Course Descriptions
LAWS 2302 Case Studies in Public Policy and Law
CREDIT HOURS: 1
This intensive course will explore issues at the intersection of Public Policy and law. It will focus on a different case study each year. It will engage individuals who played leading roles in the evolution of the public policy and law with respect to the specific case study. Students will be exposed to different methodologies (e.g., empirical, doctrinal, normative, and theoretical), players (e.g., legal practitioners, social sciences researchers, community activists, bureaucrats, and politicians), and activities (e.g. academic research, independent expert panels, testimony before Parliamentary Committees, social and traditional media, public consultation, social mobilisation, lobbying, and litigation). Readings will bring a substantive foundation to the experientially-driven discussions.
NOTES: This course does not fulfill the Law School's major paper requirement.
Assessment Method: Class participation and reflection paper (2,000 words)
FORMAT COMMENTS: The course will run on a Friday evening, all day Saturday, and then the following Saturday. (Total of 12 hours)
RESTRICTIONS: Restricted to JD program or JD combined programs (JDMBA, JDMPA, JDMHA, and JDMLIS)
LAWS 2303 Cannabis Law, Regulation and Policy
CREDIT HOURS: 1
This is a one credit intensive course on the key legal, regulatory, commercial and policy issues related to legalisation of cannabis in Canada. The course will provide a theoretical and historical analysis of the path to the legalisation of cannabis. The focus will be on Canada, with some reference to international developments. The course will examine, among other things, the history of cannabis legalisation in Canada; the legal regime created by the Cannabis Act; jurisdictional, constitutional and regulatory challenges created by the legalisation of cannabis in Canada; health, pharmacological and commercial dimensions of legalisation; and future challenges. The course will be taught by Anne McLellan and Darrel Dexter. Anne McLellan is a senior advisor with the law firm of Bennett Jones, LLP and is the former chair of Canada's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. Darrell Dexter is Vice Chair of Global Public Affairs and as Chair of their cannabisCONNECT practice, works as an advisor for the firm’s cannabis industry clients. They are both frequent speakers in national and international fora on various aspects of the legalisation and regulation of cannabis. They will take the primary responsibility for teaching this course, complemented by guest speakers.
NOTES: This course does NOT fulfill the Law School’s major paper requirement. Attendance at every class for the entire class is mandatory for this course.
Assessment Method: Assessment will be on a pass/fail basis, based on class participation (including a brief class presentation) and a take-home essay of 2000 words. Students will be provided with a detailed course outline which will include readings to be completed before the first class, information on the evaluation and assessment expectations, and the due date of the essay assignment.
FORMAT COMMENTS: The course will run on October 17-19, 2019, as a typical short-intensive course – Thursday evening (6:30-9:00pm), Friday afternoon and evening (3:00-8:00pm), and on Saturday (9:00am-5:00pm)
LAWS 2304 From Legal Research to Public Policy Impact
CREDIT HOURS: 1
This course will be available to students who have already written a major paper in a previous course and are interested in developing their skills for taking research to policy impact. They will take their research paper and use it as the foundation for the assignments in the course. Class time will be spent developing the knowledge and skills necessary for the pursuit of policy impact through legal research. These will include: letter to the editor; OpEd; Mock media interviews; and written brief to a Parliamentary Committee.
NOTES: This course does not fulfill the law school’s major paper requirement.
RESTRICTIONS: Restricted to students in the JD program or JD-combined programs (JDMBA, JDMPA, JDMHA, and JDMLIS).
LAWS 2305 Global Corruption
CREDIT HOURS: 2
Corruption results in the theft of hundreds of billions of dollars from the budgets of virtually every country in the world. Its deleterious effects, beyond diminishing the potential for public spending include worsening inequality and poverty, increasing gender and other forms of discrimination, diminishing faith in public institutions and democracy, exacerbating the climate crisis, undermining global security and human rights.
The investigation and prosecution of related offences, such as bribery and money laundering, is essential in order to make inroads on this accelerating phenomenon. Lawyers have a vital role in advancing the capacity of the administration of justice to deal with corruption, but there are many obstacles including the connivance of public officials, lobbyists and government procurement specialists. Understanding and encouraging the roles of civil society organizations and
whistleblowers can contribute to the advancement of standards in public and business life.
Students enrolled in Global Corruption will begin to appreciate how they can assist in the assault on what then VP Biden said in 2014, “is a cancer, a cancer that eats away at a citizen's faith in democracy”, diminishing “the instinct for innovation and creativity…[wasting] the talent of entire generations [and scaring] away investments and jobs”, while sapping “the collective strength and resolve of a nation.”
Note: Course Details listed here also apply to
LAWS 2306.
NOTES: Assessment Method:
LAWS 2305 (2 credit hours) class participation and assignments,
LAWS 2306 (3 credit hours) class participation and a major paper. Please note: registration processes and wait lists are set up separately for each of the 2-credit and 3-credit options.
LAWS 2306 Global Corruption
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Corruption results in the theft of hundreds of billions of dollars from the budgets of virtually every country in the world. Its deleterious effects, beyond diminishing the potential for public spending include worsening inequality and poverty, increasing gender and other forms of discrimination, diminishing faith in public institutions and democracy, exacerbating the climate crisis, undermining global security and human rights.
The investigation and prosecution of related offences, such as bribery and money laundering, is essential in order to make inroads on this accelerating phenomenon. Lawyers have a vital role in advancing the capacity of the administration of justice to deal with corruption, but there are many obstacles including the connivance of public officials, lobbyists and government procurement specialists. Understanding and encouraging the roles of civil society organizations and whistleblowers can contribute to the advancement of standards in public and business life.
Students enrolled in Global Corruption will begin to appreciate how they can assist in the assault on what then VP Biden said in 2014, “is a cancer, a cancer that eats away at a citizen's faith in democracy”, diminishing “the instinct for innovation and creativity…[wasting] the talent of entire generations [and scaring] away investments and jobs”, while sapping “the collective strength and resolve of a nation.”
Note: Course Details listed here also apply to
LAWS 2305.
NOTES: Assessment Method:
LAWS 2305 (2 credit hours) class participation and assignments,
LAWS 2306 (3 credit hours) class participation and a major paper. Please note: registration processes and wait lists are set up separately for each of the 2-credit and 3-credit options.
LAWS 2307 The Law of Sexual Offences
CREDIT HOURS: 2
This will be an advanced criminal law course aimed at students who are interested in developing substantive expertise in the law of sexual offences. The focus of the course will be on the legislative framework and caselaw concerning the prosecution of sexual offences under the Criminal Code of Canada. Topics will include: an in-depth examination of the law of consent (i.e. definition; age; capacity; fraud); ‘defences’ to sexual assault (i.e. reasonable steps/mistaken belief in consent); section 276 (prior sexual history); section 278 (third party records); sexual offences with specific relevance to minors (sexual exploitation, sexual interference, incest); sentencing in sexual offences; other evidentiary and trial process issues as pertains to sexual offences (i.e. corroboration; delayed disclosure/recent complaint; scope of cross-examination; testimonial aids, publication bans); racism, Indigeneity, and sexual orientation in the context of sexual assault law; current law reforms.
This course is being proposed at the same time as a proposal for a clinical course – Clinical Advocacy, Law, and Practice: Responding to Sexualized Violence (CALP). This course would serve as a co-requisite for CALP. Students enrolled in CALP would be required to have taken this course the previous year, or be currently enrolled in The Law of Sexual Offences the year they take the clinic.
NOTES: This course will be open to all second and third year students who have taken or are currently enrolled in evidence law. This will be an exam based course. It will be offered in the fall semester.
Assessment Method:
This will be an exam based course. It will be offered in the fall semester.
COREQUISITES:
LAWS 2008.04: Evidence Law
LAWS 2309 Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course provides enrolled students to participate as a member of Dalhousie’s team for the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, hosted by Stetson University’s Faculty of Law (the “Stetson”). The Stetson is the foremost international moot focused on global environmental challenges such as conservation, sustainability, and climate change. The Official Moot Package is sent to participants in late July and teams of two or three submit their memorial in November. The competition requires teams to present arguments both as applicant and as respondent. Teams participate in February in a regional competition, which may be held in person or online. The top 15% of teams from the regional competition are invited to participate in the international finals, usually held in April. Teams may include 2 or 3 members.
Members of the team are encouraged to enrol in both Environmental Law and International Environmental Law.
NOTES: This moot competition is open to second and third year students in the JD and combined JD degrees. This moot can count as a major paper course if needed.
LAWS 2310 Child Protection Law
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Protecting children from abuse by or under the watch of their carer is essential to a just society. Child protection legislation is complex and its historical and contemporary application presents issues of law at play within a framework of shifting social values and ethical norms. The study of child protection legislation and its operational application will challenge students to think broadly about how a child’s ‘best interests’ is determined. Topics covered will include: historical roots of child protection legislation; the stages of a child protection proceeding; the varied roles of the carer, social worker, lawyer and the judge; consideration of how is the child’s ‘best interest’ determined; the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and Calls to Action; the intersection of child protection law with other areas of law including human rights, social justice, constitutional law and international treaties; the use and misuse of expert evidence; consideration of alternatives to court processes and possible ways forward to improve the ‘system’ of child protection.
NOTES: Assessment Method: This is a paper course. Evaluation method: 80% major paper, 10% presentation and 10% class participation
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 2
LAWS 2311 Second Year Moot
CREDIT HOURS: 0.5
The Second Year Moot is a full-year, mandatory course for all second year students. It explores the principles of persuasive advocacy though an assigned appeal to the Supreme Moot Court of Dalhousie. The fall term focuses on written advocacy. Students will write and submit a factum in accordance with the rules set out in the Moot Court Manual. The winter term focuses on oral advocacy. Students will prepare for and argue their assigned appeal before a panel of justices drawn from faculty members, practitioners and third year law students. The Second Year Moot is worth 1 credit hour (0.5 per term) and is evaluated by faculty on an honours/pass/fail basis. Exceptional mooters may be nominated to try out for the Smith Shield mooting competition held in October of the following year.
NOTES: Students taking this course must register in and complete
LAWS 2311 &
LAWS 2321 in consecutive terms; credit will not be granted if courses are not completed consecutively
LAWS 2312 Business Associations
CREDIT HOURS: 2
This course provides an introduction to the law governing the conduct of business in the corporate form. The course deals with the following topics: the choice of form of business enterprise; the legal effect of incorporation; disregarding the corporate entity; the different systems of incorporation; the corporate constitution; contracts between corporations and outsiders; the control and management of the corporation, especially the relationship among promoters, directors, executive committees, officers and shareholders; the raising and maintenance of a corporation's capital; the liability of directors and officers and remedies available to shareholders. An introduction to the principles of partnership will also be included. The course is taught by discussion of selected cases, statutes and other materials which students are expected to read carefully in advance of class.
NOTES:
LAWS 2312/
LAWS 2322 must both be completed in the same year to fulfill the mandatory course requirement.
LAWS 2318 Clinical Advocacy, Law and Practice: Responding to Sexualized Violence
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The Clinical Law, Advocacy and Practice course (CALP) course will facilitate students’ acquisition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise required for practice, research, and advocacy in the area of sexual assault law. The focus of the course will be on the need for improved legal responses to sexualized violence. The class will equip students with the capacity to engage critically and constructively with the evolving tools of law, policy, and rights in the context of sexual assault law.
The course will be organized based on three central and interrelated objectives: public advocacy and policy development; knowledge production; and skills based capacity building. In light of these objectives, CALP will be comprised of three interconnected components: public policy and advocacy; research; and skills based capacity building. The clinic will be a policy, advocacy, research, and education clinic.
The substantive orientation of this course will be on legal issues related to sexual violence, and the practice of sexual assault law. Emphasis will be placed on policy, education and research initiatives within the context of our current legal regime – one which aims to protect the constitutionally protected rights of the accused without causing undue or unnecessary harm to survivors of sexualized violence.
NOTES: Co-requisite:
The Law of Sexual Offences (Students in the clinic will be required to either have taken this 2 credit course the previous year or be enrolled in the course in the fall term of their clinic year.) The clinic will be open to second and third year JD students.
Students taking this course must register in and complete
LAWS 2318 &
LAWS 2328 in consecutive terms; credit will not be granted if courses are not completed consecutively
COREQUISITES:
LAWS 2307.06: The Law of Sexual Offences
LAWS 2319 Pharmaceutical Science, Law & Policy
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about pharmaceutical policy challenges in an interdisciplinary environment. Open to both JD students from the Schulich School of Law and graduate students from the Faculty of Medicine, the course will introduce students to the regulatory systems in place to govern pharmaceutical drugs and survey a number of ‘hot topics’ in the field, from national pharma-care, high-priced drugs for orphan diseases, and the opioid crisis, to legalizing cannabis. The course will also include guest lectures from experts in pharmaceutical sciences and key government agencies. Students will also learn new research and writing skills relevant to pharmaceutical science, law, and public policy.
NOTES: Assessment Method: This course satisfies the major paper requirement for law students.
LAWS 2320 Technology and Innovation Law: Clinical Advocacy
CREDIT HOURS: 9
The Law and Technology Legal Clinic (the “Clinic”) provides third year students with opportunities to provide supervised legal services to start-up companies that are using technology and engaging in innovation in the early stages of their development. Supervision will be provided by either the Faculty Supervisor, other faculty members, or local legal professionals. This course can be taken over the Fall or Winter term. Students will assist with research on a variety of topics relevant to business, intellectual property and technology law. Students will gain practical skills in interviewing clients; advising clients on business and legal strategy; identifying legal issues; and drafting a variety of agreements related to business formation, technology transactions, and commercialization of intellectual property. In addition, students will create webinars, prepare presentations, and conduct educational events for the start-up community through various mediums. Students will learn to use and appreciate the latest technology being implemented in law firms and develop an understanding for changes occurring in the legal profession. Intense skills training will take place during the first week of the course and will continue on an ad hoc basis throughout the semester.
COREQUISITES: Information Technology Transactions (LAWS 2170)
PREREQUISITES:
Business Associations (LAWS 2002), and at least one of
Law and Technology (LAWS 2019);
Internet and Media Law (LAWS 2168); Int
ellectual Property Law l (LAWS 2178)
RESTRICTIONS: This course is available to third year students only.
LAWS 2321 Second Year Moot
CREDIT HOURS: 0.5
The Second Year Moot is a full-year, mandatory course for all second year students. It explores the principles of persuasive advocacy though an assigned appeal to the Supreme Moot Court of Dalhousie. The fall term focuses on written advocacy. Students will write and submit a factum in accordance with the rules set out in the Moot Court Manual. The winter term focuses on oral advocacy. Students will prepare for and argue their assigned appeal before a panel of justices drawn from faculty members, practitioners and third year law students. The Second Year Moot is worth 1 credit hour (0.5 per term) and is evaluated by faculty on an honours/pass/fail basis. Exceptional mooters may be nominated to try out for the Smith Shield mooting competition held in October of the following year.
NOTES: Students taking this course must register in and complete
LAWS 2311 &
LAWS 2321 in consecutive terms; credit will not be granted if courses are not completed consecutively
LAWS 2322 Business Associations
CREDIT HOURS: 2
This course provides an introduction to the law governing the conduct of business in the corporate form. The course deals with the following topics: the choice of form of business enterprise; the legal effect of incorporation; disregarding the corporate entity; the different systems of incorporation; the corporate constitution; contracts between corporations and outsiders; the control and management of the corporation, especially the relationship among promoters, directors, executive committees, officers and shareholders; the raising and maintenance of a corporation's capital; the liability of directors and officers and remedies available to shareholders. An introduction to the principles of partnership will also be included. The course is taught by discussion of selected cases, statutes and other materials which students are expected to read carefully in advance of class.
NOTES:
LAWS 2312/
LAWS 2322 must both be completed in the same year to fulfill the mandatory course requirement.
LAWS 2328 Clinical Advocacy, Law and Practice: Responding to Sexualized Violence
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The Clinical Law, Advocacy and Practice course (CALP) course will facilitate students’ acquisition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise required for practice, research, and advocacy in the area of sexual assault law. The focus of the course will be on the need for improved legal responses to sexualized violence. The class will equip students with the capacity to engage critically and constructively with the evolving tools of law, policy, and rights in the context of sexual assault law.
The course will be organized based on three central and interrelated objectives: public advocacy and policy development; knowledge production; and skills based capacity building. In light of these objectives, CALP will be comprised of three interconnected components: public policy and advocacy; research; and skills based capacity building. The clinic will be a policy, advocacy, research, and education clinic.
The substantive orientation of this course will be on legal issues related to sexual violence, and the practice of sexual assault law. Emphasis will be placed on policy, education and research initiatives within the context of our current legal regime – one which aims to protect the constitutionally protected rights of the accused without causing undue or unnecessary harm to survivors of sexualized violence.
NOTES: Co-requisite:
The Law of Sexual Offences (Students in the clinic will be required to either have taken this 2 credit course the previous year or be enrolled in the course in the fall term of their clinic year.) The clinic will be open to second and third year JD students.
Students taking this course must register in and complete
LAWS 2318 &
LAWS 2328 in consecutive terms; credit will not be granted if courses are not completed consecutively
COREQUISITES:
LAWS 2307.06: The Law of Sexual Offences
LAWS 2333 Conflict and Mediation Principles: the Northern Island Experience.
CREDIT HOURS: 1
This intensive will focus on two interconnected parts, and within the context of practice within Northern Ireland:
A) Understanding conflict as a core foundation for mediation practice & personal and professional development
B) An introduction to the Six Stage Mediation Model
This is not a history or political science course – Northern Ireland will be used as a backdrop against which to explore conflict generally and to outline one particular way of responding ie through a mediation process.
NOTES: This course does not satisfy the major paper requirement. Attendance at every class is mandatory.
LAWS 2338 Clinical Advocacy, Law and Practice: Responding to Sexualized Violence
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The Clinical Law, Advocacy and Practice course (CALP) course will facilitate students’ acquisition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise required for practice, research, and advocacy in the area of sexual assault law. The focus of the course will be on the need for improved legal responses to sexualized violence. The class will equip students with the capacity to engage critically and constructively with the evolving tools of law, policy, and rights in the context of sexual assault law.
The course will be organized based on three central and interrelated objectives: public advocacy and policy development; knowledge production; and skills based capacity building. In light of these objectives, CALP will be comprised of three interconnected components: public policy and advocacy; research; and skills based capacity building. The clinic will be a policy, advocacy, research, and education clinic.
The substantive orientation of this course will be on legal issues related to sexual violence, and the practice of sexual assault law. Emphasis will be placed on policy, education and research initiatives within the context of our current legal regime – one which aims to protect the constitutionally protected rights of the accused without causing undue or unnecessary harm to survivors of sexualized violence.
NOTES: Co-requisite:
The Law of Sexual Offences (Students in the clinic will be required to either have taken this 2 credit course the previous year or be enrolled in the course in the fall term of their clinic year.) The clinic will be open to second and third year JD students.
COREQUISITES:
LAWS 2307.06: The Law of Sexual Offences
LAWS 2351 Dean’s Intensive Course
CREDIT HOURS: 1
NOTES: Note: The content and evaluation method of this course changes from year to year.
LAWS 2352 Dean’s Intensive Course
CREDIT HOURS: 1
NOTES: Note: The content and evaluation method of this course changes from year to year.