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Understanding Canadian Law in Everyday Life, Workplace Prep (CLU3E)

A – The Inquiry Process and Skill Development in Legal Studies

A1 – The Inquiry Process in Legal Studies

– formulate different types of questions to guide investigations into legal issues in Canada
– select and organize relevant evidence and information from primary and secondary sources

– assess the credibility of sources relevant to their investigations
– interpret and analyse legal issues, using evidence and information relevant to their investigations and a variety of tools and strategies and taking into account relevant ethical and equity concerns
– use the concepts of legal thinking (i.e., legal significance, continuity and change, interrelationships, and legal perspective) when analysing, evaluating evidence about, and formulating conclusions and/or judgements regarding legal issues

– evaluate and synthesize their findings to formulate conclusions and/or make informed judgements or predictions about the legal issues they are investigating
– communicate their ideas, arguments, and conclusions using various formats and styles, as appropriate for the audience and purpose

– use accepted forms of documentation to acknowledge different types of sources

– use terminology appropriate to the audience and purpose when communicating the results of their investigations

A2 – Developing Transferable Skills

– describe ways in which investigations related to the law help them develop skills, including the essential skills in the Ontario Skills Passport that can be transferred to the world of work and to everyday life
– apply in everyday contexts skills and work habits developed through law-related inquiries
– use the concepts of legal thinking when analysing current events related to legal issues in order to enhance their understanding of these events and their role as informed citizens
– identify some careers in which a law background might be useful (e.g., police or peace officer, court reporter, corrections officer, game warden, lawyer, paralegal, politician, policy analyst, staff member at a non-governmental organization, journalist, adjudicator, mediator)

B – Legal Foundations

B1 – Legal Principles

– explain the legal significance of the term law and the role of law in Canadian society
– explain the relevance to daily life of different types of law
– explain the fundamental principles of justice and their importance in the Canadian legal system

– describe the structure of the Canadian court system, including the function of each court and explain the importance of the independence of the judiciary from other branches of government

– describe the legal importance of some key aspects of the Canadian constitution, with particular reference to responsible government, the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments, and the entrenchment of rights

B2 – Development of Law

– describe the influence on the development of Canadian law of early legal systems

– identify elements of the Canadian legal system that have remained constant over time
– describe ways in which changes in societal attitudes and values have influenced the development of Canadian law
– describe ways in which advances in science and technology have influenced the development of Canadian law or may influence it in future

C – Human Rights

C1 – Human Rights

– identify some of the rights and freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Human Rights Code and their corresponding responsibilities or obligations
– identify barriers to the equal enjoyment of human rights in Canada and the human rights issues raised by various historical and contemporary instances where the rights of different groups were violated
– explain the procedures for resolving complaints about human rights violations

– explain how human rights legislation can conflict with other legislation
– analyse situations in which a right or freedom may be limited in Canadian law

C2 – Development of Human Rights Law

– explain how the actions of various individuals and groups have contributed to the development of human rights law in Canada
– describe the legal significance of some important Canadian human rights cases as examples of how human rights law has been or is being interpreted and applied in Canada
– describe how some human rights codes and related legislation have been influenced or might be influenced in future by factors such as evolving social attitudes and values, changing technology, and changing demographics

D –  Civil Law

D1 – Introduction to Tort Law

– explain the legal definition of a tort and the difference between intentional torts (e.g., assault and battery, trespass, libel and slander) and unintentional torts
– explain the function and significance of various legal processes, different levels of courts, and alternative procedures involved in settling civil disputes, and describe remedies available for enforcing a judgement
– explain the legal reasoning behind some key decisions in tort law

D2 – Introduction to Family Law

– describe the legal definitions of a valid marriage and a common-law relationship in family law as established by federal and provincial law, and explain the legal implications for partners in each type of relationship
– describe the legal procedures and/or documents used in resolving disputes upon the dissolution of a marriage or the death or incapacity of a family member
– analyse how changing societal values and legal decisions have promoted or prevented changes in family law in Canada

D3 – Introduction to Employment Law

– demonstrate an understanding of the protections given to workers by provincial and federal employment legislation
– describe some issues related to the protection of employees’ rights and legal ways to resolve disputes regarding employment conditions
– explain the legal status and legal responsibilities of unions in the workplace and in labour contract negotiations, as defined in employment law

D4 – Introduction to Contract Law

– identify the key elements of a legal contract and explain their significance
– identify various types of contracts in contemporary society and explain their legal and/or economic importance
– describe from a legal perspective the conditions that must be met in some different types of contracts, the conditions under which these contracts can be legally terminated, and the types of penalties that may be imposed in cases of breach of contract

E – Criminal Law

E1 – Foundations of Criminal Law

– explain the legal meaning of some terms used to describe the elements of a crime and different types of crime
– describe various serious offences defined under the Criminal Code of Canada, other federal statutes, and provincial laws
– describe the objectives and some key provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act and assess the appropriateness of the legislation as a response to youth crime

E2 – Legal Processes and Procedures

– describe the requirements involved in bringing an accused person to trial and explain why these may differ in some cases
– describe the roles of the key participants in a criminal trial in relation to the steps in the criminal trial process
-explain the relationship between the purpose of the sentence and various sentencing options
– describe the legal reasons for granting an appeal in criminal cases and the available avenues for an appeal
– describe various sentencing options for young people who contravene the law and the key factors that influence which option is chosen

– analyse how media coverage and portrayals of crime and of legal processes and procedures influence public perceptions of, assumptions about, and responses to crime/criminals and/or the criminal justice system

E3 – Development of Criminal Law

– identify defences that, over time, have become legally accepted in the Canadian criminal justice system
– analyse key cases in which legal rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms have been invoked to influence the application of the criminal law in Canada