chiefly the Criminal Code.
A judge decides the law (and, in a judge-alone trial, the facts); a jury, where used, decides the facts.
Offences are classed as summary conviction (less serious), indictable (more serious), or hybrid.
Watch out for
- Thinking a bad act alone is always a crime - most crimes also require a guilty mind.
- Thinking the accused must prove innocence - the burden is on the Crown.
- Assuming the accused must prove innocence - the Crown must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 4 skills
Unit III: Civil Law
Civil Law
Civil Law: Torts, Contracts, and Family
Civil law vs criminal law
I can differentiate between civil law and criminal law.
Official code: CI1
Tort law and young people
I can analyze how tort law works and how it applies to young people.
Official code: CI2
Contract law and young people
I can analyze how contract law works and its implications for young people.
Official code: CI3
Law and family matters
I can analyze how the law applies to family matters and whose interests it protects.
Official code: CI4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- CI1
- differentiate between civil law and criminal law
- CI2
- the role of law as it applies to torts and the relationship between tort law and young people
- CI3
- the role of law as it applies to contractual obligations as well as the implications of contractual obligations to young people
- CI4
- the relationship between law and family matters
Key ideas
In criminal law the state (Crown) prosecutes to punish an offence against society; in civil law one party (the plaintiff) sues another (the defendant) over a private wrong.
The standard of proof differs: 'beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal law, 'on the balance of probabilities' in civil law.
Criminal remedies are punishments (fines, imprisonment); civil remedies are usually damages (money) or orders to do or stop something.
The same act can lead to both a criminal charge and a civil lawsuit.
A tort is a civil wrong (like negligence) where one person's conduct causes harm to another, giving a right to sue for damages.
Watch out for
- Thinking every legal wrong is a crime - most disputes are civil.
- Assuming the standard of proof is the same in both - it is lower in civil law.
- Thinking torts are crimes - they are civil wrongs remedied by damages, not punishment.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 18 skills
Unit IV: Other Areas of Law
Other Areas of Law
Aboriginal Law
Aboriginal Rights and Treaty Rights
I can explain the legal impact of Aboriginal Rights and Treaty Rights in Canada, including section 35 and the Nova Scotia Marshall decision.
Official code: AB1
Legal effects of the Indian Act and Constitution Act
I can analyze the legal effects of the Indian Act (1876) and the Constitution Act (1982) on Aboriginal peoples.
Official code: AB2
Sentencing circles
I can examine the importance and role of sentencing circles within Aboriginal communities.
Official code: AB3
International and Immigration Law
How international law is made and applied
I can explain how international law is made and applied.
Official code: IN1
The effectiveness of international law
I can analyze the effectiveness of international law, weighing its strengths against its limits.
Official code: IN2
The Canadian immigration process
I can chart the immigration process as defined by current Canadian immigration law.
Official code: IM1
Comparing immigration acts
I can compare the current Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2001) with previous immigration acts.
Official code: IM2
Human Rights Law
Human rights legislation
I can explain provincial, federal, and international human rights legislation and how they fit together.
Official code: HR1
How safeguarded are human rights today
I can evaluate the extent to which human rights in Canada are safeguarded today.
Official code: HR2
Landmark human rights cases and events
I can examine the development of human rights law in Canada through landmark cases and events.
Official code: HR3
Environmental, Employment, Consumer, and Media Law
Environmental protection laws
I can explain the purposes and types of environmental protection laws in Canada.
Official code: EV.1
Effectiveness of environmental laws
I can evaluate how effective environmental laws are in sustaining natural resources.
Official code: EV.2
Statutes that govern employment
I can explain the statutes that govern terms of employment in Canada.
Official code: EM.1
Balancing employer and employee rights
I can evaluate how well Canadian law balances the rights of employers and employees.
Official code: EM.2
Consumer protection laws
I can explain the purposes and types of consumer protection laws in Canada.
Official code: CO.1
Effectiveness of consumer laws
I can evaluate the effectiveness of consumer protection laws in Canada.
Official code: CO.2
Contracts and internet commerce
I can examine the role of contracts in internet commerce.
Official code: MI.1
Canadian law and the internet
I can analyze the evolving relationship between Canadian law and the internet.
Official code: MI.2
The official wording · 18 outcomes
- AB1
- an understanding of the legal impact of Aboriginal Rights and Treaty Rights
- AB2
- the legal effects of the Indian Act (1876) and the Constitution Act (1982) on Aboriginal peoples
- AB3
- the importance and role of sentencing circles within Aboriginal communities
- IN1
- an understanding of how international law is made and applied
- IN2
- the effectiveness of international law
- IM1
- the immigration process as defined by current Canadian immigration law
- IM2
- the current Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2001) with previous immigration acts
- HR1
- an understanding of provincial, federal, and international human rights legislation
- HR2
- the extent to which human rights in Canada are safeguarded today
- HR3
- the development of human rights law in Canada by analyzing landmark cases and events
- EV.1
- the purposes and types of environment protection laws in Canada
- EV.2
- the effectiveness of environmental laws in sustaining natural resources
- EM.1
- the statutes that govern terms of employments
- EM.2
- the extent to which Canadian law balances the rights of employers and employees
- CO.1
- the purposes and types of consumer protection laws in Canada
- CO.2
- the effectiveness of consumer protection laws in Canada
- MI.1
- the role of contracts as they pertain to Internet commerce
- MI.2
- the evolving relationship between Canadian law and the Internet
Key ideas
Aboriginal rights arise from Indigenous peoples' prior occupation and use of the land; treaty rights arise from agreements with the Crown.
International law is made largely through treaties (agreements between states) and customary international law (consistent state practice accepted as law).
Provincial human rights acts (e.g. the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act) prohibit discrimination in areas like employment, housing, and services.
Environmental laws aim to protect air, water, land, and species and to make polluters accountable.
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights - giving them constitutional protection.
Watch out for
- Thinking Aboriginal and treaty rights are 'special privileges' - they are constitutionally protected legal rights that predate Canada.
- Thinking international law works like domestic law with police - enforcement depends largely on state consent.
- Thinking there is only one human rights law - protections operate at provincial, federal, and international levels.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
Which course?
Nova Scotia has 2 social studies courses for Grade 12. Here they are side by side.
- Global Geography 12GGS126 units · 28 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversUnit 1: The Global Geographer · Unit 2: The Planet Earth · Unit 3: Population · Unit 4: Resources and Commodities · Unit 5: Urbanization · Unit 6: Culture and Politics
- Law 12This courseLAW124 units · 32 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversUnit I: Foundations of Justice and Law · Unit II: Criminal Law · Unit III: Civil Law · Unit IV: Other Areas of Law
What a university, college or program asks for is theirs to say: check its admission page, and your school’s course guide.
The official curriculum
This page follows Nova Scotia’s own curriculum for Law 12.
Strands
| Strand | Outcomes | Taught in |
|---|---|---|
| IFoundations of Justice and Law | Outcomes 5 | Taught in Unit 1Unit I: Foundations of Justice and Law |
| IICriminal Law | Outcomes 5 | Taught in Unit 2Unit II: Criminal Law |
| IIICivil Law | Outcomes 4 | Taught in Unit 3Unit III: Civil Law |
| IVOther Areas of Law | Outcomes 18 | Taught in Unit 4Unit IV: Other Areas of Law |
Study it in MapleMind
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Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Law 12 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 28
- Fillable fields
- 1,441
- Price
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Questions about Law 12
What is Law 12?
Nova Scotia’s Grade 12 social studies course: 4 units and 32 skills, from Unit I: Foundations of Justice and Law to Unit IV: Other Areas of Law.
What units are in Law 12?
1. Unit I: Foundations of Justice and Law, 2. Unit II: Criminal Law, 3. Unit III: Civil Law and 4. Unit IV: Other Areas of Law.
Is there a provincial exam for Law 12?
No. Nova Scotia gives no provincial exam for Law 12.
Can MapleMind help with Law 12?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Law 12, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for Law 12
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