Overview
LGST 249 is designed to help make the law and its institutions more understandable and accessible to people without professional legal education. It will help those facing legal issues to learn and assert their legal rights and to learn the rights and obligations of others. The course supports efforts to make law and legal systems responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens. Legal Literacy will assist everyone to make use of the law in pursuing their legitimate interests.
Learning outcomes
After completing LGST 249 you should be able to:
- identify the basic structures of the law and legal institutions in your jurisdiction
- describe the main elements of the legal system in your jurisdiction and how they relate to each other
- describe the most common legal processes used in your jurisdiction and identify the major steps taken in each of them
- recognize when words are being used in a different way for legal purposes and know how to find their meaning when that happens
- find laws in your jurisdiction that are relevant to your needs
- read and analyze laws and other legal materials to grasp their basic meaning
- use the results of your knowledge and research into law to assert your rights and interests
Evaluation
Please note that the passing grade for the final examination is 50 percent. To receive credit for the course, you must achieve an overall course grade of 50 percent or better and a passing grade of 50 percent or better on the final examination.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 2 | 15% |
| Assignment 3 | 15% |
| Assignment 4 | 25% |
| Final Exam | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
The required textbook which will be supplied to students is Archie Zariski, Legal Literacy: An Introduction to Legal Studies (AUPress 2014) (PDF). The course website includes links to additional optional readings.