Legal Office Administration - Durham CollegeParalegal and Legal Assistant Education in CanadaArts and Humanities Programs -- Community College Programs
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Legal Office Administration - Durham 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, Durham College's 3-year Legal Administration/Law Clerk Advanced Diploma 'provides students with a general business background and extensive training in both the theory and practice of law.' The Program will focus its legal education to on those aspects of Canadian law most applicable to the law clerk profession including, but not limited to, 'wills and estates law, contracts, corporate, property and family law.' Students will be exposed 'to the concepts and procedures involved in each area' of law and be presented 'with the opportunity to work on practical law-related projects both in class or in the workplace.' Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learn at the College to real-world situations, as well as 'gain practical hands-on experience,' via 'intensive field placement courses' in a relevant legal environment. In fact, 'students will spend 70 hours in their second year and 280 hours in their third year in a field placement.' The Legal Administration/Law Clerk Advanced Diploma program is recognized by ILCO, and thus students are eligible to become a student member of the latter. Furthermore, as a result of an agreement between ILCO and the College, students will have 'the opportunity to continue into exciting professional development courses such as a certificate in dispute resolution (introductory and advanced), and securities law.' Graduates of the Program can pursue various career, career advancement, and/or educational opportunities in legal administration and related areas. Although the Program is primarily designed to prepare students to be clerks and/or assistants 'to a law firm, government agency, corporation or provincial court office,' the broad array of subjects to which learners are exposed will enable them to apply for positions 'not only in law offices but also in government agencies, corporations, provincial and municipal legal departments and corporations, where a legal and business background is an asset.' Most common titles assumed by graduates are that of bankruptcy/solvency clerk, conveyancer, corporate services clerk, court clerk/administrator, financial services clerk, law clerk, legal assistant, legal services clerk, legal researcher, litigation law clerk, office management, paralegal, and title searcher. Students should note that some positions might require further training or credentials, as determined by individual employer. Also, individuals with a criminal record may find it difficult to obtain employment in this field as, because of the nature of the work that will be performed, many employers are reluctant to hire those with a criminal history. Graduates can also further their studies at various institutes, colleges, and universities across Canada, often with advanced standing. For example, graduates can take advantage of one of the College's existing transfer agreements and transfer into another program with advanced credit. Such Agreements exist with Athabasca University, Carleton University, Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, Laurentian University, McMaster University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and York University. Graduates can also pursue further criminal justice/legal administration-related graduate certificates and diplomas at Durham College. To be eligible for admission to the Program, applicants must have either an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, Academic and Career Entrance Program (ACE), Basic Training for Skills Development (BTSD), or General Educational Development (GED). Applicants must also have completed senior level (Grade 11 or higher) subject credits, including General (G), Advanced (A), OAC, College Preparation (C), University/College Preparation (M), University Preparation (U) or Postsecondary (college or university), and Grade 12 English. Applicants who do not have the aforementioned credentials and who are 19 years of age or older by the commencement of the Program may apply under "mature student status." Furthermore, applicants 'with post-secondary credits may be considered for advanced standing on an individual basis.' Although not required for admission, the College advises applicants to acquire the ability to type at least 40 words per minute as this skill is beneficial not only within the Program but also when pursuing employment. If a Program becomes oversubscribed, that is, the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available seats, the College will prioritize applicants thusly: 'permanent residents of Ontario, permanent residents of other provinces and territories in Canada, applicants from other countries.'
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