Law Clerk - St. Lawrence CollegeCriminal Justice Education in CanadaCrime and Fire Programs -- Community College Programs
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Law Clerk - St. Lawrence College Incorporated in 1968, the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO) constitutes 'the professional organization for Law Clerks' that seeks to provide 'an organized network for the promotion of unity, cooperation and mutual assistance among Law Clerks in Ontario,' as well as 'advance and protect the status and interests of the profession.' ILCO also provides and promotes 'general and legal education to its members for the purpose of increasing their knowledge, efficiency and professional ability.' Members of ILCO are provided with continuing education opportunities, a network of fellow professional law clerks, and a newsletter regarding the law clerk profession. As ILCO states, a Law Clerk is an individual employed or retained, in functions and/or capacities involving administrative, managerial, and/or 'specifically-delegated substantive legal work,' by governmental and/or judiciary agencies and agents, including court judges, law firms, lawyers, and/or other entities. For instance, law clerks working for a lawyer in a corporate setting are usually in charge of completing certain transactions, like in real estate, conducting searches and research, drafting contracts and correspondences, and maintaining, managing, and filing corporate documents and files. On the other hand, law clerks employed in a litigation firm often accompany the lawyer to meetings and court appearances, conduct research, file documents with the courts, and interview clients and witness. Law Clerks acquire qualification 'through education, training or work experience,' and will typically require 'sufficient knowledge of legal concepts' in order to perform any delegated legal work 'that, in the absence of a law clerk, the lawyer would perform.' To be successful as a law clerk, an individual will require strong communication, human relations, inter-personal, literacy, and organizational abilities as well as be able to work under pressure, detail-oriented, and observant. Combining theoretical and practical education St. Lawrence College 2-year Law Clerk diploma has, as its primary objective, 'to develop law clerks who can assist practising lawyers in the day-to-day routine of their primary functions of advising and advocacy.' The Program 'provide 'the student a general grounding in business with specialized training in various aspects of law and legal procedure,' especially in the areas of business law, civil litigation, criminal defense, family law, property law, and wills and estates. This 'combination of business and law subjects provides a strong background not only for legal work but also for a variety of positions with government, financial institutions and business.' During the second year, students will have the opportunity to apply and practice what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations via 2 work experience placements 'in law offices.' Furthermore, these Placements will provide students with 'first hand observations of practices and procedures.' Graduates of the Program can pursue careers, career advancement, or further education in the legal field and related areas of the criminal justice system. Career-wise, graduates are often hired as law clerks by corporate legal departments, financial institutions, insurance companies, law firms, legal technology providers, title insurance companies, and various levels of governments. Individuals with a criminal record may find it difficult to obtain employment in this field as, because of the nature of the work, many employers may be reluctant to hire those who have a criminal history. Graduates can also pursue further education in the legal field at various institutes, colleges, and universities, often with advanced standing of up to 60 credits, or 2 years. To be eligible for admission to the Diploma program, students are required to have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, or equivalent. The College recommends that applicants take 'Grade 12 English at the college or university level' as well as 'Grade 11 Understanding Canadian Law (U/C) and Grade 12 Canadian and International Law (U).' Individuals interested in the Program but who not possess the aforementioned criteria should consult with one of the College's student advisors or the Program's coordinator for further information.
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