There oughtta be a law

Janine Lee - Legal Administrative Assistant graduate

Janine Lee was looking forward to finishing her practicum as legal administrative assistant, but she never got the chance.

Instead, Lee was offered a job with the firm of Alexander Holburn Beaudin and Lang LLP less than three weeks after she first walked in the door.

"It happened so fast - it was really unexpected" says the 26-year-old Coquitlam woman. "It's been good for my self-esteem, knowing that I can bring something to the office."

Lee's fast-track to a new career started in 2004. She had been working as a teacher at a Montessori Preschool, but had taken some time off to consider her options. Her search for something new led her to her old school: Douglas College.

"I had taken a few general courses there in 2001," says Lee. "I knew Douglas College would be the one college that had what I needed. They offer so many options."

Lee opted for the Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate (LAAC) Program. A 30-credit program offered full- and part-time, LAAC opens the door to variety of careers including administrative assistant, office manager, payroll administrator or junior accountant.

Although the workload was challenging and content intense, Lee found the program was enjoyable.

"It was fun because of the students and the teachers," says Lee. "Everyone was so friendly and helpful that it made for such an unforgettable experience."

Along with learning new software applications, legal issues and problem-solving, Lee gained some key employability skills that have proved useful in her personal as well as her professional life.

"One of the most useful things the program taught me was time and stress management. When you're in the office environment, you need to know how to handle the pressure and how to prioritize your workload," she says.

Now Lee works with two lawyers, tackling a wide range of work. No day is quite like any other, but she thrives on the variety.

"I work in a law office, but the Legal Administrative Assistant Program gives you such a great general foundation that I know I could work in any kind of office," says Lee. "In fact, the skills you learn at Douglas College are beneficial no matter where you go, whether you're working in an office or not."

Attend a free Information Session to find out more about the Commerce and Business Administration programs at Douglas College.

Related Links

Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate (LAAC) Program
Office Administration Programs
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