Core NCA subject 03 of 05
Canadian Criminal Law
Develop a structured understanding of criminal liability, actus reus, mens rea, causation, defences and the principles underlying Canadian criminal law.
What the course covers
The topics below follow the NCA syllabus for Canadian Criminal Law. We combine conceptual teaching, Canadian case law, structured legal analysis and exam-focused preparation.
| Number | Topic | Key subtopics |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | General overview and preliminary matters | Sources of criminal law. Constitutional power to create offences and procedural rules. The Charter’s constraints on criminal law and procedure. |
| 02 | Procedural classification of offences | Indictable, summary and hybrid offences. Implications for trial processes. |
| 03 | Interpreting criminal provisions | Definitions in the Criminal Code. Purposive interpretation. Bilingual interpretation. The role of the Charter in interpretation. |
| 04 | Actus reus | The act or omission. Statutory conditions. Voluntariness. Causation. Consent. Omissions. |
| 05 | Mens rea | Subjective mental elements: intention, knowledge, recklessness. Objective mens rea. Combining subjective and objective elements. |
| 06 | Extensions of criminal liability | Aiding and abetting. Counselling. Attempts. Corporate and association liability. |
| 07 | Defences | Mental disorder. Automatism and involuntary acts. Intoxication. Self-defence. Necessity. Duress. Error of law. Entrapment. Colour of right. |
| 08 | The adversarial process | Presumption of innocence and burden of proof. Other burdens. Role of the prosecutor. Role of the defence. Neutrality of the adjudicator. |
| 09 | Police powers and investigation | Search and seizure. Detention. Arrest. Exclusion of evidence. |
| 10 | Taking control over the accused and interim measures | Powers of arrest. Interim release (bail). Conditions on release. |
| 11 | Trial preparation and process | Disclosure and production. Pre-trial motions. Preliminary inquiries. Jury trials. Reasonable time for trial. |
| 12 | Sentencing | Principles of sentencing. Mitigating and aggravating factors. Aboriginal offenders. Mandatory minimums. Joint submissions. |
| 13 | Appeals and review | Appeals. Appeals of summary convictions. Judicial review of interlocutory and interim decisions. |
How we teach Criminal Law
Our teaching philosophy can be summed up in four words:
Understand.
Build a strong conceptual foundation in Canadian law.
Analyse.
Learn how Canadian courts approach legal problems and how principles operate in real cases.
Apply.
Analyse fact patterns and construct clear, structured exam answers.
Write.
Communicate your legal reasoning effectively within the demands of an NCA exam.
What you get
Live or recorded classes
Interactive sessions with expert faculty.
Notes for study and the exam
Concise yet comprehensive notes, built for concept clarity.
Customised IRACs
Exam-ready material for every topic.
One-on-one assistance
Direct help with your doubts.
Mock questions and evaluations
Practise the way the real exam works.
Exam strategies
Time management and answer-writing technique.
Other core subjects
Take subjects one at a time, or all five together in the complete NCA program.
Canadian Administrative Law
Understand judicial review, standards of review, procedural fairness, jurisdiction and the relationship between administrative decision-makers and the courts.
Canadian Constitutional Law
Build a strong understanding of the Canadian Constitution, Charter rights, federalism, constitutional remedies and constitutional interpretation.
Foundations of Canadian Law
Understand the Canadian legal system, sources of law, common law reasoning, legal institutions and the foundations on which Canadian law operates.
Canadian Professional Responsibility
Explore the professional obligations, ethical duties and regulatory framework governing the legal profession in Canada.