Paralegal
Paralegals are well-paid and vital members of any legal office. In order to succeed in the fast-paced legal field, paralegals need a relevant and up-to-date legal education.
Reeves College's 65-week Paralegal diploma program trains students in the administrative and extensive legal skills they need to excel in a law office. Students learn computer, keyboarding, and communication skills. They also gain an in-depth understanding of the Canadian court system, laws, and legal rights. Students become proficient at handling legal evidence and filing legal documentation.
Students put their training into practice over the course of a five-week internship in a law office. In addition to their Paralegal diploma, graduates of this program receive Internet and Core Computing Certification.
“The Paralegal program offers the motivated and intelligent student a unique opportunity to learn a great deal about the legal process. It is a hands-on learning experience rewarding independent thought and emphasizing creative thinking.” – Grant Nickless, Reeves College Paralegal Instructor
This program is 65 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Small or Large Law Firms
- Legal Departments
- Government Agencies
- Real Estate Offices
- Trust Companies
- Financial Institutions
Program Courses
The program outline below is for Alberta.
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- Students learn about the formation of partnerships andgeneral concepts underlying incorporations. Thefundamental principles of contract law and various types ofcontacts are overviewed including an offer, acceptance,certainty, intention, consideration, privity, capacity, publicpolicy, frustration, breach, misrepresentation, mistake andremedies.
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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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| LAW3060 |
Corporate and Commercial Law II |
40 |
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- This course advances student understanding and knowledge of the differences between reporting and non-reporting companies. Students analyze agency relationships, liabilities and methods of securing financial transactions and acquiring assets. Different types of financial arrangements, the nature of security, credit devices, priorities and assignments are covered. There is also a review and consolidation of the structure of businesses, their creation and the requirements for their transfer. The procedures involved in various commercial transactions from the opening of a file to the closing are presented. Students become familiar with typical documentation dealing with a variety of commercial transactions: commercial leasing, commercial financing of real and personal property and commercial sales.
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| LAW4020 |
Credit and Collection Procedures |
40 |
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- This course presents the laws and procedures related to debtor’s and creditor’s rights. Students learn about builders' liens, applicable statute law and provincial legislation. The procedural rules to bring a simple debt action, file a debt action and file a writ of enforcement are overviewed. Students review the means of enforcing a judgment and realizing on personal property security. Both Provincial Court and Supreme Court procedures are analyzed. Students learn about the process for garnishing wages and bank accounts.
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| LAW2030 |
Criminal Law and Evidence I |
40 |
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- In this introductory course, students learn about the nature,purpose, scope, sources and basic principles of criminal law.The Criminal Code of Canada and the Charter of Rights andFreedoms are discussed. Students review the basicelements of a criminal offence and the practical proceduresutilized throughout a client’s arrest, trial, sentencing andappeal. Jurisdictional issues are presented, along with theprocess for jury election. There will also be a discussion ofevidence.
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| LAW3080 |
Criminal Law and Evidence II |
40 |
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- This course, a continuation of Criminal Law and Evidence I,covers interviewing techniques and investigation procedureswith regards to criminal offenses, examination techniques(direct and cross) the creation and maintenance of a criminalfile. This course also includes the gathering of information,obtaining a retainer, completing documentation, billing andreporting. There is also a review of law of evidence and theevidentiary statement.
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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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- This course provides students with an overview of Canadian insurance law including the structure of the industry, insurable interests, valuation, subrogation, contribution and indemnity and duty to disclose. Agents’ duties and responsibilities, form and formation of the insurance contract; the claims process and Alberta Auto Insurance issues are also covered. This course also focuses on personal injury practice and relevant substantive law and procedures required to manage a personal injury file.
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| LAW4010 |
Intellectual Property |
40 |
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- This course provides an overview of common law, legislation and international treatises and conventions impacting intellectual property (focusing on copyright, patents, and trademarks). Students are also introduced to the concepts, practice underlying the management and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
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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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| LAW3040 |
Legal Research and Interviewing |
60 |
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- Research and analytical skills are developed in this course.Students gain an understanding of research design, datagathering, analysis and reporting. The studies of primaryand secondary research materials are covered, along withhow to correctly cite sources, case law, statutes, regulationsand legislation. Students will prepare a legal researchmemorandum, read case briefs and legal documents, useencyclopedias, annotated reports, law reviews and casecomments. Internet research is also covered extensively,along with how to locate decisions and statutes. Studentslearn about various types of interviews and increase theirexpertise in conducting interviews. Students also learnabout how laws and statutes are made (first reading, secondreading), hone their legal reasoning and legal problemsolving skills.
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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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| LAW3050 |
Litigation Procedures II |
40 |
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- In this course, a continuation of Litigation Procedures II, students learn about the enforcement of judgments, the use of precedents in litigation and further their understanding and knowledge of alternative dispute resolution. Students deepen their understanding of the law- making process, the use of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and procedures in Small Claims Court and Supreme Court of Alberta. This course also prepares students to draft motion of notice and affidavit.
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- This module is for course credits but has no grade. Studentswill be placed in actual work places related to their field ofstudy and will be expected to act as regular employees forfive weeks in order to gain the valuable “real world”experience that so many employers seek. Students areencouraged to find their own work experience placement;however, once placed, continuation in that placement ismandatory. This in 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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| LAW3070 |
Real Estate Law and Conveyancing II |
40 |
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- The nature of mortgages, features, legal and equitableinterests, principles of interest, priorities, assignment,extinguishment, insurance issues, and payout strategies arecovered in this course. A continuation of Real Estate Lawand Conveyancing I, property law concepts, the land titlesystem, undertakings, conflict of interest, contract ofpurchase and sale, and tax issues are also covered.Students also learn about the Personal Property SecuritiesAct, validity of security agreements, rights of parties andtheory, concepts, procedures and forms. Students also gainknowledge of commercial conveyancing matters and the roleof the conveyancing assistant.
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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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- This course is an overview of the laws of negligence andvarious types of torts including false imprisonment, assault,battery, defamation, nuisance, recovery of pure economicloss.
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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.
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| LAW3090 |
Wills and Estates Planning II |
20 |
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- An overview of The Wills Act and the Administration ofEstates Act are covered. This course also covers the rolesof the Executor and Trustee.