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If you have an interest in the law, are self-motivated and professional, enthusiastic, detail-oriented, honest, think analytically while problem solving, effectively manage time and stress, communicate effectively, and have excellent writing skills, good interpretation skills, strong computer skills and the ability to follow directions, Centennial College may have the program for you. The Law Clerk program is a two-year offering geared to students who wish to assist in a wide variety of legal practices, including legal counsel areas of business and government. While program coordinator, Patty-Anne Sullivan, points out that in essence these professionals serve as assistants to a lawyer, there is so much more for which they are responsible. Depending on whether they work in a litigation office, solicitor’s office or estate practice, these professionals may: - May manage cases and files
- Communicate with clients
- Record keep in compliance with profession standards
- File documents with the courts
- Interview clients and witnesses
- Research and draft court documents
- Accompany lawyers to meetings and court appearances
- Maintain corporate documents
- File documents
- Prepare real estate documents
- Complete real estate transactions
- Conduct title searches
- Draft documents and doing related research
Based at the centrally located Progress Campus, the program is facilitated out of classrooms that are equipped with the latest software that is relevant to this field. As such, a large variety of law courses that include practical, career-oriented assignments, in conjunction with computer legal software courses, fully prepare students for employment in the legal profession. These courses cover the spectrum of legal topics that students need to master to not only graduate but also to ensure that employers take notice of them. Among these courses are: Current Issues in Canadian Law, Legal Research and Writing, Government Boards and Agencies, Wills and Estates, Debtor-Creditor/Landlord Tenant Law, Civil Litigation, Real Estate and many others. Students also attend a beneficial Job Search Skills course, which sees them produce a marketable resume and sample cover letter. In addition, emphasis is placed on identifying career-related, entry-level job opportunities and defining career goals. Prior to graduation, students get to test out the knowledge they have acquired in the program when they complete a four-day-per week, 14-week work placement in the final semester. An invaluable experience, the placement sees students taking direction from would-be employers, gaining professional insight from those currently in the field and networking with professionals who may be integral in helping them to launch their careers after they graduate. Because the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario accredits Centennial College’s Law Clerk diploma offering, students are eligible to become associate members with the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario without writing their provincial exams. The Author, who wrote this article, emphasizes the practical aspects of the Law Clerk program in Toronto, including the use of legal software as well as on-the-job training.
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