TRN305Y1

TRN305Y1: Basic Principles of Law

Course Description

How do courts determine whether the limitation of a Charter right is justifiable? Should the background and social circumstances of a defendant mitigate a sentencing decision? What is the difference between an intentional and a negligent tort? When is a promise legally enforceable? Basic Principles of Law (TRN305) introduces students to the doctrines, concepts, and cases that advance answers to these, and many more, questions. The course is structured around four areas of Canadian law—constitutional law, criminal law, tort law, and contract law—that form the core of a first-year law school curriculum. Students will debate contemporary legal issues and foundational questions, critique court decisions, and begin building their capacity to serve as a legal problem solver.  

2023-2024 Instructor

David Hughes David Hughes is an Assistant Professor at the Canadian Forces College and an Instructor at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Prior to that he was the Trebek Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Ottawa. He holds a PhD from Osgoode Hall Law School during which time he spent two years at the University of Michigan Law School as a Grotius Research Fellow. David has written about various topics and themes relating to international law, which have appeared in several leading journals including the European Journal of International Law, the Georgetown Journal of International Law, the Melbourne Journal of International Law, and the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. Before beginning his doctoral work, David worked at the Council of Europe and with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.