Overview
The Legal Assistant certificate program will provide you with technical skills and a specialized education that will prepare you for a career as a legal office assistant. Emphasis is placed on the practical demands of the job including the understanding of legal terminology and procedures, professional ethics, meeting deadlines and interpersonal relations.
Specialized terminology and documentation will form the basis on which your keyboarding skills are developed. In addition, you will develop an understanding of the core areas of legal office administration with emphasis on the practices and procedures of law including: Family Law and Criminal Law, as well as the practices involved in Litigation, Corporate, Real Estate and Small Claims Court.
Curriculum
Office Procedures help students acquire practical and transferable office administration skills, attitudes, behaviours and knowledge which are valuable in obtaining and retaining careers in today's fast-changing office environment.
In Word-Specialist students learn how to use MS Word for Windows. Students learn to create, edit, format and print documents as well as create multiple pages documents with tables, and desktop publishing.
In this course, students develop their knowledge of contemporary English grammar standards and organizational writing patterns, which together create a strong foundation for organizing and writing tasks in subsequent communication courses.
Students build a vocabulary of common legal terminology used within a law office, government agency, court systems, social services and current affairs through practice, study guide and quizzes.
This course will develop students' knowledge and expertise in the area of civil litigation. Students will become familiar with a wide range of activities, responsibilities and document preparation.
Students become more familiar with the wide range of duties and responsibilities in the area of Real Estate law for Law Office Administration/Assistants program including document and file preparation.
Wills & Estate Practice & Procedures focuses on the function and drafting of Wills and Powers of Attorney and the laws and procedures relating to the administration of estates in Ontario.
Criminal Law Practice & Procedures help students better understand the criminal justice system and the Charter of Rights and Freedom. The focus of this course will be taking the student through the adult criminal justice process from arrest to completion of criminal charges.
Corporate Practice & Procedures focuses on the preparation and filing of articles of incorporation, the organization of Ontario and Federal corporation, corporate changes, steps involved in annual filings and updates as well as registering other forms of business organization.
Real Estate Practice & Procedures 2 reviews the processes generally used in a law office for real estate transactions including: Mortgages, Commercial vs. Residential properties, title issues, EREG system and more.
Law Office Accounting focuses on accounting procedures relating to the keeping of records and recording of transactions in a law office and the requirements of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
The courses listed above are in the recommended order of completion.
Program Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Apply organizational skills to complete tasks and to meet deadlines in the legal environment.
- Produce accurate legal correspondence by a specified deadline using available computer technology as well as applying recording, editing, and language skills.
- Develop and maintain data management systems to ensure organized legal records.
- Respond to electronic and paper communications to facilitate the flow of information.
- Produce and maintain accurate financial records by compiling information and using appropriate software.
- Employ effective interpersonal skills to ensure customer service, to assist the completion of individual and team tasks, and to promote the image of the organization.
Graduation/Convocation
When you meet all program requirements and become eligible for a certificate, diploma, or degree, you must inform the Registrar by completing a Graduation Application form and paying the graduation and alumni fee. Certificates, diplomas, and applied degrees are issued twice a year in the Fall (October) and Spring (June).
For further information including deadlines and fees, please visit the Convocation website or contact the Convocation Office at 416-491-5050 ext. 77461.
Program Contacts
Annie Kirkham
Program Assistant
Annie.Kirkham@senecacollege.ca
416-491-5050 ext.22536
Dedra Profitt
Program Coordinator
Dedra.Profitt@senecacollege.ca
416-491-5050 ext.22826