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Legal Theory

The following types of resources are available in this area:

Resources - Area of law

Handout: Common Law and Civil Law

Different legal systems are used around the world. Two of the most common are Common Law and Civil Law. This handout outlines key differences between the two and develops their understanding of the strengths of each while increasing their knowledge of Canadian and international justice systems.

Handout: Legal Philosophy

This resource comprises reading and suggested classroom activities to introduce key ideas in legal philosophy. Teachers have the option of extending student learning through the application of these ideas to a famous English maritime trial involving murder and cannibalism at sea.

Handout: The Canadian Constitution

In the context of government, a constitution can be understood as the most basic and important legal expression of a nations values, rules and principles. It is not simply a “law”, but rather a set of rules for making laws, managing relationships between individuals and the state, and defining the various roles of different levels of government. Suitable for Grade 10 Civics classes, this handout provides classroom discussion questions and activities to support the development of students’ understanding of constitutional law in the Canadian context.

Handout: The Rule of Law

The rule of law is a fundamental concept upon which many of the legal and governmental systems of our communities are built. In order for complex societies to function, their members agree to follow a common set of rules, called ‘the law’. The rule of law means that no-one, no matter how powerful, is above the law. This handout provides readings and activities to explore the rule of law and its development and supporting mechanisms in the Canadian context.

Legal Foundations

OJEN is pleased to present a series of five related handouts designed to provide secondary students with an orientation to law as an academic discipline and a cornerstone of democratic society. Beginning with basic concepts like the rule of law and the nature of constitutionality, these become progressively more sophisticated, as students develop their understanding of different legal systems, institutions and processes.

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