Paralegal Program

By Glen Tremblay

Thanks to a decision made by the board of governors, graduates from the Court and Tribunal Agent program will have the knowledge required to start their own businesses as licensed paralegals and be able to defend their clients in court.

The decision to add the Court and Tribunal Agent program, which will eventually be renamed to the "Paralegal" program, began last spring with the passing of a new legislation called the "Access to Justice Act" which provides for the licensing of paralegals in the province.

In November 2007, representatives from colleges across the province met with the Law Society of Upper Canada, whose responsibility it is to regulate the paralegal practice, and were given accreditation packages which specified the licensing requirements of paralegals and outlined over 300 competencies.

"The new Court and Tribunal Agent program will allow us to expand our law programs," says Marguerite Donohue, Executive Dean of Academic Development. "The new program will work in conjunction with our existing Law Clerk program and will give students the oppourtunity to break into a brand new field."

Students enrolled in both programs will have identical classes their first semester but will be able to make a decision on whether or not to change programs.

The new program will give students the training that they need in order to represent clients in Small Claims Court, Provincial Offences proceedings, including Highway Traffic cases as well as some matters included in the Criminal Code.

As part of the requirements for becoming an accredited program, students will be taught by individuals who are specialised in the different kinds of law that students will be required to learn.

Based on the success of the Law Clerk program and the success that other colleges have had with the Court and Tribunal Agent program, the college is certain that the program will be successful.

"We have really high hopes for this program," says Donohue. "Combined with the success of our Law Clerk program and the prospect of starting their own business, we anticipate strong interest from applicants this fall."