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Main Programs and Courses Legal Programs Paralegal

Paralegal

Careers in the legal profession are high-status and rewarding. This program is suitable for those without secretarial training who are looking for an exciting career in the legal field. Paralegals are highly sought after.

 

This program is intensive and it covers both the office administration skills and the knowledge base required to work in the legal profession. As a paralegal, the graduate is an indispensable member of the law office team, and this program provides all the training necessary to be successful in this role.

 

The program provides students with advanced keyboarding, transcription, and computer skills, and trains students in the vital areas of business communication and customer service. Subject areas include understanding the Canadian legal system, the court structure, legal rights, procedures and practices in a modern legal office, wills and estates, real estate and conveyancing, corporate and commercial law, civil litigation, family law, criminal law and evidence, business law, contracts, insurance law, cash and collection procedures, and legal research and interviewing.

 

ADMISSIONS PREREQUISITES

All applicants must meet with an admissions

representative in addition to ONE of the following

criteria:

Standard Admission

  • Alberta high school diploma or equivalent verified by transcript or DAR.

Mature Admission

Students must meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years of age prior to admission (19 for out of province); and
  • Successful completion of the Reeves College Admissions Test.
  • *Manitoba applicants must also have been out of school for one year in addition to the above

CERTIFICATION RECEIVED

Paralegal Diploma

 

 


This program is 49 weeks in length.
  • Legal Assistant
  • Legal Administration Assistant
  • Law Clerk
  • Land Title Clerk
  • Paralegal
  • Real Estate Conveyancer
  • Office Assistant
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Legal Administrator

Hear from a Legal Assistant grad

Jane discusses the training she received from industry-experienced instructors.

Legal Assistant Graduate,
Christine Z
"

Reeves has made me appreciate everything, my hard work, my family’s hard work and just education in general.

"
Program Courses
SSS4 / Student Success Strategies
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 stress management 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 and learn how to write effective cover letters.
MSWE / Microsoft Word & Excel

This course introduces the Microsoft Office 365 productivity applications Word, Excel and the Windows environment in which they run. It covers the fundamentals of organizing files and folders, drafting business documents and reporting data in spreadsheets. This course relies entirely on practical hands-on activities that allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them regularly and obtaining feedback immediately. 

BEP4 / Business English and Proofreading

In this course, students will develop and essential English skills through review and application of basic grammar and punctuation principles necessary for successful workplace communication. Students will also learn to proofread business communication as a three-step process that includes reviewing copy once for format, once for content and mechanical errors, and once for references and numerical text. Throughout the process, students will learn and apply standard proofreading symbols.

AB-L1014 / Introduction to the Study of Law

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 Alberta 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 legal reasoning and how to interpret statutes. The Doctrine of Precedent, along with current issues and developments in Canadian law, and the process of law reform will also be overviewed in this module. The Law of Equity, and how to distinguish case law and Stare Decisis will also be covered.

L1034 / Real Estate Law
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 with other forms and documents related to transfer/deed, charge/mortgage, and discharge of charge/mortgage. The structure of a real estate sale is illustrated. Students also learn the requirements when acting for the vendor or acting for the purchaser. Students also gain knowledge about closing a real estate transaction.
AB-L1044 / Civil Litigation

The focus of this course is on civil litigation. Students learn the steps for opening and maintaining a litigation file and also learn about the Alberta court litigation stages and procedures. Familiarization is built with different types of damages and claims as well as with the procedures for proving a claim. Students gain experience preparing all relevant documents (for pre-trial and trial proceedings). Proceeding to trial is also covered, along with the procedure for actions (in Provincial Court and Civil Division). Mediation and settlement are introduced.

L1054 / Commercial Law
Students are introduced to the incorporation and organization of an Alberta company. There will be an overview of the Alberta Business Corporation Act, the Alberta Companies Act, the Societies Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act, and the Canada Corporations Act. Guidelines and procedures for selecting a corporate name are covered. Student understanding of corporate by-laws and corporate structure is built, along with the typical requirements of corporate meetings, minutes, resolutions and the duties of directors and officers. Students use legal precedents to prepare articles of incorporation and corporate by-laws. Experience is gained with routine filings and resolutions. Students learn how to set up and maintain corporate records in compliance with the new Business Corporations Act and Corporate Securities.
AB-L1074 / Legal Accounting

This course covers the day-to-day manual recording of transactions for a legal business organization. This includes general journal transactions, special journals, posting to the general ledgers and subsidiary ledgers, preparing a trial balance, payroll registers, operating a petty cash fund, and reconciling bank statements. While students with be learning generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), during this module, students will become familiar with accounting practices with particular attention to the treatment and maintenance of Trust Accounts.

L1064 / Wills and Estates
In this foundation course, students learn about wills and estates planning, estate succession, testacy, intestacy, requirements of a valid will and execution procedures. There is an introduction to the roles of the Executor and Trustee. Students learn about the Notice to Beneficiaries, Living Wills, Power of Attorney and Representations Agreements. Assets, inheritance and estate inventory are also presented.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.
L2014 / Family Law Procedures
This course introduces the family court system in Alberta. Students become familiar with Provincial and Supreme Court documentation and procedures used to bring issues of marriage, separation, divorce, custody / access, child welfare, adoption, maintenance and property to resolution using the legal system. The Domestic Relations Act and the Divorce Act are covered. Students gain experience in completing a contested divorce file. Child Support guidelines are also covered.
AB-L2024 / Corporate Law

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.

L2034 / Criminal Law and Evidence
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 and Freedoms are discussed. Students review the basic elements of a criminal offence and the practical procedures utilized throughout a client’s arrest, trial, sentencing and appeal. Jurisdictional issues are presented, along with the process for jury election. There will also be a discussion of evidence.
L2054 / Legal Research and Interviewing
Research and analytical skills are developed in this course. Students gain an understanding of research design, data gathering, analysis and reporting. The studies of primary and secondary research materials are covered, along with how to correctly cite sources, case law, statutes, regulations and legislation. Students will prepare a legal research memorandum, read case briefs and legal documents, use encyclopedias, annotated reports, law reviews and case comments. Internet research is also covered extensively, along with how to locate decisions and statutes. Students learn about various types of interviews and increase their expertise in conducting interviews. Students also learn about how laws and statutes are made (first reading, second reading), hone their legal reasoning and legal problem solving skills.
L2074 / Insurance Law
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 and 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.
L2094 / Credit and Collection Procedures
This course presents the laws and procedures related to debtors’ and creditors’ 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 of 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.
CES4 / Career and Employment Strategies

This course builds on the skills learned in the Student Success Strategies course or its equivalent. It provides information on how to use the communication skills learned in order to make a successful presentation to a prospective employer. Students also learn how to uncover the hidden job market and identify employment opportunities. Self-assessment during this course allows students to identify their personal skills that are transferable to the workplace and to describe these skills to a prospective employer. Students may be videotaped during a mock interview and will participate in the analysis of their performance in the “interview”.

AB-LGA199 / Practicum

Students will be placed in actual work places related to their field of study and will be expected to act as a regular employee 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.

How to Become a Paralegal in Alberta
November 19, 2024
A career as a paralegal can be an excellent choice for those interested in law but who may not want to go through the lengthy education required to b...
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