This course is designed to develop the professional communication skills of paralegal students. They will develop and demonstrate an understanding of the importance of proper writing skills; sentence structure, including grammar, syntax, spelling and punctuation; and the writing process, including draft, revision and editing. Through various writing assignments, they will demonstrate an ability to properly organize material; draft clear, concise, client-centered material; and draft legal correspondence. Collaborative work skills are examined and developed through a variety of group assignments, both oral and written.

This course is designed to introduce students to the law in Canada.  A brief history of the development of Canada’s legal system and an overview of the sources and divisions of law set the stage for an examination of the Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  A thorough examination of the courts and the roles of those in the courts give students insight into the operation of the legal system.  Students are introduced to tort law, family law, criminal law, and administrative law.  This course is meant to give students a general understanding of how laws are defined, created, implemented, and interpreted to give them a strong foundation to build upon in their core legal courses.  

This course enables students to use the computer as a tool for word processing and file management.  It includes the use of Windows XP environment, preparation of documents using Word 2007 software, and keyboarding skills using Keyboarding Pro.  This course will also introduce students to foundational concepts in Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007.  Various legal documents will be prepared using software as practical applications.

Students learn about the most important political institutions in Canada and gain a better understanding of the issues that have united and divided the country. As well, students identify the ideas and concepts of some outstanding political and economic philosophers who have shaped the modern world. Topics also include law making and the creation of current legislation.

The study of psychology helps students understand why people think and act as they do. Topics include the biological bases of behaviour, perceptual processes, learning, motivation, emotion, psychological disorders and states of awareness. Students examine psychology concepts to better understand psychological adaptation and the causes and consequences of human behaviour.

This course introduces students to various aspects of civil law in Canada and Ontario, with emphasis on its application in business. Students get an overview of tort law, and examine contract law and its application in greater depth.

Students will have an opportunity to practice and enhance their writing skills while applying the foundational writing knowledge from the prerequisite course.  This course is designed to provide students with direct career application wherein they will practice the fundamentals of business and legal writing including: drafting, organizing, revising and editing communication pieces and routine legal documentation and precedents. 

This course focuses on the Law Society of Upper Canada’s (LSUC) Paralegal Rules of Conduct as well as the ethical issues faced by individuals as citizens and as professionals.  It will assist students in clarifying a value system, establishing a framework for ethical decision making, and applying the LSUC’s Paralegal Rules of Conduct to practice as Paralegals.

Students are introduced to the statutory and common law rules of evidence and the basic principles regarding admissibility of evidence. The roles of judges, counsels/agents and the affected parties are examined throughout the litigation process, from commencement to trial. Students participate in mock situations including qualifying as expert, examinations-in-chief and cross-examination and submissions as to costs.

Elective general education courses appear in your program of study as GNED 0000. This is called a “placeholder.” This placeholder is replaced by an actual course that you will select from a list of available "elective" general education courses when you register in the relevant semester.

Please note that the type and number of elective courses available will vary from semester to semester and from year to year.

Please visit the General Education website for more information.

Through this course students gain the knowledge and experience to conduct basic legal research for any legal issue.

Through this course, students learn about alternative, dispute resolution methods to litigation. Emphasis is placed on negotiation, mediation and arbitration in voluntary and mandatory situations. As well, students examine the objectives, principles, practice and application of different alternative dispute resolution methods

Students review the rules of evidence and learn the essentials of good advocacy.  They are given an opportunity to apply their knowledge of the rules of evidence and advocacy skills during a mock tribunal hearing.

In this course students learn about the multi-faceted areas of law which impact on an employment relationship.  Emphasis will be placed on the specific areas of law in which paralegals have historically practiced.  The course is divided into three parts to correspond to the three regimes governing employment relationships.  The first part covers the application of contract law to individual contracts of employment.  The second part deals with the modification of contract by way of statutory rules governing the employment relationship in the areas of health and safety, employment standards, human rights, workplace injury compensation and privacy.  The final part deals with the replacement of an individual contract of employment by a collective agreement in a unionized workplace.

The field placement component enables students to practise and integrate the skills and knowledge acquired in their program including professional behaviour, the ability to meet deadlines and problem-solve, time management and the ability to adapt behaviour in response to professional feedback. Students will apply, develop and learn the diverse set of skills required of a paralegal, including the importance of using legal precedents, resources and files. Students participate in a one-week preparation clinic and three weeks (120 hours) of field placement in the second year. Field placement is evaluated by the field placement host and the student in accordance with the requirements set out by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Student placements may occur in Durham Region or outside of the area.

Students examine the procedures in the Provincial Offences Act and act as a court agent or paralegal in provincial offence matters in Ontario.  Particular emphasis is placed on the regulations and documents in a provincial offences matter.

Students learn about the role of the small claims court in administering justice in Ontario. This course provides students with an understanding of the standard procedures in the Superior Court of Justice, with particular reference to the history, rules, practice and procedures governing actions brought to small claims court.  Students work primarily with the Rules of the Small Claims Court.

This course examines the general practice and procedure before administrative tribunals including the burden of proof, the trier of fact, record of proceedings, documentation, the tribunal process and the nature of evidence tendered.  Students will develop the ability to identify and interpret enabling legislation of administrative tribunals and will demonstrate an understanding of the tribunal hearing process and sequence of proceedings.  For the purposes of assessment, students will engage in an advocacy assignment wherein each student must demonstrate competency in opening and closing statements as well as a direct examination and cross examination before a mock tribunal.  In addition, students will be assessed in respect of a group presentation based upon extensive research to the class introducing administrative tribunals before which paralegals may represent a client.  

This course examines the procedures involved in acting as a court and tribunal agent/paralegal in provincial offences and summary Criminal Code matters in Ontario. Emphasis will be on the Criminal Code of Canada and the Rules of Court for the Ontario Court of Justice. This course is designed to familiarize students with the particular legal issues and procedures associated with summary convictions and provincial offences.

The field placement component enables students to practise and integrate the skills and knowledge acquired in their program including professional behaviour, the ability to meet deadlines and problem-solve, time management and the ability to adapt behaviour in response to professional feedback. Students will apply, develop and learn the diverse set of skills required of a paralegal, including the importance of using legal precedents, resources and files. Students participate in a one-week preparation clinic and three weeks (120 hours) of field placement in the second year. Field placement is evaluated by the field placement host and the student in accordance with the requirements set out by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Student placements may occur in Durham Region or outside of the area.

This is an introductory financial accounting course that teaches the basic principles of financial law office accounting and incorporates the use of PCLaw - a time, billing and accounting software tool designed for use by business in the legal industry. Accounting topics include working with debits and credits in double-entry bookkeeping, and preparing and understanding financial statements.  PCLaw is used to apply the principles of accounting to complete the accounting cycle of a law office. Particular emphasis is given to time entries, billing, disbursements, trust funds and matter management.  This course also interprets the Law Society By-Laws and Rules of Professional Conduct as they apply to financial management of a law practice.

This course provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on work experience in a simulated paralegal office.  Intermediate Microsoft Word features are applied to a variety of legal file documents including correspondence and accounts.  Students work within the Rules of Professional Conduct when managing matters related to small claims court, landlord and tenant, and provincial offences. They are also given an introduction to Microsoft Excel software.

This course focuses on the professional obligations and responsibilities prescribed and recommended by the Law Society of Upper Canada regarding Practice Management and Operating a Small Business as they pertain to Paralegals.  It will assist students in learning skills and strategies necessary to meet client expectations in professional service and communication, comply with the Law Society and regulatory requirements pertaining to practice management, as well as establish and maintain a financially successful paralegal practice. 

This course examines the Residential Tenancies Act and regulations in detail with respect to the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.  Students will gain a working knowledge of the applicable Landlord and Tenant Board forms for a variety of legal issues arising in the context of residential rental housing, including fault grounds and non-fault grounds for termination.  Students will also gain a thorough understanding of service requirements, time limits, rent control, process, procedure and evidence before the Landlord and Tenant Board as well as the types of relief the Board can grant.

Students apply their knowledge of small claims court rules to simulated actions working through debtor examinations, settlement conferences, default hearings and trials.  Students prepare all required file documentation and small claims court documents for each simulated situation. They apply the fundamentals of trial preparation and presentation of an action as well as review processes to collect on judgment.  Focus is on proper file management in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct for paralegals.

Students will be given an overview of the workplace safety and insurance system and will be introduced to some of the key concepts involved, including accident, benefits, and appeal procedures. Students will gain insight into the roles that court and tribunal agents/paralegals can play in the process.  It is also designed to convey an understanding on automobile insurance in Ontario, with particular emphasis on Statutory Accident Benefits and dispute resolution through the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.  Students will examine the applicable legislation, dispute guidelines and regulations including mediation and settlement negotiation.