Legal Assistant Diploma

Newly graduated Legal Assistant from ABM College helps prepare a defence case for her first criminal client
Next program start dates:
Monday, April 1, 2024
Monday, May 6, 2024
Apply Online
Comprehensive Training
Students learn many different types of law that will be found in the field
Mock Interviews
Instructors conduct mock interviews to prepare students for the real world
Add-on Skills
Instructors teach students proper etiquette and writing skills for the legal world
Diploma
Certificate

Legal Assistant Diploma

Duration

54 Weeks

Campus

Calgary

Offered

On-site / Online / Combination

Available

Morning / Evening / Weekend

Legal Assistant Diploma Summary

The Legal Assistant Diploma Program at ABM College prepares students to enter any legal, corporate, or judicial setting and provide excellent legal assistance and administrative support. Students learn industry rules and regulations, proper spelling, grammar and writing, transcription techniques, legal document review and preparation, file system and information management, workflow schedule and deadline management, as well as relevant computer software to effectively manage correspondence, documents, databases and more. Students end with a 4-week practicum placement to translate their education into real work experience.

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HCA PLAR Student Guide

Legal Assistant Diploma Highlights

The program combines a solid foundation of office skills with an emphasis on how those skills are used in law offices. Practical, hands-on training provides students with the opportunity to learn the principles of office procedures, terminology, and accounting as they are used in the legal industry. In addition to this, our Legal Assistant program introduces the different areas of specialization in legal practice. These include corporate and business law, criminal law, family law, civil litigation, real estate law, and wills and estate law.

Discover key features of the Legal Assistant Diploma program:

  • Study general procedures, accounting, and communication which are foundational to any legal practice.
  • Learn Commercial Law which covers contracts, consumer protection, and employment law.
  • Explore Criminal Law definitions, offences, defenses, arrest procedures, constitutional rights, and rehabilitation.
  • Gain an understanding of Family Law and Estate Planning through marriage, separation, divorce, common law, child support, wills, healthcare directives, and more.
  • Understand the intricacies of Intellectual Property Law including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and industrial design.

Career Opportunities

  • Legal Assistant
  • Legal Department Advisor
  • Law / Judicial Clerk
  • Legal Secretary
  • Court Clerk

Salary Range

A chart showing the average salary range of $47,000 to $87,000 for a Legal Assistant in Canada

Legal Assistant Diploma Information Kit

This kit includes important details on the Legal Assistant Diploma program at ABM College.

Note: For non-domestic students with a study permit or visa, please see our International Students form here.

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Is this program right for you?

Take our quick readiness quiz.

The fun online quiz will take you less than 5 minutes to complete and will help us understand your career goals and the kind of setting where you would be most comfortable working.

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Newly graduated Legal Assistant from ABM College helps prepare a defence case for her first criminal client

Admission Requirements

Standard Admission

1. Successful completion of Grade 12 or equivalent. 2. Passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam. 3. Passing score on the Accuplacer Test. 4. Successful interview with ABM College Admissions.

Mature Admission

1. Applicants must be out of high school for at least two years. 2. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age prior to admission. 3. Passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam. 4. Passing score on the Accuplacer Test. 5. Successful interview with ABM College Admissions.

Detailed & International Requirements

For any other program or region-specific requirements, please contact one of our Admissions Advisors. For International Students, please refer to the International Students Admission Requirements.

Domestic Detailed Admission Requirements

Liampoy and Liannetot

I'm glad I came to ABM College to study the Legal Assistant program. Our instructor is the best teacher students could have. He is the perfect person, suits the position. We, the Legal Assistant students, are grateful and blessed to be in his class. Attending his class makes me more motivated in this course, thank you ABM College.

Course Curriculum

1. Introduction to Canadian Law

Students will gain an understanding of the general overview of the canadian legal system. Many of the topics included in this course are: the structure of government, it's branches and agencies, the courts and the history of common law. Students will also learn about Indigenous Law and International Law.

2. Legal Communications

This course gives students the opportunity to learn writing skills and to improve communication required in various forms for legal assistants. Students will gain an understanding of verbal and written communication with emphasis on legal letters and memos.

3. General Legal Office Procedures & Accounting

This course gives students an understanding of the following topics: file management (opening maintenance and closing), legal accounting (general and trust accounting), general correspondence, communications with the Law Society of Alberta, distinguishing paralegals and legal assistants, client interviewing and information gathering, responding to complaints and emergencies and confidentiality and ethics.

4. Commercial Law

This course is an introduction to contracts, consumer protection law, various types of agreements and its execution. Students will also learn about employment law, credit andcollections.

5. Criminal Law and Procedures

Students will learn about the Criminal Code of Canada and its offences, the definition of a crime (mens rea + actus reus), the types of criminal offences and their defenses, criminal procedures and the court system, arrest and detention, constitutional rights, discharge and release, rehabilitation and criminal appeals.

6. Immigration and Refugee Law

Students will learn about the Canadian immigration process including federal immigration laws (Immigration & Refugee Protection Act),immigration template documents, appeals, categories of immigration, permanent residence, work permits, visitor visas, skilled workers, Provincial Nominee Programs, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada agency (IRCC).

7. Family Law

Students will learn about family law legislation including the Dower Act, marriage versus divorce, common law relations, best interest of the child, separation, family law litigation, maintenance (spousal and child support), travel consent letters and the division of matrimonial property.

8. Wills and Estates

This course covers wills, power of attorneys, healthcare directives, guardianships and trusteeships, wills interview questionnaires, intestate succession, validity of a will and the signing of a will.

9. Legal Research and Writing

Within this course, students will learn about primary and secondary sources including the constitution, cases, statutes (laws), law journals and Hansards (transcripts of legislature). Legal citations and legal websites allowing the investigation of a topic will be explored as well.

10. Environmental, Energy and Natural Resource Law

This course covers licensing and permitting for energy companies, environmental and energy laws (provincial, municipal and federal), energy contracts (power purchase agreements), royalty agreements, energy industry, renewable energy and fossil fuels.

11. Intellectual Property Law

Students will learn about trademarks (trademark infringement), copyrights (copyright infringement), patents, industrial design, case law, dealing with intellectual property litigation, Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and Integrated Circuit Topography (ICT).

12. Microsoft Office

This training will help students to effectively utilize all the features of Microsoft Office products, and increase productivity. Students become well versed in the Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook applications. This 4-week module helps students sharpen their computer and Office skills and prepare for the main course modules.

13. Capstone Career Prep

Students work with a professional career counsellor to develop and optimize a professional resume to put forward for employers. Additional support in job searching, interview techniques, and other career transition skills are offered to ensure students have the best possible work prospects.

14. Practicum

Students will gain practical and hands-on experience to apply the knowledge and skills learned in class to real-world experiences in a professional capacity during this 4-week practicum placement.

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