Courses - Law Reform: Selected Problems LAWS 2508   Law Reform: Selected Problems
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This seminar will introduce students to the principles and processes that guide the reform of the law, using selected readings and presentations by guest lecturers and the professor to provide the foundation for a consideration of the processes, machinery and potential for law reform initiatives in areas of federal, provincial and/or municipal jurisdiction. Students will be introduced to approaches to law reform and will learn about the successes and failures of a number of recent law reform initiatives.The core of the course will involve a series of specific law reform projects selected by the professor, in consultation with the class, that will be undertaken in the class. Students will work in groups, leading in the development of one project. Students will also, individually, be assigned to comment on/critique aspects of a second project. Students will undertake group research and develop and present an issues paper on their law reform research project. Following the receipt of feedback, each group will then develop a legislative, regulatory or policy proposal to address the issues associated with their project, prepare background materials that support their approach and present their proposal to a panel. Students will also write a short commentary/critique of another group's issues paper.The course is intended to introduce students to the process of law reform and to provide a "hands-on" opportunity to undertake a specific law reform initiative. It is also intended to replicate the collaborative processes by which law reform is achieved, including research, policy development and group work. The course will enable students to participate directly in a process by which societal needs are identified and analyzed and in which law can be developed to address these needs. This course does not meet the major paper requirement.Materials: Materials for the class will be posted to blackboard.
NOTES: It's still worth 3 credit hours, and it is not a major paper course. It is open to any upper-year student in the JD or combined-degree programs (JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/MHA, JD/MLIS). There is no prerequisite.