Paralegal PLG

Holland Code: E (Enterprising)

What academic skills do I need to be successful in the program?

This list does not replace the admission requirements you must have for admission to the program. Please see website for details.

General requirements

• This is a graduate certificate program meaning applicants need to have a Law related college diploma or university degree or work experience to enter the program.

What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?

• The ability to pay careful attention to detail
• The ability to maintain accuracy
• Personal and professional integrity, strong ethics and the ability to maintain confidentiality
• The ability to think logically and analyze information
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• May be exposed to the negative aspects of society and must be able to maintain a professional distance
• The ability to organize work and co-ordinate other people's activities
• High degree of responsibility, maturity, conscientiousness
• The ability to work independently with little supervision
• Good organization and time management skills

What kind of work could I do when I graduate?

Graduates of this program may go on to become a …

Licensed Paralegal.

Typical working conditions for this kind of work:

• Often work extended office hours
• Overtime may be required to meet deadlines
• Work with high productivity in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment

Places you may find yourself employed include

Law firms; paralegal firms; community legal clinics; collection agencies; litigation/e-discovery departments in firms, corporations and organizations; tribunals, boards and courts; financial institutions; insurance companies; legal technology providers; property management firms; or federal, provincial and municipal governments.

Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace

• Draft legal documents such as pleadings, motions, affidavits,  applications, contracts etc. as permitted in the scope of practice for paralegals in Ontario
• Draft and follow up with correspondence
• Assisting clients with matters pertaining to the small claims court, provincial and motor vehicle offences, summary conviction offenses, employment law, landlord and tenant law, alternate dispute resolution,
• Legal research and writing, amongst other things, as permitted by the Paralegal’s scope of practice as per provincial legislation and Law Society regulation
• Conduct tax and other legal searches
• Assist in various aspects of personal injury litigation
• Assist with e-Discovery matters, organize and review documents
• Attend and conduct pre-trial/pre-hearing and trial/hearing proceedings for Paralegal permitted scope of practice matters and can assist lawyers (under lawyer supervision) with document management for matters outside the Paralegal’s permitted scope of practice
• Interview witnesses and assemble documentary evidence for trials
• Deal directly with clients on permitted scope of practice matters and act as a liaison between clients and lawyers when lawyers are unavailable
• Legal accounting (including trust accounting), docketing, expense tracking, billing, collections etc.
• Develop office procedures and computer functions to improve efficiency
• Perform related administrative functions

Helpful links for further research into this Fanshawe College program and career opportunity

Websites with good information for further research on the careers associated with this program

• Paralegal licensing examination (run and administered by the Law Society of Upper Canada)
• Paralegal Society of Canada (PSO)
• Ontario Paralegal Association (OPA) (pending merging of PSO and the LPA)
• Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC)
• Fanshawe’s library has prepared a subject guide for current students in this program. You may find the links and information provided very useful in learning more about this career.

Opportunities for further development or education

Last Modified: January 22, 2024