Juris Doctor Program

Students must take three of the following Electives in the fall and two in the winter semester:

JUR 202 Family Law
JUR 205 Advocacy and Alternative Dispute Resolution
JUR 206 Wills and Estates
JUR 207 Legal Innovation
JUR 208 Intellectual Property Law
JUR 210 Privacy Law 
JUR 211 Class Actions
JUR 212 Charter of Rights and Freedoms
JUR 213 Human Rights and Law in Canada
JUR 214 International Human Rights Law
JUR 215 Public Interest Litigation
JUR 216 Critical Race Theory
JUR 217 Global Health Law and Policy
JUR 218 Gender, Sexuality, and the Law
JUR 219 International Criminal Law
JUR 220 Legal Issues in Indigenous Economic Dev.
JUR 221 Insurance Law
JUR 222 International Trade Law
JUR 223 Indigenous Legal Theory
JUR 224 Law and Health Care in Canada
JUR 225 Municipal Law
JUR 226 Refugee Law
JUR 227 Secured Transactions
JUR 228 Sports and Entertainment Law
JUR 229 Climate Change and the Law
JUR 230 Securities Regulation
JUR 231 Negotiation Theory and Practice
JUR 232 Disability Law
JUR 235 Special Topics
JUR 302 Real Estate Law
JUR 303 Labour and Employment Law
JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills
JUR 306 Environmental Law
JUR 307 Children and the Law
JUR 308 Immigration Law
JUR 309 Criminal Procedure
JUR 310 Tax Law and Practice
JUR 311 Evidence
JUR 312 Law and Injustice
JUR 313 Advanced Legal Solutions
JUR 314 Private International Law
JUR 315 Public International Law
JUR 316 Big Tech, Social Justice and Public Interest
JUR 317 Advanced Privacy and Technology
JUR 318 Law Journal
JUR 320 Advanced Legal Research and Writing
JUR331 The Law of Armed Conflicts
JUR 332 Indigenous Dispute Resolution
JUR 334 Indigenous Peoples and Criminal Law Practice
JUR 340 Advanced Criminal Law
JUR 342 International Environmental Law
JUR 345 Directed Studies
JUR 350 Competition Law
JUR 360 Corporate Governance

Use of one semester (either fifth or sixth) for a valuable professional placement. Coursework in the other semester that allows for focus on key interest areas.

Fifth and sixth semesters

Total weekly contact hours: 18

Professional placement semester total term hours: 18

All required for 1L students.

JUR 100 Legal Research and Writing

Course Description: This course introduces students to the sources of law, fundamental principles and basic architecture of the Canadian legal system, legal research methods, relevant social science research methods and the impact of theoretical principles on substantive principles of Canadian law. The course provides a comparative look at legal research resources from the perspective of their potential strengths and weaknesses for practitioners.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 101 Contract Law

Course Description: Contract law provides a creative opportunity to clarify expectations and interests in a legally enforceable way. Working with real contracts from diverse sources, students are trained in contract fundamentals (formation, performance, breach, and remedies) and are introduced to the use of contracts in a variety of legal areas. Students apply these principles both in reviewing and drafting contract clauses and to critically assess emerging topics such as electronic, “smart” and self-executing contracts.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4

JUR 102 Tort Law

Course Description: Tort law deals with the apportionment of responsibility for harms caused by individuals, companies and government. This course examines intentional and unintentional wrongs, and the central role that recovery and damages play in redress. Students learn to recognize wrongs and how to anticipate, avoid or address legal risk. They apply these principles in reviewing and drafting pleadings, and explore how principles of responsibility are challenged by non-human actors (e.g. AI, autonomous vehicles).

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4

JUR 103 Property Law

Course Description: Property law deals with ownership, possession, and control of tangible and intangible interests that offer value to individuals, companies and the state. Students analyze competing claims to various types of assets, and are introduced to the economic, moral and other arguments used to support those claims. They are given the opportunity to apply these principles in cases involving the infringement of property rights and explore comparative views of concepts of property in Indigenous law.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4

JUR 104 Ethics and Professionalism

Course Description: Legal ethics and professionalism explores the tensions that arise domestically and internationally from balancing professional role-based obligations, organizational expectations and the public interest. Students consider behaviour and responsibilities generated by rules of professional conduct and situate legal professionals in a broader societal context. They learn to recognize and address ethical dilemmas they encounter in various practice settings, including novel challenges arising in technologically-mediated environments.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 105 Foundations of Legal Theory

Course Description: This course introduces students to foundational and influential theories of law (e.g. positivism, natural law, legal realism, law and economics, and critical perspectives: feminist theory, critical race theory and critical legal studies) as well as to effective communication and application of research results through a variety of written and oral communication and dispute resolution tools.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 106 Criminal Law

Course Description: Criminal law attempts to balance societal protection and the rights of the accused in both national and international settings. This course deals with the principles and processes of criminal defence and prosecution. Students learn and/or experience bail hearing, preliminary inquiries, judicial conferences, disclosure and jury selection. There is a focus on issues related to equity, diversity and inclusion in the criminal justice system,  particularly the intersection of criminal law with Indigenous culture.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4

JUR 107 Constitutional Law

Course Description: Constitutional law is the supreme law of the nation state and the authority with which other laws and government actors must comply. Students learn about the powers and responsibilities of different levels and types of government as well as protecting and guaranteeing the rights of legal persons. Students have opportunities to work with ministerial briefs, governmental memoranda, factums and pleadings for landmark constitutional litigation cases, including Indigenous land claims, historical wrongs and competing rights.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4

JUR 108 Administrative and Regulatory Law

Course Description: Issues in administrative law and regulatory law are commonly encountered, due to their influence on everyday interactions between individuals and government entities. Regulatory law covers delegated rule-making, policy development and adjudication. Students learn about regulatory practice and principles of judicial review, as well as how to provide advice to individuals and corporations on complex rules, regulations, procedures, permitting, applications and enforcement. The role of the compliance function and rise of “RegTech” are also explored.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4

JUR 109 Indigenous and Aboriginal Law

Course Description: This course highlights the impact of Canadian laws on Indigenous peoples, including their complex relationship with Canada’s constitution. Traditional Indigenous legal systems and customs, and how these are practised in a modern context, are studied, along with the legal struggles of First Nations, Inuit and Metis within federal, provincial and territorial contexts. Students examine relevant legislation, regulations and case law and gain experience with by-law making, impact benefit agreements, revenue sharing agreements, and ownership structures.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 4
  

JUR200, JUR201, JUR203, JUR204 and JUR209 are required for all 2L students.

JUR 200 The Business of Lawyering

Course Description: Exposure to the realities of professional practice is a foundational requirement of legal education. This module concentrates on preparing students for multiple professional contexts and developing associated skills, such as collaboration, networking, billing, accounting methods, client relationships and file management, as well as furthering their understanding of the application of ethical standards to the changing practice of law.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 201 Business Law and Practice

Course Description: Using a transactional approach to business structures, students work  with a simulated client file from idea through execution to potential problem areas. The module focuses on documents, processes and issues related to financing, liability, governance and operations, both in bricks-and-mortar and e-commerce businesses. Students draft and review  documents (e.g. articles of incorporation, bylaws, shareholder/partnership agreements, confidentiality clauses and purchase and sale agreements). Challenges of applying traditional legal concepts to digital businesses are also explored.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 202 Family Law

Course Description: This module deals with major issues in family law including divorce and separation, child custody and access, division of property, continuing support, and the intergenerational ramifications of family law. It addresses techniques for conducting intake interviews, issue spotting and developing a theory of the case. Various processes for disputes, such as negotiation, use of collaborative law, mediation, arbitration and litigation are addressed, including the impact of these processes on all parties to the case.  

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 203 Civil Procedures and Practice

Course Description: This module provides hands-on practice-based exposure to the Rules of Civil Procedure through interactive exercises, which include drafting and preparing pleadings and motion materials. These activities are designed to ensure students properly understand the difference between pleadings and evidence, and how to properly construct a claim with consideration efficiency and effectiveness. The module also includes practical applications of eDiscovery using the Sedona principles and the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) framework.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 204 Critical Approaches to Data, Algorithm, and Science in the Law

Course Description: Societal change is demanding innovation in the delivery of legal services, interaction with clients and the development of new technological tools. In this module the emphasis is on recognizing who the client is, identifying problems and generating multi-faceted solutions. Students gain reinforcement in basic concepts in file management, communication and interviewing, problem recognition, data analytics, and knowledge generation software. They have opportunities to apply the fundamentals of design thinking.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 205 Advocacy and ADR

Course Description: This module introduces students to a diversity of processes for advocacy and alternative dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, third-party neutral evaluation, mini-trials, and judicial settlement conferences. Students explore questions of fit between the type of a dispute and choice of resolution process, critically assessing potential reforms designed to ensure access to affordable legal services. The potential for new technologies to contribute to online dispute resolution strategies is also addressed.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 206 Wills and Estates

Course Description: This module covers the basic legal principles and rules of succession and estate planning. Students come to appreciate the intersections between this field and the areas of trust, insurance, and tax as well as health law issues such as capacity and decision-making. They examine wills and estate documents and, through simulated client interactions, gain experience in engaging in conversations around estate planning including asset identification, designating powers of attorney and related matters such as digital rights upon death.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 207 Legal Innovation

Course Description: Innovation in today’s legal environment encompasses technological, business and social innovation. This module focuses on developing skills in legal project management, analytics, process engineering and technology while allowing students to apply these skills in an innovation project that stresses one or more of these types of innovation mentioned above while gaining their Six Sigma yellow belt. The goal is to enhance students’ capacity and ability to evoke change in the delivery of legal services.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 208 Intellectual Property Law

Course Description: This course offers a general overview of three core areas of intellectual property law in Canada: copyright, trademarks, and patents. Students are introduced to the legal frameworks governing intellectual property law and the fundamental principles needed to understand the vital role technology plays in intellectual property, the different policy perspectives engaged by intellectual property, how the law protects valuable intangible resources, and how the law facilitates and incentivizes artistic creation, useful inventions, and market information.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 209 Technology, Law, and Society

Course Description: In this module, students learn to identify barriers to justice and critically evaluate solutions. Using a comparative approach, international solutions (including in other sectors e.g. access to health, access to banking) are explored and global similarities identified. Students distill this learning into a toolbox of approaches which, using an emphasis on accessible technology, they then use to develop local solutions to make legal services more affordable for individuals and organizations of limited means.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3 

JUR 210 Privacy Law

Course Description: This course discusses the private and public legal frameworks governing privacy and cyber-crime in Canada and internationally. Current issues and problems related to technology, privacy and data protection such as online commerce, social media, cyber-bullying, the workplace, national security, law enforcement, genetics, health care and freedom of information are analyzed to understand the role of privacy in an increasingly data-driven technological world.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3 

JUR 211 Class Actions

Course Description: This course provides a general introduction to class actions law and procedure in Canada. It will cover both the theoretical underpinnings of class actions, including their role in increasing access to justice, as well as practical considerations associated with this unique form of complex litigation. Students will also be introduced to the particular ethical and financial considerations associated with class actions, and will consider all of these aspects of class actions in the context of some contemporary Canadian examples. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 212 The Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Course Description: This course examines the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including its relationships with international human rights and Indigenous constitutionalism. Blending theory and case law, we examine the nature and scope of fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, various legal rights, equality, the limitations of rights, and the notwithstanding mechanism. We will also examine the relationship between s. 35 Aboriginal and treaty rights, which are located outside of the Charter, and the Crown’s assertion of state sovereignty. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 214 International Human Rights Law

Course Description: This course introduces students to International Human Rights Law (IHRL). It explores the historical development of IHRL and the nature of state responsibility. Through the lens of current issues in human rights (e.g. torture, religion and culture, health, the environment), the course examines the possibilities and challenges faced by individuals, civil society and states in preventing and remedying human rights violations. The course also analyzes the domestic application of international human rights in Canada. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00 

JUR 215 Public Interest Litigation

Course Description: Legal advocacy can be a powerful tool for social change. This course will allow students to develop core skills needed to advocate for access to justice, both within and beyond the courtroom. The course will focus on public interest litigation strategies, drafting litigation materials, engaging in social justice campaigns, and oral advocacy. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 216 Critical Race Theory

Course Description: This course examines race, racism, law, and social change, through the lens of Critical Race Theory. It examines what “race” signifies (e.g., biology, culture, social construction, ethnicity, and Indigeneity) and what “racism” signifies (e.g., intentional racism, race neutrality/consciousness, systemic racism, coded racism, racial privilege, and racial bias). Students will complicate and critique various “anti-racism” strategies, and unpack the imbrication of social hierarchies (e.g., gender, class, sexuality, religion, disability, and immigration). 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 217 Global Health Law and Policy

Course Description: This course examines contemporary issues in global health law from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students examine the historical development of global health, relevant actors and institutions (e.g. WHO, WTO, UNEP), regulatory frameworks (e.g. human rights and ethics, trade law, environmental agreements), principal coordinating mechanisms, and emerging challenges to effective global health governance. The course draws from different disciplines, including economics, ethics, history, international law, environmental law, medicine, political science, philosophy, and public health. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR218 Gender, Sexuality and the Law

Course Description: This course explores the legal regulation of gender, sex, and sexuality from historical and contemporary perspectives. Focusing primarily on Canadian law, with occasional dives into English legal history and contemporary American law, the course brings together specific cases and statutes that have established and partially dismantled gender and sexual hierarchies; and it places those legal documents alongside theoretical analyses of the roles played by law in the production of sexual subjectivities and gendered selves.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 219 International Criminal Law

Course Description: This course provides a general overview of international criminal law. Itl examines the sources and principles of international criminal law and the structure and powers of international criminal courts and tribunals. Topics include the elements of international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression), defences and immunities, jurisdiction, victim’s rights, and principles of sentencing. The course approaches these issues from a critical perspective, situating each in historical, geographic, and political contexts.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 220 Legal Issues in Indigenous Economic Dev.

Course Description: This course focuses on the historical and contemporary legal aspects of Indigenous economic development. It examines the role law has played in negatively impacting Indigenous economic development in Canada. It surveys Indigenous peoples’ economic activities and the negative impacts of government legislation and policy. The course also examines current economic development initiatives advanced by First Nations and the resurgence of Indigenous laws, culture and traditional activities that promote Indigenous-centric business structures and economic development. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 221 Insurance Law

Course Description: Disputes related to insurance claims comprise a substantial portion of the caseload of civil courts This course provides a comprehensive overview of the law of insurance in Canada, with a focus on Ontario. The course includes an examination of the nature of insurance law, insurance jurisdiction, the formulation and construction of insurance contracts, insurable interest, the role of agency, duty of disclosure, interpretation of insurance policies, valuation of claims, subrogation, and the claim resolution process. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 222 International Trade Law

Course Description: This course examines international trade law and policy with a focus on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its regulation of trade in goods, services, intellectual property, technology, and foreign direct investment. We also consider regional free trade areas and preferential trade agreements such as the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00 

JUR 223 Indigenous Legal Theory

Course Description: Indigenous Nations govern themselves according to their own Indigenous legal orders and traditions. Indigenous legal theory offers deconstructive and constructive frameworks for decolonizing Canadian law and revitalizing Indigenous legal orders. This course introduces students to Indigenous legal theory and practice. Students will read materials on methods for analyzing and revitalizing Indigenous legal orders. As lawyers in training, this course introduces students to a critical practice of Indigenous law in Indigenous and Canadian legal contexts. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 224: Law and Health Care in Canada

Course Description: This course explores law and healthcare in Canada, including the structure of the Canadian healthcare system, the regulation of healthcare professionals, powers to deal with health emergencies, and other legal dilemmas. Topics covered include: healthcare delivery in Canada; the regulation of the medical profession; the liability of healthcare professionals, institutions and the State; under-resourcing of the healthcare sector; consent, substitute-consent and end of life decision-making; infection prevention and control; emergency powers; and new medical technologies. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 225 Municipal Law

Course Description: This course examines the nature, history, powers, and organization of municipal government. It will survey the legal history of municipalities, land use planning, by-laws and municipal licensing, municipal elections, the organization of city councils, taxation, transparency and accountability mechanisms, and intergovernmental relations. The course will also survey the place of the city in the context of global policy issues, including environmental law, smart cities, migration, and foreign direct investment. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 226 Refugee Law

Course Description: This course introduces students to refugee law as practiced in Canada. It covers the fundamental principles of Canadian refugee law and procedure, including the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, international treaties, administrative law and procedure, and the law of judicial review. The course will also explore the nature of fact-finding in the refugee status determination system, examining the challenges fact-finding and credibility determination in particular pose in the refugee law context. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 227 Secured Transactions

Course Description: This course surveys the statutory and common law governing secured transactions in personal property in Ontario. It examines the Ontario Personal Property Security Act and other statutes. The course also examines common law issues relating to statutory interpretation, enforcement, conflict of laws, and the rule of law. Topics include: the nature and functions of personal property security laws; attachment and perfection; priority rules for conflicting interests; perfected and unperfected security interests; fixtures; accessions; and enforcement. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 228 Sports and Entertainment Law

Course Description: This course explores how various laws apply to sports and entertainment industries, both amateur and professional. Sports law topics include contracts and negotiations, regulation of amateur athletics, and regulation of professional athletics. Entertainment law topics include the protection of ideas by contract, copyright, trademark, rights of publicity and privacy, defamation, and artist representation. Students will gain a basic understanding of the legal and business aspects of sports and entertainment. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 229 Climate Change and the Law

Course Description: This course surveys issues pertaining to climate change and the law at both domestic and international levels. Drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives, it will situate the current climate crisis in context before going on to address the role of law and policy in thwarting or spurring effective action. Students will consider law’s strengths and weaknesses in solving complex problems, and how law might best interact with other tools and fields of inquiry in tackling contemporary challenges.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 230 Securities Regulations

Course Description: This course surveys securities regulation in Canada. Students will review the Ontario Securities Act and related regulations and policies. The course outlines basic concepts, including the purposes of securities regulation, enforcement and the powers of securities regulators, prospectus exemptions, disclosure obligations, takeover bids, insider trading, primary and secondary market civil liability, and the relationships between corporate law and securities law. Students will analyze these concepts in relation to developing policy and market considerations.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 231 Negotiation Theory and Practice

Course Description: The ability to negotiate successfully is one of the fundamental skills required of all lawyers.  This seminar course will explore theories of conflict and negotiation, particularly in the context of lawyering.  Issues impacting negotiations, such as culture, ethics and power will be explored.  There will be a strong emphasis on practical skill development, particularly in the areas of communications, managing the negotiation process, and documenting the results.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 232 Disability Law

Course Description: This course introduces students to different aspects of the legal regimes that impact persons with disabilities, with a focus on the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. After reviewing the history of the disability rights movement, the course explores definitions and models of disability, the importance of adopting an intersectional lens, anti-discrimination legislation, case law, and dispute resolution mechanisms in various practice areas.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 235 Special Topics

Course Description: This course provides students with the opportunity to pursue advanced studies in various fields of law or legal practice, where the content of the proposed lecture or seminar is unavailable in the curriculum. Special topics seminars or lectures will be offered when there is demonstrated student interest and available faculty or instructor expertise in the subject.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR300 is required for all 3L students.

JUR 300 Professional Placement

Course Description: Students participate in a 16-week placement to further develop and apply practice-ready skills essential for success. There will be a variety of settings: private practice, in-house legal department, government or legal clinic. During the placement, students participate in regular professional development sessions connected with the program, submit reflective assignments and engage in facilitated discussions highlighting the skills and training they have gained.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 18

JUR 301 Moot Court Competition

Course Description: This course is offered to students who are selected to participate in national and international moot competitions. Offered in the Winter term, the course builds on JUR 305 Moots and Advocacy Skills by providing students with specialized training in legal research, drafting, and oral advocacy for their respective moots. Students who successfully complete their moot competitions will receive academic credit.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 302 Real Estate Law

Course Description: This course analyzes the legal requirements imposed by the Registry Act, the Land Titles Act, land and title insurance, and how these requirements shape the lawyer’s role in helping clients navigate the issues surrounding title to land. Also examined are the major changes in real estate practice due to technology and the fact that it is essential to understand the process that technology has replaced so that practitioners can ensure successful outcomes for their clients.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 303 Labour and Employment Law

Course Description: The forces of globalization, technological change, organizational restructuring, and the expansion of capital markets continue to transform the nature of work and the role and power of labour market actors. The course reviews common law and statutory rules pertaining to employment in both unionized and non-unionized settings. It explores the scope of the law, and how the rights, and responsibilities of employees, employers and unions are construed, and are evolving, in the “new economy”.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 304 Advanced Corporate/Commercial Law

Course Description: This course tracks the life cycle of a Canadian corporation from incorporation, organization, structure, governance, mergers and dissolution.  Students acquire the understanding and background to ensure that they have the ability to incorporate a Canadian company, address critical issues around structure, governance requirements and the ultimate merger and dissolution of companies, and are able to review due diligence issues that arise in this process.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills

Course Description: This course provides a range of skills necessary for effective advocacy in moot settings. Working with their professor and leading lawyers, students represent the Lincoln Alexander School of Law in national and international competitions with other law schools. Skills highlighted in the course include the interpretation and application of moot materials, legal research, written/oral advocacy, and teamwork. Academic Org Law School.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 306 Environmental Law

Course Description: Students reconcile the objectives of environmental protection with local advocacy. Through various (including Indigenous) approaches to environmental education, they learn to be advocates by coming to understand how to support policies and legislation that require making difficult policy choices about protection. Students work with national and provincial legislation, the common law and regulatory prosecution related to air, land, and water, conservation, biotechnology and extractive industries to study the legal effect of these policy choices.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 307 Children and the Law

Course Description: This course deals with how childhood is conceptualized, constructed and regulated through statutory, common law and social science frameworks. It addresses issues surrounding conception, such as multiple parenthood, biological vs. non-biological parents, the role of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and their impact on parentage. It also deals with domestic and international adoptions, child protection, criminal justice, child labour, childhood and diversity, education, participation and empowerment, and the legacy of residential schools as revealed by the TRC.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 308 Immigration Law

Course Description: This course explores historical, economic, policy, and human rights factors framing the theory and practice of immigration law in Canada and the role that lawyers play in the administration of both domestic and international immigration regimes. Topics examined include inland processing, refugee determination hearings, inadmissibility determinations, detention reviews, removals, and humanitarian and compassionate considerations. Students will also examine jurisprudence produced through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, judicial review, and significant international and comparative decisions.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 309 Criminal Procedure

Course Description: This course begins with a survey of the source and limits of police investigative powers, focusing on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and motions for the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence. The course examines pre-trial processes, including bail, (non-) disclosure, crown and judicial conferences, and election and plea (bargaining) before moving on to jury selection, trial procedure, examination/cross-examination of witnesses, and sentencing. Attention is also paid to appeals and select specialized court proceedings.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 310 Tax Law and Practice

Course Description: This course introduces tax principles in the Income Tax Act, as they pertain to four major types of taxpayers/entities: individuals, corporations, trusts, and partnerships. Topics covered include residency, employment and business income/deductions, capital transactions, dividends, the theory of integration, corporation-specific transactions (rollovers and reorganizations), and civil & criminal penalties.  Also included is an overview of international tax principles (tax jurisdiction, tax treaties, transfer pricing, and e-commerce). In addition, application of AI in tax is addressed.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 311 Evidence

Course Description: This course imparts the basic principles of evidence law in the civil and criminal context, including hearsay and its exceptions, as well as relevant implications of opinion, character, and expert evidence. Students learn about the distinctive ways that legal processes treat matters of evidence and the connections between rules of evidence and rules of civil and criminal procedure. They also look at the growing role of electronic evidence and the use of social media as evidence.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 312 Law and Injustice

Course Description: Law is often implicated in injustice, rationalizing inequalities, domination, cruelty, and neglect. And yet, marginalized groups continue to turn to law as an instrument of social change, sometimes successfully. This course explores the nature and experience of injustice through its tense relationship to law. Relying on a mixture of theoretical perspectives on law as well as experiential learning modules, it equips students to think about law and justice in creative ways.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 313 Advanced Legal Solutions

Course Description: This project-based course builds on the thinking and skills developed in Access to Justice Solutions during fourth semester. Students break into teams to develop and refine a solution to a challenge set by outside organizations and subject-matter experts. After building a prototype of their solution, the student teams participate in a pitch session in front of external experts, law firms, government and community representatives who assess the feasibility of their work.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 314 Private International Law

Course Description: Students explore the international context for relationships between private parties across jurisdictions. In doing so they gain an introductory understanding of the origin of and responses to conflicts of law and the role of international dispute resolution processes, while engaging in analysis of issues relating to topics such as merchant law, jurisdiction, and human rights. They also have opportunities to apply their learning through preparation of an international dispute resolution file, and related activities.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 315 Public International Law 

Course Description: This course sheds light on the international legal system governing the rights and obligations of sovereign states in their interactions with one another and with non-state entities, such as international organizations and non-state actors. Students learn how international law is generated, the distinctive elements of international legal reasoning, and the manner in which international law interacts with domestic (particularly Canadian) law through legal reasoning, treaty negotiation, custom as well as “soft law.”

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00
• Weekly Contact Hours: 3

JUR 316 Big Tech, Social Justice and Public Interest

Course Description: This course examines the social and legal problems created by Big Tech and how to regulate it in the public interest. Blending regulatory and social justice perspectives, students learn how different forms of regulation construct relationships between law and society and how to critically evaluate different forms of regulation. Through theoretically-informed case studies, students will learn about the concepts, principles, and cases that shape legal problems and social inequities in the Big Tech regulatory space. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 317 Advanced Issues in Privacy and Technology

Course Description: Building on the foundation of Privacy Law, this seminar focuses on the intersection of privacy, technology and society. The impact of technology on privacy and contemporary society, and the effective regulation of technology in order to preserve the norms and values protected by privacy, will be analyzed through a discussion of relevant issues. Students are strongly encouraged to take JUR 210 Privacy Law prior to enrolling in this course. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 318 Law Journal

Course Description: Students enrolled in this course will be involved in all aspects of the production of the Lincoln Alexander Law Review, including the assessment, selection, and substantive and stylistic editing of manuscripts submitted for publication, as well as business operations, journal administration, and research dissemination efforts. Students will also complete other journal-related tasks assigned by the faculty editor-in-chief on an as necessary basis. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 320 Advanced Legal Research and Writing

Course Description: This course builds on the basic research and writing skills learned in the first year Legal Research and Writing course. Students will review and deepen their knowledge of primary and secondary research methods and will apply these skills to solving more complex legal problems, particularly those that engage with foreign and international jurisdictions. Students will learn the fundamentals of scholarly legal writing and prepare an article of publishable quality for submission to a law journal. 

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 331 The Law of Armed Conflicts

Course Description: The Law of Armed Conflict, also known as International Humanitarian Law, sets out rules that aim to limit the harmful effects of armed conflict. This course will seek to explore the evolution of the laws of war from their origins to their modern day application. Students will be introduced to the law’s main sources (the Hague and Geneva Conventions, findings of international criminal tribunals), key concepts (international/non-international conflicts, combatants/non-combatants, protected persons) and the principles that aim to limit the means and effect of combat. The course will examine how the law of armed conflict is implemented, as well as the availability and efficacy of remedies. We will draw upon case studies, such as the use of drones and the transfer of detainees, to analyze the potential and the limits of the humanitarian law model.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 332 Indigenous Dispute Resolution

Course Description: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls on all law schools to provide training in dispute resolution. This course introduces students to Indigenous dispute resolution theory and practices in private and public law, and community contexts, including environmental planning, diversion and sentencing, the duty to consult and accommodate, and comprehensive land claims. Students will have an opportunity to critically evaluate a dispute resolution mechanism that is based on Indigenous and Canadian theory and practice.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 334 Indigenous Peoples and Criminal Law Practice

Course Description: Criminal law has a disproportionate impact on Indigenous peoples. This course introduces students to Indigenous perspectives and experiences on the practice of criminal law. Students will receive instruction in criminal law practice in and for Indigenous persons and in criminal procedures related to jury selection, bail, and sentencing, including sentencing circles. Students will also be introduced to Indigenous perspectives on the criminal law system, including arguments for Indigenous criminal jurisdiction.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 340 Advanced Criminal Law

Course Description: This course delves more deeply into the Criminal Code of Canada, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Canada Evidence Act while addressing their practical implications.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 342 International Environmental Law

Course Description: Most environmental challenges reach beyond any single state. In this context, this course introduces international environmental law with a focus on its applicability in Canada. This field is composed of core principles (precaution, sustainable development, etc.) as well as multiple specialized regimes (biodiversity protection, climate change, etc.) This course will equip students to use international environmental law throughout their career and prepare them to take critical stances regarding this field from an environmental justice perspective.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 345 Directed Studies

Course Description: This course offers second- and third-year students the opportunity to undertake an original research project under the direction of a full-time faculty member. Students are introduced to the process of legal research and scholarship, and given the opportunity to develop advanced legal research, writing and analytical skills in an area of law of interest to them. This course is student-driven, and by completing an original research paper, students will have the opportunity to deeply engage in a specific area of law, while learning how to conduct advanced legal research outside of a legal practice context.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 350 Competition Law

Course Description: Competition law is concerned with creating and maintaining competitive, efficient markets. It is thought that such competition can deliver lower prices and more choice for consumers, and promote innovation within the Canadian economy more broadly. Competition law attempts to achieve these objectives by targeting price fixing and other anti-competitive agreements, by reviewing mergers that may unduly restrict competition, and by providing certain remedies against dominant firms that may wield their market power to exclude competitors and create barriers to entry. This body of law spans regulatory norms, criminal offences, and private law.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 360 Corporate Governance

Course Description: This course builds on what students learned in Business Law and Practice. Students will delve into recent trends, proposals and controversies in corporate governance. Topics include corporate purpose, board diversity, share “buybacks”, executive compensation, shareholder activism, the social role of competition and securities law, and business and human rights. Students will also consider critical, theoretical, and comparative perspectives. The course connects corporate law’s choices to broader questions of political economy and socio-economic justice.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR400 and JUR401 are required for all 1L students.
JUR402 and JUR403 are required for all 2L students.
JUR404 is required for all 3L students.

JUR 400 Law and Legal Methods

Course Description: This five-day intensive course gives incoming Juris Doctor students the opportunity to learn about Ryerson University and the Ryerson Law School, as well as the legal profession. Students begin to lay the foundation for professional development and success by engaging in career planning, networking and mentoring. They are also introduced to leadership strategies and tools, culminating with a personal development project.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 401 Oral Advocacy Intensive 

Course Description: This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of effective oral communication and oral advocacy. It builds on the skills developed in JUR 100, Legal Research & Writing, by requiring students to turn written arguments (the factum) into effective oral arguments. The culmination of the intensive is a moot judged by external experts (judges and/or practitioners).

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 402 Financial Intensive 

Course Description: The purpose of this five-day intensive course is twofold. First, it covers topics related to taxation and finance statements. Second, it provides extensive practice in using Excel as a financial tool. Students gain a sufficient understanding of these subjects to give them confidence in continuing to use them and learn with them as they proceed through their law school experience. The course provides the basic financial acumen to start their own business or legal practice.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 403 Technology Toolkit for the Practice of Law (Intensive)

Course Description: In this intensive, students will gain exposure and practice to the technological tools required to run a legal practice. There will be a particular focus on Excel, Zoom, Adobe and other practice-relevant software. Students will also be introduced to the various ways in which the increased use of technology in legal practice has been a driver of change in the legal profession and legal system as an institution.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00

JUR 404 EQ/CQ Intensive 

Course Description: Living and working in a global, multicultural and diverse context demands an awareness of the impact of emotions and cultural outlook on our work. In particular, being able to recognize and understand the impact of one’s own emotions and identifying and addressing cultural biases is critical to the success of all projects. In this five-day intensive course, Juris Doctor students explore and experience vital emotional and cultural competencies for optimal personal and group success.

• Grading Basis: Graded
• GPA Weight, Course Count: 1.00