Paralegal

As a P-1 Licensee with the Law Society of Ontario, a Paralegal provides legal services to clients within the permitted scope of practice. This includes representing clients in provincial offences court, which includes highway traffic offences, municipal by-law matters, liquor license cases, occupational health and safety issues, as well as civil litigation matters in small claims court. Paralegals may also appear in the Ontario Court of Justice representing clients charged with less serious criminal offences. Paralegals may represent clients in a broad range of tribunals such as the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, Human Rights Commission, and Landlord and Tenant Board, to name a few.

The program is set-up in part as an office simulation and includes mock hearings and trials. In addition to a 140-hour work placement, students have the opportunity to work in the St Clair College Forms Completion Clinic to gain valuable real-life experience working with clients while offering an invaluable service to the community. The Paralegal Program has been accredited in accordance with the standards established by the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Paralegal Education Program Accreditation Policy (PEPA).

What You’ll Learn

• Utilize the applicable legal structure, process, and jurisdictional authority of courts and administrative tribunals to effectively represent clients in disputes and appeals within the permitted scope of paralegal practice
• Research, analyse and interpret legislation and examine judicial interpretation of legislation, and produce proper citation of provincial and federal statutes, regulations, case law and other legal resources.
• Employ effective human relations, interpersonal, and intervention strategies in support of the client relationship to assist in resolving legal disputes.
• Work within areas of permitted practice and articulate limitations on representation for paralegals.
• Develop client relationships through interpersonal, and effective oral and written communication skills.
• Employ effective administration and business management skills, utilizing basic accounting techniques, office organization and case management strategies.
• Utilize information technology resources and current industry computer software.
• Develop and assess strategies which adhere to established principles of ethics and codes of conduct, and enhancement of professional competence.
• Conduct legal research and collect, analyze and synthesize different research tools for the purposes of legal drafting and representation.
• Select, evaluate and utilize effective advocacy techniques, including oral and written legal presentations, using accurate legal terminology.