Fast-track your legal career.

The one-year Law Clerk Intensive Ontario College Diploma program covers a wide range of legal topics and processes. This program is designed to help you advance your career as a legal assistant or law clerk. It is also a valuable addition to your career as a paralegal in Ontario.

This program prepares you for administrative work in an office environment where you work independently under the general direction of a lawyer or as part of a legal services team. Learn from dedicated faculty who ensure that your skills surpass industry standards.

Practicing in an off-site field placement and in-class workplace simulation allow you to further develop your skills and knowledge.

As a student, you develop and practise the skills that are essential for a successful career, including:

• paying attention to details and independently following instructions
• organizing client files and managing deadlines
• interviewing clients
• performing general office procedures
• working with legal software to compile information and prepare documents
• compiling evidence and documentation
• maintaining corporate documents and filings
• entering data in legal forms and drafting routine correspondence
• preparing briefs
• learning about family, estates, civil litigation, corporate, administrative, and real estate law practices
• engaging in civil litigation and research

Graduates have the skills and flexibility to apply their knowledge in a variety of entry-level law clerk positions within:

• law offices
• corporations
• government legal departments and agencies
• financial institutions
• court and registry offices

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are interested in broadening career development as a paralegal and a law clerk in Canada and worldwide.
• Possess excellent interpersonal and human relations skills.
• Are organized, detail-oriented and flexible.
• Work well under pressure.
• Have a strong literacy and communications background.
• Have a high standard of ethics.

Careers

Graduates have the skills and flexibility to apply their knowledge in a variety of entry-level law clerk positions within law offices, corporations, government legal departments and agencies, financial institutions, court and registry offices.

The descriptions of legal skills, responsibilities, and settings indicate the abilities and environment in which the graduate may generally work, and are not intended to imply that the law clerk is practising law.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Support the needs of clients and legal professionals through the use of accurate terminology and professional communication strategies, both orally and in writing.
2. Complete all work within routine and unexpected time lines and limitation periods within the legal environment.
3. Use current and relevant electronic and print resources, within the legal environment, to conduct legal research, to assist with file and evidentiary management, to facilitate communication and generate legal documentation, complying with current regulations and procedures.
4. Research and summarize the presenting legal issues, applying knowledge of substantive law, to support the legal team.
5. Apply rules of procedure to support best legal practices.
6. Conduct oneself professionally in adherence to the guidelines of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
7. Carry out clerical and administrative duties for the operation of a variety of legal environments.
8. Outline strategies for ongoing professional development to ensure continuing competence as a Law Clerk.
9. Act equitably and justly with diverse populations.
10. Provide support for legal professionals in courts and administrative tribunals within the legal system.
11. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

LAW CLERK (INTENSIVE)
Program Code 0220Z05FWO

Applications to Full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, ON N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Applications are available online at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants applying from out-of-country can obtain the International Student Application Form at https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/ or by contacting the Registrar`s Office.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Program Resources

Students seeking exemptions or Advanced Standing for courses in the program should consult with the coordinator of the program prior to taking the course to determine whether the course content of the proposed substitute matches the course outcomes of the course in the program of study. While courses may have similar titles, it is not to be assumed that credit is to be granted. Course outlines, as well as course descriptions need to be assessed to determine transferability of credit. A minimum grade requirement is applicable.

The Law Clerk (Intensive) program prepares you for assisting lawyers with legal administrative work. If you enjoy advocating for others and are entrepreneurial, you may wish to consider Algonquin College`s Paralegal Ontario College Graduate Certificate program.

Note: Courses may be scheduled at any time between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Note: A Criminal Records Check may be required for placement and employment purposes.