LS101: Introduction to Legal Studies
Law is interesting for so many different reasons, but in Canada (and other advanced legal bureaucratic countries) the “living law doctrine” makes the study of law especially compelling. We won’t spend a lot of time learning about this, but it’s an interesting contrast to, for example, some of our American neighbours (particularly those of the “Federalist Society”) who treat law in an “originalist” context. In a living law doctrine, courts are encouraged to interpret legislation through a lens of contemporary social conditions. This means that judges are effectively empowered to think about how to actively (re)interpret laws in light of social, economic, technological, and other changes in the society. I’m always impressed with how interesting and thoughtful some of those discussions can be. Paraphrasing the sociologist Emile Durkheim, law is the formalization and ultimate expression of a society’s culture and values. But seeing how law is used never ceases to amaze me.
The course has recently been completely updated and asks some interesting new questions about what we might be thinking of when we talk about law. We start with a discussion of Canada’s ultimate law, the constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is one of my favourite topics, as the Charter is probably the most important document for any of us living in or passing through Canada, and yet one that is so infrequently understood.
Following that quick module, we move onto discussions of what law is through different theories of law. This is an opportunity for us to get a little more attuned to what social scientists are doing in the study of law. The first thing we likely need to accomplish is to think about what laws do, for whom, and under the authority of whom (note we’ll solidify that discussion in the final module)? In week 3 you have the first of four quizzes in the course, and at the end of this module (Week 4) your first assessed written work is due (Friday June 9th).
In week 5 and 6, we learn a little bit more about how different legal approaches deal with the issue of human nature - what do we tend to believe is right and wrong? How do we regulate our more destructive impulses? You’ll have another assignment due at the end of this module (June 23rd).
In each of weeks 7, 8, and 9 you’ll have another quiz to write, but no written assignments. A nice little break, perhaps, leading into the take home final exam? There is a reflection assignment due in week 11, and also be sure to complete the confidentiality agreement in week 12 before doing the final exam.
- Assignment 1 - Theories of Law
- Reflection 1
- Quiz 1 done
- Quiz 2 done
- Quiz 3
- 3b. Feminist Legal Theory and Intersectionality – Part 1
- 3c. Feminist Legal Theory and Intersectionality – Part 2
- Quiz 4
- 3d. Colonialism and Sovereignties of Law – Part 1
- 3e. Colonialism and Sovereignties of Law – Part 2
- 3f. Colonialism and Sovereignties of Law – Part 3
- Reflection 2
- 4a. Spaces of Law
- 4b. Spatial Justice
- 4c. Law’s Environment
Topic
- Natural Law Theory
- Classical Legal Positivism
- Legal Realism
- Justice, Fairness, Equality
- Power, Violence and Social Norms
- Karl Marx
- Feminist Legal Theory and Intersectionality
- Colonialism and Sovereignties of Law Module 4: Where is Law?
- Spaces of Law
- Spatial Justice
- Law’s Environment
- The Study of Law
Read Week 5-6 for Reflection1!!
|Week 5|Module 2: Why Law?|2a. Justice, Fairness, Equality|| |Week 6|2b. Power, Violence, and Social Norms|Reflection 1|