About Law 12 - The Course

In the Porter Creek Law 12 course we'll examine: 
• the role and purpose of law in society
• law as a source of rights and responsibilities
• development of law in Canada
• legal processes and methods available to resolve legal disputes 

We will consider the Foundations of Law in the West, Family Law, Criminal Law and Civil Law (what are referred to by the B.C. Ministry of Education as the 'course organizers'). 

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Why Law? 

Laws are common to all human societies.  As social creatures they are a fundamental part of how we manage our interactions in complex and large groups. 

Not knowing or understanding the laws of the society we live in does not prevent use from being held accountable to abiding by those laws, or from facing the consequences if we do not abide by them.

A basic, functional understanding of law, and of the strengths and weaknesses of our justice system, is a key to active citizenship, civic participation and making self-aware, intelligent choices as an adult. 

Law 12 Here and Now, in the Yukon. 

The laws of Canada, and of the Yukon, are not static - they change as the priorities and values of society change and adapt to reflect those of the population.    Incidents that can be used as case studies to analyze examples of why we have laws, and of particular examples of law, in Canada, and internationally, are often driven by current events, by materials made available by experts in their fields and other materials. 

This course will also consider the particular perspective of First Nations people, their history with the Western tradition of law as practiced in Canada and the contributions that traditional First Nations concepts and approaches to justice can make and are beginning to make to Western practices.