This program is delivered at our downtown campus, the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. If you’re staying in residence, which is located at our main campus, it is a quick 20 minute bus ride to our downtown campuses. The bus stops directly behind the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. The MediaPlex is one block south of the Centre for the Arts.
Program 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).
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities include self-employment, law firms, legal departments of corporations, administrative tribunals and government agencies.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with the majority of courses at the College (C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level qualify for admission to this program.
Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.
Applicants with a College Diploma or substantial completion of a University Degree may apply to Paralegal - Accelerated.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Past Cohorts:
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 |
| PLG180 | Critical Thinking, Reasoning & Persuasive Arguments | 2 |
| PLG170 | Landlord & Tenant | 3 |
| PLG210 | Legal Computer Applications | 2 |
| ENG107 | College Writing | 3 |
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 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| PLG160 | Criminal Procedures | 3 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLG305 | Paralegal Practice Management III | 3 |
| PLG310 | Ethics & Rules Of Professional Conduct | 2 |
| PLG320 | Legal Accounting | 2 |
| PLG270 | Tribunal Practice & Procedure | 3 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| BRS200 | Immigration | 3 |
| PLG370 | Justice at Work | 3 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| PLG230 | Evidence & The Litigation Process | 3 |
| PLG330 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| PLG365 | Advocacy | 3 |
| PLG340 | Employment Law | 4 |
Semester 5
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLG500 | Field Placement | 9 |
Placement Requirements
- Please be aware that although a COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend St. Clair College, some of our placement sites may require students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to be eligible to attend. Unfortunately, we cannot predict if a placement site will begin to require full vaccination and as such, we are encouraging all students to consider vaccination. If the requirement of your placement sites changes at any point, you will be notified immediately by the College.
- It is important to note that if placement sites do require students to be fully vaccinated to attend their place of business, students who are not fully vaccinated cannot be provided with a placement for their program and therefore will not be able to complete their programs.
- If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, please contact our St. Clair College Health Centre at 519-972-2727 ext. 4484 (in Windsor) or 519-354-9100 ext. 3729 (in Chatham).
- In accordance with the LSO and Graduation Requirements, all students enrolled in the paralegal program 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.
- Opportunities for student field placements are arranged. Personal requests for a specific placement cannot be accommodated unless the student secures that opportunity for themselves. (In those instances, it must be with a field placement provider not already set up through the college).
- 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
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Court and Tribunal Agent (Ontario College Diploma) (MTCU Code 52613)
The successful completion of the program will enable the graduate to:
- 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, 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.