OJEN Classroom Resources

OJEN has over 200 resources available for use in classrooms, community agencies and justice education programs. All OJEN resources are available for free in English or French. Resources are for general educational use and are not legal advice. Anyone dealing with legal issues should consult a lawyer for confidential, specific legal advice. OJEN retains the copyright over all OJEN resources and materials cannot be modified without prior written permission. There are four ways to search for a resource:

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Family Law Mock Trial Role Preparation Package

This resource outlines the differences between civil, criminal and family trials and provides an overview of a family law case, including the family court system, the Family Law Rules, bringing an application, motions, pre-trial procedures and the trial. It includes a time chart, courtroom etiquette and preparation guidelines for students playing the roles of the […]

Date:: 2016

In Brief: Section 1 of the Charter & the Oakes Test

OJEN In Brief resources are designed to provide high school students with an introduction to basic legal concepts. Each resource includes a short lesson plan for the teacher; a 1-4 page plain language description of the legal topic; and activities that provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the topic. The Oakes […]

Date:: 2016

Values of the Justice System – Grade 10 Civics Curriculum Resource

The resource was developed in 2005 by a team of teachers, and is based on discussions with Ontario’s then Chief Justices who identified key values underlying our justice system. The material is intended to assist in stimulating discussion, debate, criticism, study and analysis of principles underlying our legal system, recognizing that the teacher is entitled to use […]

Date:: 2016

Justice and the Media

This OJEN resource has been developed to provide a foundation for students’ understanding of the relationship between the media and the justice system and to develop critical thinking skills to consider issues of accessibility to the courts and confidence in media reporting. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of the Attorney General, it includes four […]

Date:: 2016

In Brief: Restorative Justice in the Criminal Context

Restorative justice is based on the principle that criminal behaviour harms not only the victim(s) of crime, but also the community and the wrongdoer(s) as well. Restorative justice responds to crime by addressing the harm caused to victims, holding wrongdoers accountable for their actions, and restoring relationships with the community. From a restorative justice perspective, […]

Date:: 2016

Cases That Have Changed Society

Many cases are started by individuals or groups to respond to a particular event or to change a situation. The outcomes of these cases will often lead to changes in areas of the law which impact all Canadians. These short summaries are some of the decisions that have changed Canadian society in the last 25 […]

Date:: 2016

A Brief History of the Justice of the Peace Bench

The office of Justice of the Peace was transplanted from England to Canada in 1763 as a result of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which decreed that the law of England, both civil and criminal, was to be imposed upon all the territory of what subsequently became Canada. The Association of Justices of the Peace […]

Date:: 2016

In Brief: Mens Rea / Actus Reus

Date:: 2016

Top Five 2014

Each year at OJEN’s Toronto Summer Law Institute, a judge from the Court of Appeal for Ontario identifies five cases that are of significance in the educational setting. This summary, based on these comments and observations, is appropriate for discussion and debate in the classroom setting. These summaries of important legal cases were presented by […]

Date:: 2016

So You Want To Be a Judge?

You must first decide where you want to be a judicial officer, either in the Ontario Court of Justice (presiding over family and/or criminal matters) or in the Superior Court of Justice (all matters) or in the Federal Court and Tax Court presiding and residing in Ottawa.

Date:: 2016