Course Code: PLBA 3000
Academic Year: 2024-2025
This course examines the constitutional framework governing immigration law and practice in Canada and the evolution of the current system of immigration and refugee governance under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, its regulations, rules,and memoranda. Learners gain insight into how licensed paralegals under their current scope of practice can work as representatives in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board, develop policy that informs legal developments in migration and settlement and in agencies whose clients are newcomers to Canada. All aspects of case preparation before the Immigration and Refugee Board are discussed, including legal requirements of the status applied for and the determination of the key legal issues at stake in an IRB matter. Besides refugee claims, legal requirements for other categories (such as temporary permits, economic immigration, and resettlement programs) will be discussed as connected to a matter before the Immigration and Refugee Board. The students will critically assess all immigration laws and policy under the lens of the safeguards in place to balance global migration (push/pull factors) and national security (terrorism/health concerns). This course serves to further the interest in paralegals who wish to pursue further studies in immigration and refugee legal practice in Canada.