Program Overview
The Paralegal program at St. Clair College provides comprehensive training in legal principles, research, and practice. Accredited by the Law Society of Upper Canada, it prepares students for careers in legal services, including representing clients in various legal settings and tribunals. The program offers a unique combination of classroom instruction, mock hearings, and practical experience through work placements and a legal clinic.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
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.
Program Highlights:
- 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).
Careers:
Career opportunities include self-employment, law firms, legal departments of corporations, administrative tribunals and government agencies.
Outline:
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG105 | Legal Communication And Paralegal Practice Management I | 3 | | PLG120 | Introduction To The Legal System | 3 | | PLG140 | Administrative Law | 2 | | PLG155 | Legal Research & Writing | 3 | | PLG160 | Criminal Procedures | 3 | | PLG170 | Landlord & Tenant | 3 | | PLG210 | Legal Computer Applications | 2 | | PLG180 | Critical Thinking, Reasoning & Persuasive Arguments | 2 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG205 | Paralegal Practice Management II | 3 | | PLG220 | Small Claims Court | 3 | | PLG260 | Provincial Offences | 3 | | PLG319 | Paralegal Clinic I | 2 | | PLG130 | Torts And Contracts | 2 | | PLG340 | Employment Law | 4 | | PLG270 | Tribunal Practice & Procedure | 3 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG500 | Field Placement | 9 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG305 | Paralegal Practice Management III | 3 | | PLG317 | Ethics & Rules Of Professional Conduct | 4 | | PLG320 | Legal Accounting | 2 | | PLG330 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 | | PLG365 | Advocacy | 3 | | PLG230 | Evidence & The Litigation Process | 3 | | BRS200 | Immigration | 3 | | PLG400 | Paralegal Clinic II | 2 |
Past Cohorts:
Fall 2021 Cohort
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG105 | Legal Communication And Paralegal Practice Management I | 3 | | PLG120 | Introduction To The Legal System | 3 | | PLG140 | Administrative Law | 2 | | PLG155 | Legal Research & Writing | 3 | | PLG160 | Criminal Procedures | 3 | | PLG170 | Landlord & Tenant | 3 | | PLG210 | Legal Computer Applications | 2 | | PLG180 | Critical Thinking, Reasoning & Persuasive Arguments | 2 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG205 | Paralegal Practice Management II | 3 | | PLG220 | Small Claims Court | 3 | | PLG260 | Provincial Offences | 3 | | PLG290 | Paralegal Clinic I | 3 | | PLG130 | Torts And Contracts | 2 | | PLG340 | Employment Law | 4 | | PLG270 | Tribunal Practice & Procedure | 3 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG500 | Field Placement | 9 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | PLG305 | Paralegal Practice Management III | 3 | | PLG310 | Ethics & Rules Of Professional Conduct | 2 | | PLG320 | Legal Accounting | 2 | | PLG330 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 | | PLG365 | Advocacy | 3 | | PLG230 | Evidence & The Litigation Process | 3 | | BRS200 | Immigration | 3 | | PLG370 | Justice at Work | 3 |
- Pathways: Upon graduation, the following pathway to a degree is available: Paralegal Bridge - CP99
- Emergency Alternate Delivery Plan: Winter 2024 Emergency Alternate Delivery
- Placement Requirements:
- Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of field placement within the scope of paralegal practice under the supervision of a licensee or equivalent thereof.
- Reliable transportation is required, as students may be placed anywhere in Windsor-Essex County. Students are responsible for their own travel and costs related to their field placement experiences.
- Students will be expected to wear professional attire and conform to the professional requirements of their placement provider.
- Field placements comprise of a 4-week full-time block during the Spring/Summer Semester (Semester 3 for B959 & Semester 5 for B897). Although requests for preferred weeks will be considered, unless the student has secured their own opportunity, the 4-week full-time blocks will be assigned based on the best match based on student's preferred field/practice of law and availability of opportunities.
- Field placement hours may vary from one host to another but are typically a 7-8 hour period between 8am-5pm EST Monday through Friday.
- To qualify for field placement experience, students may require a valid police clearance for the vulnerable sector (within 1 year of all placement days). In these instances, the student will be advised in advance to make the application with their respective local police services.
- Program Physical Demands Analysis: B959
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes:
- 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.
- 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, analyse 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.
