Legal Administrative Assistant
The legal industry provides many rewarding and challenging career paths. Legal administrative assistants are valued and well-paid members of any legal office and their work is diverse and interesting.
The Legal Administrative Assistant diploma program at Reeves College trains students to run a highly efficient legal office. The 43-week intensive program covers general office skills and legal-specific training. Students learn computer skills, commonly used software, advanced keyboarding, and legal transcription. Students also study the Canadian legal system, including legal rights and the court system. Students also learn about legal protocols and the day-to-day operations of a legal office.
Students will gain hands on experience during the course of a five week internship. In addition to the Legal Administrative Assistant diploma, graduates of this program receive Internet and Core Computing Certification. Graduates are able to further their education by entering our Paralegal diploma program.
“I chose the Legal Administrative Assistant program because I am very interested in the law. Reeves College helped me with my career goals by directing me in the appropriate direction in terms of jobs. My practicum helped me to understand the kinds of responsibilities I would have.” – Ashlea A., Reeves College Graduate
This program is 43 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Legal Assistant
- Commercial Law Clerk
- Real Estate Law Clerk
- Litigation Legal Assistant
- Legal Researcher
- Law Clerk
- Title Searcher
Program Courses
The program outline below is for Alberta.
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| LAW2020 |
Corporate and Commercial Law |
40 |
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- Students are introduced to the incorporation andorganization of an Alberta company. There will be anoverview of the Alberta Business Corporation Act, theAlberta Companies Act, the Societies Act, the CanadaBusiness Corporations Act and the Canada CorporationsAct. Guidelines and procedures for selecting a corporatename are covered. Student understanding of corporate bylawsand corporate structure is built, along with the typicalrequirements of corporate meetings, minutes, resolutionsand the duties of directors and officers. Students use legalprecedents to prepare articles of incorporation and corporateby-laws. Experience is gained with routine filings andresolutions. Students learn how to set up and maintaincorporate records (Records Book and as well as thetransitions to the new Business Corporations Acts).Corporate securities, records and changes are also covered.
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| B1075 |
Employment and Customer Service Skills |
20 |
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- In the employment skills component, effective resume preparation, cover letter formats, content and phraseology will be studied and practiced. In the customer service skills component, the importance of the customer and of customer service are examined through case studies and role-playing. Students will learn relevant theories of human behaviour and how they may be applied to improve customer relations.
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| LAW1040 |
Family Law Procedures |
60 |
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- This course introduces the family court system in BritishColumbia. Students become familiar with Provincial andSupreme Court documentation and procedures used to bringissues of marriage, separation, divorce, custody/access,child welfare, adoption, maintenance and property toresolution using the legal system. The Family Relations Actand the Divorce Act are covered. Students gain experiencein completing a contested divorce file. Child Supportguidelines are also covered.
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| LAW1020 |
General Legal Office Procedures and Documentation |
100 |
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- In this module students learn about the day-to-day organization, management and procedures of a legal office. The latest developments in office technology are presented and practically applied as students draft standard legal documents (agreements, statements of claim and defense, letters and memos). Students are also introduced to the important skills of timekeeping, filing and the effective use of communication systems (telephone, fax). Law office and trust accounting concepts and procedures are covered. One of the most highly valued abilities of legal administrative assistants and paralegals is that of being able to prioritize and organize multitask workloads. Students learn these important skills in tandem with problem solving and critical thinking skills development.
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| LAW1010 |
Introduction to the Study of Law |
40 |
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- Students will be provided with an overview of the Canadian legal system, legal institutions and the structure of the Canadian court system. Students learn about the history of Canadian law, including an analysis of the development of the Canadian constitution. The Legal Professional Act and the Rules of the Law Society of British Columbia will be discussed with a view towards professionalism and ethics in the field. There will be an examination of the roles and responsibilities of members of the legal profession. Students will learn how to interpret statutes and will attune their skills in legal reasoning. The Doctrine of Precedent, along with current issues, and developments in Canadian law will also be overviewed in this module. The process of law reform, the Law of Equity and how to distinguish case law and Stare Decisis will also be covered.
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| L1040 |
Job Search / Academic Review Techniques |
20 |
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- Students will have the use of our Job Search lab which has unlimited Internet access, a job search resource library and a fax machine and phone for contacting prospective employers. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques, and to carry out mock interviews. Students review core program concepts and learning in order to market their skills effectively.
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- Using a computer is essential in today’s office environment.This module offers the students an opportunity to familiarizethemselves with a standard keyboard. For the advancedkeyboarder, the module focus is to increase typing speedand accuracy.
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| LAW1030 |
Litigation Procedures I |
60 |
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- The focus of this course is on civil litigation. Students learnthe steps for opening and maintaining a litigation file and theAlberta court litigation stages and procedures.Familiarization is built with different types of damages andclaims as well as the procedures for proving a claim.Students gain experience preparing all relevant documents(for pre-trial and trial proceedings). Proceeding to trial isalso covered, along with the procedure for actions (inProvincial Court and Civil Division). Mediation andsettlement are introduced.
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- This module is for course credits but has no grade. Students will be placed in actual work places related to their field of study and will be expected to act as regular employees for five weeks in order to gain the valuable “real world” experience that so many employers seek. Students are encouraged to find their own work experience placement; however, once placed, continuation in that placement is mandatory. This is an unpaid experience.
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| LAW2010 |
Real Estate Law and Conveyancing I |
60 |
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- This course focuses on the substantive law of real estate.Students are introduced to basic convenyancing procedures.The registration system in Alberta is covered, along withother forms and documents related to transfer/deed,charge/mortgage, and discharge of charge/mortgage. Thestructure of a real estate sale is illustrated. Students alsolearn the requirements when acting for the vendor or actingfor the purchaser. Students also gain knowledge aboutclosing a real estate transaction.
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| L1015 |
Strategies for Success |
20 |
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stressmanagement and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume andlearn how to write effective cover letters.
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| S1000 |
Sustainable Futures |
20 |
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- Sustainability means meeting humanity’s needs withoutharming future generations. In this course, students willexplore the pillars of sustainability, sustainability’s relation tothe environmental movement, climate change and its effects,the Canadian and other governments’ actions, and how toincorporate sustainable practices into any workplace. Acombination of instructor presentations and timely, hands-onprojects will culminate in a student portfolio touching on thecourse’s key points.
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| LAW2040 |
Wills and Estates Planning I |
40 |
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- In this foundation course, students learn about wills andestates planning, estate succession, testacy, intestacy,requirements of a valid will and execution procedures.There is an introduction to the roles of the Executor andTrustee. Students learn about the Notice to Beneficiaries,Living Wills, Power of Attorney and RepresentationsAgreements. Assets, inheritance and estate inventory arealso presented.