Law 12

Law 12 Course Outline - Mr. McCaffery

Law 12 is broken into 4 units of study: Foundations of Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law and Family Law.

When we first hear the word law, we usually think of the police or of politicians (the mean-spirited term ‘bottom feeders’ are often referred to as well). These are very misleading perceptions and as members of this society (whether you want to drop out of society or not), we are all touched by law on a daily basis. By getting a sound grasp on how the law affects us, and how in turn, we can affect the law will determine how well we function in our society.

A quick view of the 4 units:

Unit 1 Foundations of the Law (Chapter 1 – 5)(September – November)

Chapter 1: we will look at the philosophy of law and the historical roots of law and how it influenced Canadian law.
Chapter 2: we will look at the sources and categories of law
Chapter 3: Canada’s Constitution (BNA Act and Constitution Act), division of powers and parliamentary structure.
Chapter 4: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Chapter 5: Human Rights Legislation

Unit 2 – Criminal Law (Chapter 6 – 12) (November – March)

Chapter 6: Defining Crime and Criminal Offences
Chapter 7: The Criminal Court System
Chapter 8: Arrest and Detention
Chapter 9: Criminal Offences
Chapter 10: Defences for the Accused
Chapter 11: Sentencing and the Correctional System
Chapter 12: Criminal Law and Young People

Unit 3 – Civil Law (Chapter 13 – 19)(March – April)

Chapter 13: Private Law Procedures
Chapter 14: Negligence and Unintentional Torts
Chapter 15: Intentional Torts
Chapter 18: Forming a Contract
Chapter 19: Consumer Remedies and Protections

Unit 4 – Family Law (Chapter 16 – 17)(May)

Chapter 16: Marriage – family law today
Chapter 17: Family Matters – estates, wills, custody, protection of children

Expectations

Students will be expected:

to be engaged in areas of law of particular interest to them (ie: buying a used car)
to be able to discuss the links between morality and law
to understand the necessity of law
to understand that we are all responsible for the laws we live by

Assessment

Homework Quizzes	10%
Tests	25%
Assignments	25%
Term Project	15%
Term Exams	25%
Total	100%

Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one.

When leaders act contrary to conscience, we must act contrary to leaders

Human history begins with man's act of disobedience which is at the very same time the beginning of his freedom and development of his reason.