Full-time Programs
PARA - Paralegal
Program Entry
SEPTEMBER
Program Length
Two-Year Ontario College Diploma
Accredited by Law Society of Upper Canada (L.S.U.C.)
| Contact: | E-mail: |
|---|---|
| Jane Bailey | jbailey@loyalistc.on.ca |
On This Page
Highlights
- Field placement courses provide a total of eight weeks legal service work experience.
- Small classes with our dedicated, experienced faculty mean more personal attention.
- A junior paralegal working in government earns a starting salary of $41,000 to $45,000.
Career Opportunities
Working as a paralegal is a stimulating career for people who enjoy the challenge of helping a client resolve a legal question. There are a range of career choices. With a P-1 license from the Law Society of Upper Canada, a paralegal can work as a fee-for-service advocate to represent clients in Provincial Offences (Traffic) Court, Small Claims Court or before administrative tribunals such as the Ontario Landlord Tenant Board. Alternatively, paralegals may work as part of a legal team supporting lawyers who deal with more complex issues and cases. Paralegals working under the supervision of a lawyer are not required to be licensed by the Law Society unless the paralegal’s work includes appearing as a client representative in court or at an administrative tribunal. Another career choice for paralegals is to provide in-house client services working within government ministries, administrative agencies, private corporations, trade unions and professional associations.
Program graduates are employed as provincial offence prosecutors, paralegals in federal and provincial government legal services departments, legal assistants in law offices and community legal clinics, courts administration support staff and as independent, P-1 licensed, legal service providers.
Program Description
Courses train students in the legal procedures and substantive law applicable to the authorized areas of practice for Class P1, Law Society of Upper Canada licensed paralegals in Ontario. Emphasis is placed on the requirements of ethical conduct and the professional responsibilities of a P1 licensee. Classroom instruction is enhanced by practical experience obtained in two supervised work placements, the presentation of a moot court trial case in the Ontario Court of Justice. Students should have a good working knowledge of common computer software packages.
NOTE: Graduates of the program qualify to enter the paralegal licensing process to become a Class P1, licensed member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. For information on the licensing process, click here.
Approximate Cost
Tuition/Ancillary Fees: $3,393 (two semesters)
Consumables Fee: $10
Books and Supplies: $1,200 (two semesters)
Relocation and travel may be required for Year Two placement (practicum) courses – additional costs may be incurred.
Admission Requirements
(a) Required academic preparation –
- OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U), (M) or (O) level, and
- Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent
OR
Recommended academic preparation –
- Grade 12 mathematics
- computer proficiency in word processing, file management, email and Internet browsing
(b) Criminal Record Check: All students must undergo a criminal record check and/or vulnerable sector screening in order to qualify for the practicum component of the program. Please check with the program coordinator for details.
Loyalist / University Transfer
Turn your diploma into a degree. Credit transfer agreements are in place with the following institutions as of September 2011:
- Davenport University
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Click here for details. Graduates may contact the university to make individual arrangements. Informal agreements are in place with other institutions and new transfer agreements are added annually.
Curriculum
First Year - Semester One
LAWS 1007 Residential Landlord and Tenant Law
This course examines the Residential Tenancies Act, selected regulations, Landlord-Tenant Board processes and procedures and the types of evidence required in relation to a variety of frequently-encountered disputes concerning the rights and obligations of residential premises landlords and tenants in Ontario.
PARA 1000 Legal Computer Applications
Students will learn and practice computer software applications specific to working in a legal environment. Applications include formatting and editing legal documents, generating spreadsheets and Law Society recommended accounting programs/practices.
PARA 1001 Small Claims Court
The course examines the jurisdiction of Ontario Small Claims Court, the procedural requirements for various steps in an action from commencement through to appeal and enforcing payment of a judgment and best practices for drafting pleadings and other court documents.
PARA 1002 Torts and Contracts
Description to come.
PARA 1003 Introduction to the Legal System
Description to come.
COMM 1038 Communicating for Results 1
Learn to communicate effectively in writing, incorporate correct use of basic grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence construction.
First Year - Semester Two
PARA 1004 Legal Communication Writing
Description to come.
PARA 1005 Evidence and the Litagation Process
Description to come.
PARA 1006 Introduction to Administrative Law
Description to come.
PARA 1007 Legal Accounting
Description to come.
PARA 1008 Criminal Summary and Convictions
Description to come.
Second Year - Semester Three
PARA 2000 Legal Research and Writing
The course introduces students to the research resources and techniques which will assist them to identify, access and update relevant statements of law.
PRAC 2024 Paralegal Practicum
This course provides students with opportunities to observe day-to-day work requirements and employer expectations within their chosen field of study. In the discretion of placement host, students are assigned [ractical tasks that enable them to enhance career knowledge and skills.
SOCI 2000 Sociology of Deviance
This course is an examination of the sociological theories of deviance. The student will be responsiblefor researching one area of Sociological Deviance and preparing a paper on that topic.
PARA 2001 Provincial Offences / Motor Vehicle Offences
This course examines substantive principles and procedural requirements of Provincial Offences Act prosecutions in the Ontario Court Of Justice.
PARA 2009 Employment Law
Description to come.
PARA 2010 Tribunal Practice and Procedure
Description to come.
Second Year - Semester Four
PARA 2006 Advocacy
Introduction to the skills of effective client representation from initial client contact through to case presentation in court.
PARA 2007 Paralegal Career Preparation
This course is designed to assist students to research the employment market for graduates and to help students with job market entry preparations. In a Practice Lab (PaIRS office) students apply cumulative knowledge and skills to answer legal information questions from College students and staff.
PRAC 2025 Paralegal Practicum 2
This course provides students with opportunities to observe day-to-day work requirements and employer expectations within their chosen field of study. In the discretion of placement host, students are assigned practical tasks that enable them to enhance career knowledge and skills.
PARA 2008 Ethics – Professional Responsibility
Approximately 28 course hours ( 2 hours per week x 14 weeks) will be dedicated to lectures, classroom and/or independent study exercises and testing on Paralegal Rules of Conduct theory/ethics principles. Approximately 10 course hours per student will be dedicated to practical applicaiion exercises - applications of professional responsibility and ethics theory/principles - as students operate the Legal Clinic (PaIRS Legal Clinic) Lab.
PARA 2011 Practice Management – Operating a Small Business
Description to come.
PARA 2012 ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution
Description to come.
