Law

Foundations of Canadian Law

Module code: M3040
Level 4
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Portfolio, Multiple choice questions

Foundations of the Canadian legal system is an introductory course that will expose students to the structure of Canadian government and the different functions of Parliament, the executive, and the judiciary. Students will be introduced to the powers of judicial review and the different constitutional constraints on the exercise of judicial, legal and political power in Canada. In addition to this, students will learn how to interpret statutes using the modern and dynamic approach to statutory interpretation and will analyse complex social and legal issues using different theoretical lenses including critical legal theory, law & economics and critical race theory. The content for this module has been modelled on the National Committee of Accreditation (NCA) syllabus for Foundations of Canadian Law and is intended to support students who will be going on to write the NCA exam in Foundations upon return to Canada.

Module learning outcomes

• Understand the organisation of political and legal power in Canada, including the functions of Parliament, the legislature, the executive and the judicial branches.
• Differentiate and analyse social and legal issues through the application of different theories of law.
• Comprehend and communicate the different sources of Canadian law (including Aboriginal sources).
• Communicate and apply the modern approach to statutory interpretation.