Paralegals in Canada are in high demand as one of the fastest growing professions, earn as much as $60,000 (Cdn.) annually and work in a range of law firms, for the court system and as freelancers. Demand in the field is growing as legal firms increase in size. These professionals are highly skilled, often hold a university degree and are the administrative backbone in the legal field.
The number of paralegal positions has more than doubled since 1990 with the creation of in-house positions and new areas of paralegal practice. In addition to law firms and law offices, paralegals work in government offices, law departments and compliance departments in public and private corporations, legal aid clinics, community legal clinics, banks, investment firms, financial services institutions, search houses, marketing firms, agencies such as filing services, recruitment agencies, consulting firms, educational institutions, research firms and in companies that provide services to the legal profession.
Become a Paralegal Armed With a Paralegal University Degree
Several Canadian universities offer undergraduate degrees specializing in paralegal studies. However, as demand for paralegals is high in Canada, it is expected that more universities will begin offering paralegal degrees.
The Bachelor of Legal Studies (Paralegal) Degree at Capilano University in British Columbia is a four-year degree that includes courses in law, procedural law and legal skills. The program’s first student intake, in 2010, included 20 students.
Humber College in Toronto offers a Bachelor of Applied Arts, Paralegal Studies through its business school. This degree program is the only of its kind in Ontario, combining theory with practice. Graduates are offered work placements at the end of the program for on-the-job experience to sharpen new competencies.
Paralegal Training, Degree Preparation for Growing Job Market
According to the Canadian Paralegal Association, paralegals engage in substantive legal work that includes managerial or administrative duties, working independently under the direction of a lawyer. Paralegals are often referred to as law clerks, legal assistants, legal technicians or technical clerks.
Paralegal work in Canada includes:
- drafting documents (such as pleadings, contracts and other legal documents)
- legal research
- assisting with legal transactions
- communicating with clients
- training legal office staff
- office business administration
Paralegals also handle routine legal procedures such as files for Small Claims Court, property disputes, insurance files, amicable divorces and disability appeals. Paralegals can also take care of regular business procedures like name changes, simple incorporations and company registrations. Importantly, paralegals have a defined scope of permitted responsibility which is published by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Demand for paralegals in Canada is rising. Degree programs at universities will become more plentiful to meet the growing job needs.
Shelley Aylesworth-Spink - Shelley Aylesworth-Spink has worked in support of communications, marketing and advertising for nearly 25 years in the private and public ...
