First Year Academic Program

Posted: July 2025

First Year Courses JD Academic Programs

2025-2026

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (SECTIONS):

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (LAW106H1F) Yasmin Dawood

First term: 5 credits

This course provides an introduction to the law of the Canadian constitution. It examines the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federalism, Aboriginal law, the structure of the Canadian constitution, interpretive principles, and the role of judicial review.

Evaluation: Will be by a limited open book, final 3-hour examination during the scheduled examination period in December (worth 90%), and a 10% participation score.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (LAW106H1S) (0101) David Schneiderman

Second term: 5 credits

This course provides an introduction to the law of the Canadian constitution. The course examines the law of federalism, Aboriginal and treaty rights, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We consider such things as the origins and structure of the Canadian constitution, the role of judicial review, general principles of interpretation with regard to the distribution of legislative authority, key principles arising under Aboriginal and treaty rights, and a selection of rights and freedoms under the Charter.

Evaluation: Will be by a qualified open book, final 3-hour examination during the scheduled examination period in April.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (LAW106H1S) (0102) Jean-Christophe Bédard-Rubin

Second term: 5 credits

This course provides an introduction to the law of the Canadian constitution. It examines the main institutions of Canadian government and the legal foundations of public power. Canadian Federalism and selected federal and provincial powers. Aboriginal law and indigenous rights, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The course considers the structure of the Canadian constitution, the role of judicial review, and general principles of interpretation with regard to the distribution of legislative authority, constitutional rights and freedoms, and Aboriginal rights.

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated by a 3-hour open book final examination (90%) and class participation (10%).

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (SMALL GROUPS):

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW A (LAW136Y1Y) Anna Su

Both Terms: 6 credits

This course provides an introduction to the law of the Canadian constitution. It examines the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federalism, and Aboriginal rights. The course considers the structure of the Canadian constitution, the role of judicial review, and general principles of interpretation with regard to the distribution of legislative authority, constitutional rights and freedoms, and Aboriginal rights. Selected federal and provincial powers, Aboriginal rights, and rights guaranteed by the Charter will be examined.

Evaluation: Written assignments (85%) and class participation 15% (10% participation in class and electronic discussion board and 5% attendance). Note that one of the written assignments will have both a written and oral component.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW B (LAW137Y1Y) Ian Lee

Both Terms: 6 credits

This course provides an introduction to the law of the Canadian Constitution. It examines the federal structure of government, the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian State, and the constitutional protection of individual rights and freedoms. Substantive content includes the Constitution’s history and text; methods of constitutional interpretation, analysis and argument; and an examination of selected federal and provincial powers, Aboriginal rights and rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Evaluation: Written assignments (100%).

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW C (LAW138Y1Y) Ian Lee

Both Terms: 6 credits

Evaluation: Written assignments (100%).

CONTRACT LAW (SECTIONS):

CONTRACT LAW (LAW101H1F) Sabine Tsuruda

First term: 5 credits

Contract law enforces agreement, but not all agreements are contracts. What kinds of agreements does contract law enforce? What must individuals do to form and perform a contract? What are the legal consequences of breaching a contractual obligation? This course introduces students to the main legal rules and principles that bear on answering these questions about the scope and operation of contract law.

Evaluation: Final open-book 3-hour exam (70%); Contract negotiation (20%: based on Negotiated terms (5%) graded on a credit/no credit basis, and a Group memorandum (15%) of 2000 words maximum; letter graded); and Participation (10%).

CONTRACT LAW (LAW101H1S) (0101) Catherine Valcke

Second term: 5 credits

This course examines the enforcement of promises and agreements. The matters considered include the requirements of enforceability, remedies for breach, the effect of contracts on third parties, the effect of writing, and excuses for non-performance. These excuses include unfairness, unexpected circumstances, and public policy.

Evaluation: Will be evaluated by a 3 hour closed-book final examination in April worth 90% of your grade and 10% participation.

CONTRACT LAW (LAW101H1S) (0102) Sabine Tsuruda

First term: 5 credits

CONTRACT LAW (SMALL GROUPS):

CONTRACT LAW A (LAW120Y1Y) Peter Benson

Both Terms: 6 credits

This course examines the main principles and doctrines of basic contract law. These include remedies for breach of contract, the requirements of contract formation, the theory of interpretation, implied terms, conditions, and excusing doctrines, principles of contractual fairness and good faith, the relation between contract law and tort law, and more. Via a careful and unrushed study of the cases, we shall try to develop a solid understanding of these different doctrines, debate competing interpretations of them, consider how they might be interconnected, and explore different approaches to assessing their possible justifications and limitations.

Evaluation: The evaluation process will consist of three written assignments, done at appropriate intervals during the year, that will count respectively 10%, 40%, and 50%. The first assignment will be ungraded. The second and third assignments will be graded. I will announce and discuss well in advance the timing and nature of each assignment. The aim will be to help students learn to write on and research substantive legal topics and to go into more depth about interesting and fundamental issues in contract law.

CRIMINAL LAW (SECTIONS):

CRIMINAL LAW (LAW102H1F) Malcolm Thorburn

First term: 5 credits

This course examines the basic concepts of criminal law with particular emphasis on the elements of culpability and the conditions of excuse and justification. It seeks to understand the general part of the criminal law from the point of view of various perspectives on the aims and justification of punishment. Right-based and utilitarian theories of punishment are discussed and their implications for doctrine examined. The intersection of criminal law and the Charter forms another central theme of the course as does the distinction between criminal and public welfare offences. The aim is to understand the penal law as an integrated whole composed of several diverse but interconnected parts.

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated by a 3-hour open-book final examination (100%).

CRIMINAL LAW (LAW102H1S) Hamish Stewart

Second term: 5 credits

This course examines the basic concepts of the criminal law through sustained attention to several core criminal offenses, notably the varieties of homicide and sexual assault. Along the way, we will also spend significant time considering inchoate crimes, accessorial liability, and defenses of excuse and justification. Themes of the course include the impact of the Charter on the substantive criminal law and the scope of criminalization in a liberal society.

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated by a 3-hour open-book final examination (100%).

CRIMINAL LAW (SMALL GROUPS):

CRIMINAL LAW A (LAW124Y1Y) Alan Brudner

Both Terms: 6 credits

This course examines the central concepts of criminal law—the presumption of innocence, culpable act, culpable mind, outcome responsibility, justification, and excuse--as shaped by the interaction between statute, common law, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Evaluation: Written assignments (90%). Participation (10%).

CRIMINAL LAW B (LAW125Y1Y) Markus Dubber

This course examines the basic concepts of criminal law.

Evaluation: Written assignments (90%) and class participation (10%).

CRIMINAL LAW C (LAW126Y1Y) Kent Roach

This course is an examination of the basic concepts of criminal law in the broad context of the entire criminal justice system, including certain procedural and pre-trial aspects, the Charter and the problem of the disposition of convicted offenders. The general principles of criminal liability are analyzed and applied to both Criminal Code and provincial offences. This is followed by an examination of general and specific defences that an accused may raise in criminal cases.

Evaluation: Three written assignments worth 80% (20%, 30% and 30%); an in-class mini-moot (10%); class participation (10%).

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE LAW (SECTIONS):

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE LAW (LAW108H1F) (0101) (0102) John Borrows

First Term: 4 credits

This course aims to address the range of considerations arising out of past and present interactions between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian legal system. Topics to be covered may include the following: the history of Crown-Indigenous relations, Indigenous legal orders, the nature of Indigenous sovereignty, Aboriginal Rights and law, Treaties, UNDRIP, the history and legacy of residential schools, and other contemporary topics. 

Evaluation: Three hour, open book final examination during the scheduled examination period in December.

LEGAL METHODS (AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 29, 2025)

LEGAL METHODS AA (LAW111H1F) (0101) Yasmin Dawood

First Term: 2 credits

The course will provide general background information on the foundations of the Canadian legal system, such as the important legal institutions, the distinction between private and public law, the sources of law, and the relationship between core first year courses.

The course will emphasize legal analytical methods and techniques used by law students. The course provides an introduction to analyzing and briefing cases, teaching students to identify key elements of a case and how to use precedents. The course also introduces students to statutory interpretation, the interaction between courts and the legislature, and an introduction on to how to prepare for and write law school exams.

Evaluation: This class is evaluated on a credit/no credit basis. To receive credit for the course, a student must attend all classes and satisfactorily complete two assignments: (1) a take-home briefing exercise; and (2) an in-class legal writing exercise.

LEGAL METHODS BB (LAW111H1F) (0102) Martha Shaffer

First Term: 2 credits

LEGAL METHODS CC (LAW111H1F) (0103) Anna Su

First Term: 2 credits

One of the central goals of our JD program is to train students to “think like lawyers.” The Legal Methods intensive course is designed to introduce students to the foundational information and reasoning needed to make the most of the JD program from the outset.

The course will provide general background information on the foundations of the Canadian legal system, such as the important legal institutions, the distinction between private and public law, the sources of law, and the relationship between core first year courses.

The course will emphasize legal analytical methods and techniques used by law students. The course provides an introduction to analyzing and briefing cases, teaching students to identify key elements of a case and how to use precedents. The course also introduces students to statutory interpretation, the interaction between courts and the legislature, and an introduction on to how to prepare for and write law school exams.

LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING (WINTER TERM)

LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING (LAW149H1S) (0101) Lauren Binhammer

Second Term: 2 credits

Legal research and writing introduces students to the way lawyers read, write, analyze and frame legal arguments. Students learn research and writing skills by engaging in numerous in-class exercises and preparing as assignments various legal documents including a legal memorandum and a factum. To maximize the pedagogical benefit to students, active engagement and participation in class is encouraged.