Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate

Note: for the Fall 2012 intake, the application deadline has been extended to April 12 2012. This deadline may be extended.

Students in this program are trained in legal office procedures, legal terminology, court systems, legal record keeping, bookkeeping, billing clients and the preparation, filing and service of legal documents in the areas of wills and estates, family law, litigation, corporate law and conveyancing. In addition, the students will become highly proficient in keyboarding, machine transcription (dicta typing) and a variety of computer programs. Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will be eligible to apply for an Office Administration Certificate - Legal Administrative Assistant Option.

Department Website

For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.

Career/Further Educational Opportunities

Excellent employment opportunities exist for graduates of this program. Most graduates begin as legal trainees in lawyers' offices, while some obtain employment in legal departments of financial, real estate and other firms. Graduates of the Legal Administrative Assistant Program are encouraged to continue their education in the Office Administration Diploma Program. The Office Administration Diploma Program transfers to Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Program (BBA in Entrepreneurial Leadership.) Many graduates also go on to become legal assistants after taking additional training through other institutions.

Location

Available at New Westminster Campus.

Intake Dates/Application Deadlines

Note: for the Fall 2012 intake, the application deadline has been extended to April 12 2012. This deadline may be extended.

The program commences in September and January each year for full-time and part-time students.

Full-time Applicants: April 1 for Fall, September 1 for Winter.

Part-time Applicants: August 1 for Fall. December 1 for Winter. Part-time students are eligible to take as many courses as full-time students (up to 15 credits per semester); however, there is no guarantee that they will be able to register in all the courses that they require. Therefore, early application is important.

Admission Requirements

The College admits students on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis whereby students must satisfy all admissions criteria to establish eligibility and are then offered places by date of eligibility, except in programs that use selective admission processes that rank order qualified applicants.

1. General Admission Requirements
2. Strong English skills are required. Students who are weak in English skills should consider upgrading through the Developmental Studies or English as a Second Language Program.
3. English 11 with a grade of "C" or better or the following exemptions:
   
   • EN 12 "P"
   • EN LIT 12 "P"
   • TPC 12 "P"
   • COMM 12 "C+"

For more information on Minimum Language Competency Standard, please visit the Admissions section of the calendar.

4. Keyboarding speeds: Full-time students require 40 net words per minute. Part-time students do not require a specific keyboarding speed for entry, however, students must provide proof of keyboarding speed before registration in any course which has a keyboarding prerequisite (see the Course Descriptions section of this Calendar). Students with no previous keyboarding experience may take beginning keyboarding (OADM 1103) during their first semester at the College.

Program Duration

Full-time students should be able to complete this program in two four-month semesters plus a three-week practicum. Part-time students will need at least three semesters to complete but may take longer if they wish to take a lighter course load.

Credentials

Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate

Program Content

Semester I

Semester II

*Job Search should only be taken during your final semester in the program.

Semester III

Successful completion of all courses is required with a grade of "C-" or better for graduation.