Paralegal

Program Purpose

To provide professional career preparation for learners wishing to pursue a career as a licensed paralegal. The program provides training in all areas within which paralegals are permitted by law to provide legal services. Students acquire an understanding of the general principles of law and receive theoretical and practical training in specific legal subjects, ethics and professional responsibility, and business practice.

Program Goals

• Write the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) paralegal licensing examination with a view to becoming a licensed paralegal.
• Identify the scope of paralegal practice established by the Law Society Act.
• Conduct himself or herself in compliance with the ethical and professional responsibilities of a Paralegal in accordance with the rules and by-laws established by the LSO and in particular the Paralegal Rules of Conduct and Paralegal Professional Conduct Guidelines.
• Establish and manage a paralegal practice in accordance with the rules and by-laws of the LSO including the Paralegal Rules of Conduct, Paralegal Professional Conduct Guidelines and Practice Management Guidelines.
• Apply basic accounting principles, terminology, and operations to all paralegal obligations related to trust accounts, and the LSO's requirements for book and record keeping.
• Describe the fundamental elements of the Canadian government and legal system and the organization of the Canadian court system.
• Identify basic principles of property, business and consumer law, torts and contract law, employment law, landlord and tenant law, immigration and refugee law and debtor and creditor law.
• Follow procedural and evidentiary rules of civil litigation proceedings in the Small Claims Court.
• Describe the principles of criminal and quasi-criminal law and comply with procedural and evidentiary rules relating to proceedings under the Criminal Code and the Provincial Offences Act before the Ontario Court of Justice.
• Apply principles of administrative law before a variety of administrative tribunals.
• Advise clients with respect to their rights and responsibilities within the permitted scope of paralegal practice.
• Research, interpret and apply federal and provincial legislation and common law and prepare case briefs, legal memoranda pleadings and correspondence clearly, concisely, accurately and persuasively.
• Effectively advocate on behalf of clients before courts and administrative tribunals and with opposing parties.
• Identify various alternative dispute resolution mechanisms available and effectively negotiate and mediate on behalf of clients.