Program Objective
The general objective of the Law and Justice programs is to encourage a broadened critical understanding of the nature, role and function of our legal and judicial institutions and of the relationship between law and justice. That is, we do not aim to produce students who can talk about what the law is and apply it, but rather students who understand, for example, why the law is as it is, the implications of the law, and the relationship of the law to cultural, economic, political and social ideas and conditions.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
The interdisciplinary backgrounds of the JURI faculty and the multidisciplinary course offerings mean that students are exposed to diverse approaches to the law, including historical, cultural, philosophical, political, psychological and sociological perspectives. Course offerings also cover a broad range of topics, including the nature and role of law, the nature of the judiciary, the interactions of indigenous peoples with the legal system, policing, and the nature of the criminal mind, as well as traditional legal subjects such as constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, family law, property, and torts.
CAREERS
Graduates from the 4 year program with a strong A average can go on to law school, and thus become a lawyer; undertake graduate studies in a variety of disciplines, which may lead to research, college teaching or government careers; or go to teachers college to qualify to teach law in high school. Law related careers for which a BA may be sufficient (although there could be additional non-university requirements) include: police, probation & parole, customs, insurance, and human resources. For students going into law related careers our program provides a broader perspective and context than they may get from subsequent vocational training or legal education: it opens their minds and broadens their horizons (paraphrasing quotations from graduates).
However, graduates are not limited to law related careers, as we do not aim to teach them the law per se or to prepare them for any particular legal career, but rather to provide them with the critical thinking, reading, writing and learning skills that will allow them to pursue careers in a wide variety of fields.