OUTLOOK BRIGHT FOR PARALEGALS
Recent changes make it ideal time to enrol in George Brown’s certificate program
Come January, the monetary jurisdiction in small claims court will increase from $25,000 to $35,000. Licensed paralegals in Ontario may soon be permitted to provide some legal services to family law litigants. And numerous summary criminal matters remain within paralegals’ permitted scope despite changes to the criminal code. These are among the reasons, says George Brown College teacher Olga Leyenson, why it’s an ideal time to enrol in the school’s paralegal certificate program.
“The increase in monetary jurisdiction of small claims court alone motivates future students to register for the program, to take advantage of this change in legislation which allows licensed paralegals in Ontario to provide legal services to individuals and companies in civil court for claims which amount to $35,000,” says Leyenson. “Additionally, corporations, law firms and various courts have recognized the many benefits in having licensed paralegals join their ranks. There has never been as much of a demand for legal services as there is now.”
Structured into six modules, the program’s curriculum meets the learning outcomes required by the Law Society of Ontario (the province’s governing body for licensed paralegals), which also accredits the program. Through George Brown’s School of Continuing Education, students take three courses per module that mix theory and practical learning.
“There are classes which address substantive law like torts, contracts, criminal law and employment law, which are almost completely theorybased,” says Leyenson. “While other classes, such as our advocacy and small claims procedural classes, involve practical hands-on training including mock trials or hearings simulating what it’s like to appear before a court or tribunal.”
Because the Law Society of Ontario requires each paralegal student to participate in at least 120 hours of field placement, learners have an opportunity to work in a legal environment. Leyenson says this provides students an opportunity to apply the knowledge they obtain to real-life cases, scenarios and experiences.