Legal Assistant

Courses 22

Open any course to see what it covers.

1. 1Skills for Success20 hrs

   This course is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills for academic, personal and professional success. During this highly interactive and practical course, students will be introduced to tools and strategies to set goals, adopt a growth mindset and stay motivated will pursuing their studies. This course will empower students to become active participants and owners of their learning.

2. 2Career Strategies20 hrs

   This course is designed to help students prepare and be successful in their job search once they have completed the program, as well as assist with practicum placement. How to prepare for and conduct an effective job search will be discussed, as well as, tapping into the hidden job market and using social media in the job search successfully will be explored.

3. 3Introduction to Computers20 hrs

   Students will develop their understanding of computers in general and the Windows 11 operating system in particular. Students will explore methods of managing files and personalizing their own desktop environment.

4. 4Microsoft Outlook20 hrs

   Students will explore Microsoft Outlook, a common business e-mail and organization platform. Students will develop calendars, task lists, e-mail productivity tools, and contact lists.

5. 5Microsoft Word60 hrs

   In this course, students will explore and practice Word processing functionalities, document design, and customization of documents with graphics and charts. This course consists of a combination of lecture, hands-on practice, exercises, and discussions to reinforce principles and word processing techniques.

6. 6Office Procedures60 hrs

   This course provides students with foundational knowledge about the workforce and professional environment. Students will be introduced to ethical business behavior, financial documents, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. As well the course will cover managing physical and electronic records, organizing meetings, handling telecommunications, and seeking employment.

7. 7Business Writing40 hrs

   This course is designed to enhance students’ professional business writing skills. Students will learn to organize ideas in an audiencecentered approach and develop business documents clearly and concisely. In class assignments will allow students to plan, write and review emails, memos, business letters and reports. This course also covers basic grammatical concepts and principles and techniques of proofreading.

8. 8Microsoft Excel Core40 hrs

   In this course, students will explore spreadsheets, creating formulas, spreadsheet design, and customization of spreadsheets with graphics and charts. This course consists of a combination of lectures, hands-on practice, and exercises to reinforce principles and spreadsheet creation.

9. 9Microsoft Word Expert40 hrs

   In this course, students will move beyond the document-creation tools encountered in Microsoft Word Core and develop abilities to personalize document design, create customized templates, record macros to automate tasks, and manage their documents. This course consists of a combination of lecture, hands-on practice, and exercises to reinforce principles and word processing techniques.

10. 10Professional Communication Skills20 hrs

    This course will provide students with a thorough understanding of business communications. Students will be provided with opportunities to engage in active learning and business scenarios to become effective communicators. This course will also cover business etiquette including telephone etiquette and business meeting practices.

11. 11Introduction to Law in Canada40 hrs

    This course introduces the students to fundamental concepts of law generally, several theories of law and sources of law in Canada. It discusses the history of creation of Canada as an independent country, basic features of Constitution of Canada, entrenchment of Charter of Rights and Freedoms into Constitution, description of those rights and freedoms, restrictions on them and remedy for their violation. It introduces students with the structure and formation of governments in Canada, their branches and functions, and processes of making law. It describes common law legal system and civil law legal systems, legal and judicial system in Canada, kinds of law, court system and process in Canada. It also briefs about major player in legal profession, lawyers and legal assistants, law society, access to justice and pro bono law. It provides an understanding of Alternative Dispute Resolution Process and status and rights of aboriginal people in Canada. The course includes a field trip to the Edmonton Law Courts Building to familiarize them with the courts system and several other processes of practical importance.

12. 12General Legal Office Procedures160 hrs

    Students will develop the skills essential to assist in the management of a law office. Learn to prepare precedents, professional correspondence, memoranda, court documents, transcription, administrative literacy including client data management, and law firm basic accounting concepts.

13. 13Family Law and Procedures40 hrs

    This course provides the students with an understanding of basic concepts of Family Law and Litigation procedures. Students acquire knowledge of several legal principles and concepts underlying family matters including state recognition of the family as a unit, marriage, dissolution of marriage, Adult Independent Partnership, separation, parenting time, decision-making responsibility for children, child support, spousal or partner support, division of family property, separation agreements and minutes of settlement, child welfare, adoption and guardianship, the litigation process and steps in filing a divorce or desk divorce application and concluding the process.

14. 14Criminal Law and Procedures60 hrs

    This course walks the students through the Criminal Justice System in Canada and familiarizes them with basic concepts and procedures of criminal law and criminal court system. It introduces them to concept of what constitutes criminal law and sources of criminal law, actus reus and mens rea elements of crime, regulatory and criminal offences, strict liability and absolute liability offences, categories of offences, definition of several offences against person and property under the Criminal Code, inchoate or incomplete offences, offences committed by other than principal offender, defences to actus reus and mens rea such as defence of automatism, intoxication, insanity, necessity, duress, self-defence etc.

15. 15Wills and Estates60 hrs

    This course provides the students with an understanding of the basic concepts of Wills & Estates. Students acquire knowledge of several legal principles and concepts underlying the law of wills and estates, power of attorney and personal directive. The students acquire knowledge of the ways a property can be managed and distributed according to one’s wishes after his or her death. They learn how a property is managed and distributed when a person dies without making a valid will. The students learn about a power of attorney and how it gives a person an authority to manage property or finances of another person who is unable to do it himself or herself due to disability or absence. Students learn about personal directives and how it can be used to make decisions regarding the health of a person who cannot do it himself or herself due to illness or disability.

16. 16Corporate and Commercial Law60 hrs

    This is an introductory course to business law, commonly referred to as Corporate & Commercial Law. The course includes a discussion of fundamental concepts, terms and law relating to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations, contract, insurance, bankruptcy & insolvency, employment, and leasing, bailment, and consumer protection. A substantial part of the curriculum focusses on the document preparation for corporations. This curriculum covers teaching of about seven different branches of law, that is more than any other course for this program

17. 17Credit and Collection Procedures40 hrs

    This course provides information regarding the creation of a debt, different types of debtors and creditors, different methods to pay off debts, creation of security such as common law and statutory lien, conditional sale contract, mortgage, landlord rights to distrain, banks right to sell or foreclose, recovery by enforcement of securities, basic principles of enforcement, debtor’s rights, recovery by a court action, court process for Small Claims Courts and Court of Queen’s Bench, enforcement of a court judgment, the process for enforcement, and property exempted from enforcement.

18. 18Real Estate60 hrs

    This course gives the students an overview of the history of land in Canada, how it has been mapped and divided into meridian, range, townships and sections. The students are introduced to the concept of property, estate and real estate. They learn about types of estates and ownership, land title registry system, how the land can be transferred by sale, the steps in the sale and purchase transactions, including due diligence searches. They learn to prepare documents for completing a transfer by sale. The students learn about different kinds of mortgages and the process for foreclosure that follows on mortgagor’s default. The students also learn about the landlord and tenant relationship in a residential tenancy.

19. 19Litigation Procedures100 hrs

    This course is one of the most important courses in this Program. It provides training in civil litigation procedures. It discusses the Alberta Rules of Court that govern practice and procedure in civil courts across Alberta. It covers a wide range of topics from foundational principles of civil procedure to appeal route to the Alberta Court of Appeal. The course explains the rules for pursuing a court action from start to finish and various steps in the court process. It focusses on the preparation of pleadings, such as a Statement of Claim, Statement of Defense, Counterclaim, Reply, Civil Claim, Dispute Notes, Affidavit of Service, Affidavit of Record, etc.

20. 20Legal Research and Interview Skills40 hrs

    This course introduces the students to the process, tools and techniques of legal research. It also discusses the basic principles of client-interviewing. The course explains primary and secondary resources for legal research, how to read and cite a statute, find the current and official version of an Act or Regulation, and find municipal bylaws. It explains how to understand and cite a case, prepare a case brief, find a case, and various aids for legal research, such as reports and journals. The course walks the students through various websites to access resources for legal research. The students are given exercises daily throughout this course to practice the concepts learned in class. The course discusses skills that a legal professional needs to learn to conduct an effective client-interview. It explains barriers to effective communications with a client and discusses means to remove those barriers.

21. 21Practice Management Software80 hrs

    Students will learn how to use Clio, which allows for the streamlining of many procedures related to the law profession: Client information, matters, accounts and billing, scheduling, timekeeping, workflow, communication logs and reporting.

22. 22Practicum Placement160 hrs

    Practice the theoretical and practical knowledge that you have learned in the classroom, in a real law office. This 8-week practicum will expose students to the real work environment will help you acquire hands-on experience and enhance your confidence in your ability to work as a Legal Assistant.