Legal Assistant

This course in grammar and proofreading will prepare you to draft, write, edit, and proofread documents and correspondence to a standard acceptable in your profession.

Equivalents:

• OADM 220

A diagnostic/prescriptive approach to improving touch typing skills relative to the legal support role is enhanced through the use of specialized skill building and speed building techniques. Ergonomic factors are presented for individual application. An entry level score of 30 net words per minute is strongly recommended. A minimum score of 40 net words per minute is required to pass this course.

Computer applications in the legal arena require efficient and knowledgeable application of sophisticated features. The large volume of law firm data requires you to master the firm’s computer network operating system features and network navigation. You will study the basic setup for message content and organization within a legal office, to ensure electronic messaging applications are used professionally and ethically. You will use word processing software tools to produce professional legal documents, exploring features such as indents, paragraph numbering, page setup, tabs and tables. Additionally, you will learn to use a presentation software to effectively convey legal information used for seminars or marketing.

Legal assistants need to be familiar with the administrative procedures and skills they will use in the legal industry. You will discuss what it means to be an industry professional and practice skills such as file opening and maintenance procedures, legal accounting, client relations, time management, and other routine office skills and procedures.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 205
• LEGA 215

Corequsites:

• LEGL 250

You will learn to efficiently produce lengthy legal documents using advanced legal word processing skills. You will explore features such as fill-in forms, styles, templates, table of contents, reviewing tools, document compare and merge. As well, legal assistants are often called upon to prepare calculations related to client files. Spreadsheet applications offer many time-saving tools to ensure accurate calculations and refined data formatting. You will learn how these applications use columns, rows, cells, functions, formulas and other tools to manage data. This course will also offer the opportunity for you to continue developing your keyboarding skill.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 215

Legal Transcription offers the opportunity to learn and practice the skills needed to transcribe the contents of legal correspondence and documents which lawyers have dictated. This is a very valuable skill used extensively in legal offices. Assistants type up the text while listening to the dictation through a set of headphones. In order to efficiently produce error-free final versions of these legal documents, assistants need to incorporate the listening, spelling, grammar and word processing skills they have acquired in previous courses in the Legal Assistant Program.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 205
• LEGA 265
• LEGL 250

Application of what you have learned is an excellent method of improving your proficiency. In this course, you will complete a series of legal cases from start to finish, applying previously acquired legal knowledge and skills in a simulated legal office environment. Your work will provide the opportunity to hone your interpersonal skills by working in teams and assuming leadership responsibilities, and it will help prepare you for the demands of the legal assistant role in various areas of law.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 255
• LEGA 305
• LEGA 365
• LEGL 210
• LEGL 270
• LEGL 300
• LEGL 310

Specific software for legal applications is part of a legal assistant’s workday -ranging from document management and assembly to accounting functions to practice management. To further build your skills, you will learn about specialized technology that is utilized in the legal industry.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 265

Gain a foundational knowledge of Canadian law in this course. You will examine the Canadian legal system, including sources of law, the Canadian constitution and the structure of the court system. You will also be introduced to ethics in the legal profession as well as various areas of substantive law, such as criminal law, evidence, tort law, contract law, family law, wills and estate law, and property law.

Corporate law is the law of businesses. This course provides a foundational knowledge of corporate law, including an examination of how different business structures are created, maintained and dissolved. You will also be introduced to current substantive law, prepare relevant documents and correspondence, and learn the responsibilities of a legal assistant in a corporate law context. An emphasis will be placed on Alberta corporations.

Specific writing and presentation skills are required by legal assistants in order to meet the legal industry’s needs. Legal correspondence must be clear and concise. Legal Writing focuses on preparing correspondence, e-mails, and simple documents that are unique to law firms. You will also hone your oral presentation skills by preparing and making professional presentations.

Pre-requisites:

• ENGL 205
• LEGA 205
• LEGA 215

Want to deepen your understanding of civil litigation? These types of lawsuits require following specific procedures in Alberta - both in the Alberta Court of Justice and in the Court of King’s Bench. In the Court of King’s Bench, you will start with the initial retainer and progress through to Default Judgment. In the Alberta Court of Justice, you will examine a lawsuit from commencement to conclusion. You will also learn how to prepare sample documents that are used for lawsuits in Alberta.

Legal assistants are expected to have an understanding of legal principles and procedures relating to the purchase and sale of residential property in Alberta. You will explore a variety of real estate terms and principles, including real property, fixtures, chattels, estates or interests in land, and statutes affecting land. You will also study procedures related to the Torrens System, land title registry, real estate purchase contracts, caveats, searches, transfers of land and how these processes relate to the duties of lawyers and legal assistants.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 205
• LEGL 200

This course continues on from the previous legal writing course and focuses on advanced writing skills required by legal assistants in order to meet the legal industry’s needs. Students will be provided with practical guidelines for developing legal documents in plain language. The course will emphasize the fundamentals of drafting, including word selection, sentence structure, and the use of plain English in preparing routine legal documents. Students will draft and edit short and long letters, as well as complex legal documents. Participants will explore the fundamentals of legal research and citation guidelines. Debate skills will be introduced by preparing for and participating in a debate.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGL 250

This is your chance to expand your understanding of litigation in Alberta. Litigation is essential to the work completed by legal assistants on a daily basis and the same procedures are used for all lawsuits in Alberta. Building on learning from the previous litigation course, you will explore procedures that are followed for lawsuits at the Alberta Court of King’s Bench from default judgment through to the conclusion of a file. You will also learn how to prepare sample documents that are used for lawsuits in Alberta.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGL 260

Building on previously learned foundational real estate concepts, this course moves into more complex transactions in the area of property law in Alberta. You will explore topics such as: residential and commercial mortgages, condominium ownership, builders’ liens and foreclosures, and relate these to the duties of lawyers and legal assistants. This course will develop skills that will allow you to prepare documentation for both residential and commercial real estate transactions and includes an exploration of remedies on mortgage defaults and commercial leases.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGL 270

Legal assistants carry an important administrative role in the practice of criminal law. In this course you will study the law and administrative procedures relating to criminal law matters. You will complete a comprehensive criminal file that includes preparing retainer and pre-trial documents. You will become familiar with CCM (Court Case Management) including RCS (Remote Courtroom Scheduling). You will be introduced to the administrative procedures for bringing a Charter application and preparing for trial in Provincial Court or Queen’s Bench. You will also review sentencing and appeals processes, and the administrative tasks related to Youth Offender prosecutions.

As a legal assistant, you may work in the area of family law, assisting clients who are dealing with separation, divorce, and issues relating to children as a result of separation and divorce. In this course, you will study the law and procedures relating to family law matters, including divorce actions, family law chambers applications, and family property actions. You will also complete mock files and applications in conformity with the Alberta Rules of Court and Practice Directives.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGL 260

Your work as a legal assistant may include working with wills and estates. This course introduces you to the Alberta laws and procedures followed when preparing wills and administering estates. You will learn how to draft a will, power of attorney and personal directive. You will also have the opportunity to prepare the forms required when administering a deceased’s estate in Alberta.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGL 260

This introductory course provides an overview of human behaviour in organizations at the individual, group, and organizational level and the effect of each on organizational effectiveness. Topics include: individual differences, motivation, communication, teams, power and politics, conflict and negotiation, leadership, organizational culture, and change management.

Equivalents:

• MNGT 2250

The practicum for the Legal Assistant program is a work experience component of four weeks, which you will complete in a legal environment. You will gain this experience following successful completion of all courses in the program. The practicum will be completed after your final semester, bridging academic studies and practical experiential learning. It is your responsibility to locate a suitable practicum placement, although the Practicum Coordinator of your program can assist in securing an appropriate placement. In order to ensure suitability, your practicum placement must have the prior approval of the Academic Chair for the program.

Pre-requisites:

• LEGA 305
• LEGA 355
• LEGL 200
• LEGL 320
• LEGL 350
• LEGL 360
• LEGL 380
• MNGT 250