Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What is Law?
A body of rules and principles
Laws governs conduct and can be enforced
Laws bind individuals
Procedural Law
governs legal processes
criminal law
civil procedure
family law
criminal procedure
corporate law
evidence
criminal law
tort law
constitutional law
contract law
administrative law
property law
Criminal Offences
private (2 individuals)
goal is to compensate
proof: balance of
probabilities
6 jurors
doubt
12 jurors
precedent
participation
skills
the point methodology
3. Procedural History
dissent?)
Reasoning (why did the court reach its decision?)
Courtroom Characters
Criminal Case
Civil Action
Plaintiff
Defendant
Lawyers:
advocate for one party
inform Court about facts
AND law
Judge
Jury (sometimes)
Witnesses
The Queen
Accused person
Crown prosecutor:
represents public
Defence lawyer:
Judge
Jury (sometimes)
Witnesses
Sources of Law
1. Constitution (and Charter)
2. Legislation
federal
provincial
3. Case law
interpreting the Constitution
interpreting legislation
common law
Supreme Court of
Canada
Federal
Court of Appeal
Ontario Divisional
Court
Ontario Superior
Court of Justice
Government Agency
Decision
Ontario Court of
Justice
Federal Court
(Trial Division)
Weight of Law
1. Legislation
2. Supreme Court of Canada
Binding
Binding or Degree
of Persuasiveness
provinces
7. Foreign decisions
Persuasive Only
my Friend, gowns
(20%);
explore the boundaries of law through:
academic research (publications),
presentations;
lawyer, judicial, and community education;
pro bono work.