Paralegal/Legal Assistant

You are:

• Detail oriented
• Organized
• Professional
• Focused
• Determined
• Fact-driven
• Trustworthy and reliable

The Oulton College Paralegal/Legal Assistant Diploma Program allows our students to experience the excitement and high-stakes world of law. Paralegals and Legal Assistants are an essential part of the legal team, as soundboards, researchers, you will be tasked with assisting lawyers in all major areas of law, including civil litigation, criminal, family, estates, corporate and property. You will be taught how to prepare legal correspondence and court documents to a high professional standard, and trained to research case law and statutes to be able to apply that research in case studies. Our graduates work primarily with lawyers to help manage their client files and prepare for court proceedings, but that is not the only path open to you as a grad. The skills you obtain with this diploma will also prepare you for work in corporate legal departments, government agencies, insurance companies, and real estate agencies. You will be taught by experienced legal professionals who will give you the insight and training necessary to succeed in a legal career. Our instructors will ensure that you master the required skills through extensive practice, collaboration, and real-world experiences.

How will we prepare you for a world full of lawyers?

Our Paralegal/Legal Assistant Diploma Program provides comprehensive instruction in:

• Legal Transcription: using the latest technologies required in today’s law offices
• Law Office Procedures: preparation of legal documents, legal office procedures, legal accounting, etc.
• Legal Theory: introduction to the common law legal system, the criminal law process, family law, contracts, torts, corporate law and property law.
• Legal Research: how to research cases and statutes using a legal database
• Microsoft Office: Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
• Advanced Keyboarding: proper keyboarding techniques, mastery of the keyboard, and operation of the computer.

Once you have the skills, then it’s time to put them to the test! Upon completion of 9 months of classroom instruction, you will be placed for a 2-week practicum in a legal office in order to gain hands-on, practical experience in the industry. Term: September – June

Career Choices:

Our Paralegal/Legal Assistant graduates have gone on to find jobs working with lawyers, justice departments (such as the courthouse), insurance companies, and real estate agencies.

• Law Offices
• Real Estate Offices
• Courthouses
• Corporate Offices
• Government Departments and Agencies

You Will Learn:

• Legal Theory
• Legal Transcription
• Wills and Estates
• Legal Accounting
• Real Estate & Property Law
• Corporate Law
• Family Law
• Choices in Approaching Conflicts
• Civil Litigation
• Office Administration
• Legal Database
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word

Admissions Requirements:

• Grade 12 Diploma, Adult Diploma or GED
• Meeting with an Admissions Advisor
• Acceptance by the Admissions Committee
• Completion of the Pre-Enrollment Package

Unless they have completed a minimum of three years of study at a school where English is the language of instruction, international students whose first language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency:

• CAEL – minimum score of 60
• IELTS – 6.0 with no individual score lower than 5.5
• TOEFL (IBT) – 80, with no individual score lower than 18
• MELAB – minimum score of 80
• Duolinguo – minimum score of 55
• Cambridge English – minimum score of 169
• Pearson Test of English – minimum score of 50

Course Descriptions:

Advanced Keyboarding

This course places emphasis on proper keyboarding techniques, mastery of the keyboard, and operation of the computer. Emphasis is also placed on speed and accuracy by the development of skill in typing a variety of office documentation, including letters, memos, reports and tables.

Legal Transcription

The student learns to use modern dictating equipment. Transcription skills, retention skills, and the ability to follow oral instruction are practiced. The production of typed, ready-to-mail copies from machine dictation is stressed.

Choices in Approaching Conflict

This course introduces the student to conflict resolutions skills. Even in the most traditional of practices, the concept of resolution through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and lastly adjudication, has reached a new level of acceptance. The student is provided with the tools necessary to assist them in becoming a key member of the legal team that recognizes the importance of conflict resolution in the most expeditious and just disposition of their clients concerns.

Real Estate and Property Law

The student is introduced to the area of real property law through real life scenarios. This module emphasizes the Land Titles System in New Brunswick, one of the most technologically advanced registry systems in the country. A historical look at the registry systems in this country, and on-line browsers gives the student a well-rounded appreciation of all types of registries. The Corporate, Personal Property and Real Property Registries are accessed on-line throughout the module to reinforce how the registries work. The student learns the basic steps in opening and maintaining files, closing the property transaction and reporting to the client and their financial institution. After this introduction, the students work with their peers to complete “closings” based on typical scenarios, preparing all correspondence, documents and reports required.

Legal Theory

This covers such areas of the law as an introduction to the common law legal system; the criminal law process; family law; contracts; torts; corporate law; and property law, as well as a general review of New Brunswick Statutes.

Legal Research

Students will learn how to use a legal database to research cases from every jurisdiction in Canada. Students will then learn how to prepare legal briefs of case law and to prepare submissions to a Court in support of legal arguments.

Computer Applications I and II

These courses introduce the concepts and principles underlying personal productivity tools that are widely used in business, such as word processing. Students learn basic computer terminology and concepts. Hands-on exercises provide students with experience in the use of personal computers and productivity tools. The student will create documents, format the document, work with graphics in a document, and properly proof the document. This course covers Excel at the introduction stage – how to work with information, change information, create basic math formulas, and create charts. The student will also be introduced to basic concepts of creating a presentation in PowerPoint using the same techniques. Outlook is more than just an email tool – the student will learn how to manage contacts, meetings, and their scheduling calendar. Legal Documents Preparation and Office Procedures

OFFICE PROCEDURES

The student learns the intricacies of the law office environment. They are introduced to the various staff members, the associates and the partners within the firm. To assist them in becoming a valuable member of a team in the legal community, they learn to recognize the various duties of each position and to appreciate the responsibilities of members of the staff within the legal profession. They receive an introduction to the preparation of legal documents, with an emphasis on proper formatting, accuracy, and proofreading skills. They are taught the steps involved in opening files for clients and maintaining those files in the areas of law which they are introduced to in the other modules of the course. The student learns the basics of legal accounting. The student becomes familiar with billable time, disbursements and accounts to clients, through scenarios from typical files at a law firm. They are introduced to an accounting program and taught how to apply the legal accounting knowledge to that particular program. Time management, an essential skill in the legal environment, is taught with a realistic approach based on the impact of real life situations on the ability to record and bill time.

CIVIL LITIGATION

The student learns the basic steps on a typical civil litigation file, from opening the file and interviewing clients, to commencing proceedings and drafting pleadings. The student will explore the Rules of Court of New Brunswick. They learn to distinguish between counter claims, cross-claims and third party claims; actions, applications and motions; and judgments, default judgments and summary judgments. They explore the discovery process, pre-trial procedures, trial preparation and costs to be awarded.

FAMILY LAW

The student learns how to navigate the procedural and transactional aspects of family law that they will encounter in the workplace. Students learn how to deal with divorce, custody and access issues with compassion while maintaining their professionalism. Separation agreements, financial statements and support orders are drafted and dissected to determine the correlation between the elements comprising them.

WILLS AND ESTATES

The student learns the basics of estate planning, with a concentration on Wills and Powers of Attorney. Basic Will clauses are introduced and students prepare Wills based on typical scenarios. The student is introduced to the necessary forms to request Letters Probate with respect to a Last Will & Testament or Letters of Administration for a person who dies intestate (without a Will).

CORPORATE LAW

The student learns the steps involved in incorporating a company, with an emphasis on the information required for completing forms to apply for the incorporation. By-laws, resolutions, minute books and share registers are prepared and maintained for a typical “small business” corporation.

Introductory Accounting

This course provides students with introductory experience in the field of bookkeeping or accounting to learn the skills and terminology necessary to work with computerized accounting in a small business. Through a progressive set of lectures and challenge exercises, students gain the knowledge and get the practice to complete basic computerized accounting work. *Content is subject to change by administration as required to meet program and profession standards.