2 years at RDC

Legal assistants often find work in law offices, governments, financial institutions, and in the oil and gas sector. They work under a lawyer's supervision completing routine legal and administrative processes.

Specific examples of Legal Assistant duties include real estate transactions; preparing common forms of wills, estates, probate and collection work, as well as litigation and corporate work.

Students are eligible to become members of the Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals.

This two-year program prepares students to work within the legal profession as a highly skilled administrative professional providing support to lawyers within law firms, legal departments of corporations and government agencies. Students will develop knowledge and skills in legal terminology and procedures, technology, and communication through the following learning outcomes:

• complete processes and documents related to default judgments and contested actions, collections and chambers applications
• complete processes, searches, documents, and letters related to a variety of real estate purchases and sales
• create wills and enduring power of attorney, personal directives and applications for trusteeship and guardianship
• complete applications for probate and administration
• complete processes and documents for application for divorce, custody, access, support and matrimonial property pursuant to the various family law statutes
• register a variety of types of businesses, and prepare and maintain a corporate minute book
• demonstrate a basic understanding of the Canadian legal system
• demonstrate a basic understanding of criminal law
• identify components of contracts and assemble selected contracts
• create messages, letters and documents with appropriate style and format, using correct grammar and spelling. Proofread and edit own work and the work of others
• complete math calculations common to a law office
• demonstrate technical competence related to information technology commonly used in legal environments
• use interpersonal communication skills to promote positive client relations, resolve conflict and promote a positive team working environment
• demonstrate initiative, attitude and positive presentation of self, appropriate to the legal environments
• behave in an ethical manner based on the Code of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Alberta
• demonstrate job search skills
• locate, evaluate, select, organize and summarize information using appropriate resources
• identify common problems encountered in the role of legal assistant and demonstrate problem solving strategies
• demonstrate time management and organizational skills.

A minimum of 50% in ELA 30-1 or 65% in ELA 30-2, or equivalent,

OR

a minimum score of 80 on the Reading component, 86 on the Sentence component and 5 on the written essay component of the College Board Placement Test.

Note: Applicants are advised that they are exempt from the Communication Course Placement Testing as COMM 150 and COMM 250 are program requirements.

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Note: It is to your advantage to have basic keyboarding and grammar before beginning the Program.

Note: Applicants are advised that they may be required to provide a Police Information Check to some agencies where they will be placed for practicum experiences. The existence of a criminal record may affect practicum placement and program completion therefore impact future employment prospects. It is each agency's or institution's decision to accept or reject a student for placement or observation experience based on the results of the Police Information Check.

You must pass all courses and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.