Program Description Humber’s Bachelor of Applied Arts – Paralegal Studies program is the only four-year degree program to receive accreditation by The Law Society of Ontario as an accredited paralegal education program. This program combines legal theory with practical applications in courses covering ethics and professional responsibility, negotiation and mediation, evidence, advocacy, contract and tort law, insurance law, and employment law. Students are provided with the legal foundation needed to consider a career as a licensed paralegal. We believe that properly representing a client includes understanding the client’s background and motivation. As a result, our program has eight electives which provide students with the opportunity to study social science, humanities and science electives.
Work placements offer on-the-job experience where you will use and sharpen the skills you’ve learned in class and apply them to real-world situations. The work placement is from May to August after Semester 6 and lasts 14 weeks/420 hours. You will work with your placement advisor to find a placement that fits your career goals. We provide placement support, such as working with the legal community, to identify work placement employment opportunities.
Your career as a paralegal can take you in many exciting directions, from representing clients in the Ontario Small Claims Court, and Provincial Offences Court to being a paralegal in a major law firm or government department. Paralegals interview clients and witnesses, prepare legal documents and affidavits, conduct legal research, and often track down key information for a legal case. They identify precedent and play a key role in assisting lawyers to prepare for examinations for discoveries, settlement hearings and trials. In fact, they are a key part of the legal process. They work in law firms, as part of the legal departments of corporate firms, in government and in community organizations. You may also become a provincial offences prosecutor, a Small Claims Court legal representative, a legal researcher, a court monitor, paralegal firm manager or you may choose to start your own paralegal practice. Paralegals also provide important advocacy services for clients appearing before specialized tribunals such as the Landlord and Tenant Board, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
As a paralegal, you’ll cover a wide range of legal matters, from wrongful dismissal to no-fault automobile insurance benefits to immigration and refugee board proceedings. Our program can help you develop the competencies and skills you need to create the paralegal career you want. Our students have had the opportunity to do work placements with the Department of Justice Canada and Legal Aid Ontario while our graduates have been hired by major law firms in Toronto such as Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and Gowling WLG.
Note: If a student applies for conditional acceptance but later decides to take their IELTS/TOEFL, they will need to reapply and submit a new application.
