
Expand your skills in legal terminology, research, and procedures for work in specialized areas like litigation, corporate law, and real estate.
What you will learn
- Overall court process in the Supreme Court of British Columbia
- Basic law procedures for litigation, corporate, real estate, family, and estate law
- Court documentation
- Referencing of legislative materials
- Legal terminology
- Legal research
- Legal ethics
- Organization
- Critical thinking
What to expect
- Four and a half years of part-time study
- Lectures and discussion
- Group work and hands-on practice
- Optional online coursework
- Projects, presentations, participation
- Assignments and quizzes
- Final exams
Admission requirements
Program-specific
- Knowledge of the English language, demonstrated by completion of ONE of the following:
- Grade 12 graduation from a Canadian high school, or equivalent, including academic English 12 with at least C+ (64%), or equivalent; OR
- Completion of an academic English or writing course from a Canadian College or University, or equivalent, with at least C+ (64%), or equivalent; OR
- Completion of VCC High School Equivalence English courses with a "B" grade or higher; OR
- English assessment success, including ONE of the following:
- LET 4 (Langara English Test) with an overall score of 4; OR
- LPI (Language Proficiency Index) with an essay level 4, essay score of at least 22 and a minimum 5 in English usage; OR
- VCC Adult Basic English Reading and Writing Assessment with a minimum score of 60 in Reading, 52 in Writing, and a Writing Sample at 071 placement level; OR
- VCC English Language Assessment with a minimum score of 145 overall, including a minimum score of 16 out of 30 in the essay portion; OR
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with 6.5 overall; OR
- TOEFL (Test of English Foreign Language) with 220 minimum overall, with a minimum of 5.0 on Essay. If Internet-based, the Reading, Writing and Listening component must total at least 60.
Proof of the above prerequisites (i.e. official transcript or official test results) must be attached to the student's application.
- Confirmation of legal experience, in the form of a letter from employer or official transcript, including:
- At least one year of legal work experience in British Columbia, OR
- Completion of the Legal Administrative Assistant program at VCC or an equivalent institution, OR
- Completion of Office Administration Certificate — Legal Office Skills, OR
- Completion of basic legal course work, such as the Legal Office Skills courses of the Office Administration Certificate Program, PLUS at least one year of office administration experience in or out of British Columbia
Non-program students may enroll in courses at the Program Coordinator's discretion.
General
- This program is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Program options for international students can be found at VCC International.
- Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school. (Some exceptions may apply.)
- Applicants must submit official transcripts and educational documents as required by their course or program.
Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free in academic upgrading, university transfer or English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses.
Recommended Characteristics
- Respect for the rigidly hierarchical system of authority on which the legal profession is based
- Highly competent legal secretarial skills
- Typing speed of at least 50 wpm
- Excellent computer skills, including intermediate to advanced MS Word, Excel, file management and Internet search capabilities
- Detail oriented
- Excellent writing skills
- Exceptional work ethic
- Ability to follow instructions and prioritize work
- Ability to meet deadlines
Courses
*This program can be completed in one to three years.
Students require 84.3 credits to obtain the Paralegal Diploma. Students must take all core courses (23 credits), all four courses in all four practice areas (56 credits), and two electives (5.3 credits-averaged).
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
LEGL 1202 | Canadian Legal Process | 4 |
LEGL 1204 | Torts | 4 |
LEGL 1205 | Legal Communications | 3 |
LEGL 1207 | Legal Research | 4 |
LEGL 1208 | Paralegal Practicum | 3.5 |
LEGL 1209 | Contracts | 3.5 |
LEGL 1210 | Agency and Business Structures | 1 |
Practice Area Courses | ||
Litigation: | ||
LEGL 1301 | Litigation for Paralegals 1 | 3.5 |
LEGL 1302 | Litigation for Paralegals 2 | 3.5 |
LEGL 1303 | Creditor's Remedies | 3.5 |
LEGL 1304 | Personal Injury Practice | 3.5 |
Real Estate/ Conveyancing: | ||
LEGL 1309 | Property Law | 3.5 |
LEGL 1310 | Property Transactions | 3.5 |
LEGL 1311 | Lending and Security | 3.5 |
LEGL 1312 | Commercial Conveyancing | 3.5 |
Corporate: | ||
LEGL 1305 | Corp Law - Basic Procedures | 3.5 |
LEGL 1307 | Corp Law - Intermediate Proc | 3.5 |
LEGL 1308 | Corp Law - Adv Procedures | 3.5 |
LEGL 1317 | Corp Law- Complex Transactions | 3.5 |
Family Law/ Estates: | ||
LEGL 1313 | Family Law 1 | 3.5 |
LEGL 1314 | Family Law 2 | 3.5 |
LEGL 1315 | Wills and Estate Planning | 3.5 |
LEGL 1316 | Estate Administration | 3.5 |
Electives | ||
Please note that elective options are subject to change. | ||
LEGL 1306 | Securities - Corporate | 3.5 |
LEGL 1410 | Securities 2 | 1 |
LEGL 1403 | Court of Appeal Practice | 3.5 |
LEGL 1409 | Bankruptcy and Foreclosures | 3.5 |
LEGL 1401 | Evidence | 3.5 |
LEGL 1405 | Intellectual Property | 3.5 |
LEGL 1470 | Criminal Law Procedures | 1.5 |
This guide is intended as a general guideline only. The college reserves the right to make changes as appropriate.
* This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.
Fees and other costs
*Fee description | Fee Amount | Notes |
---|---|---|
Application fee | 35 | |
Tuition | 7180 |
Tuition Breakdown
0 - 1
0 - 2
0 - 3
0 - 4
|
Student union | 0 | |
College initiative | 127 | |
Materials | 0 | not including textbooks |
Campus resource | 288 | |
Laundry | 0 | |
Tools (deposit) | 0 | |
Coverall (deposit) | 0 | |
Uniform (deposit) | 0 | |
Medical & Dental | 0 | |
U-PASS | 0 | |
Graduation | 0 | |
Program-specific extra fees | 0 | |
Total |
- This program is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Program options for international students can be found at VCC International.
- Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school. (Some exceptions may apply.)
- Applicants must submit official transcripts and educational documents as required by their course or program.
Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free in academic upgrading, university transfer or English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses.
Apply now
VCC Continuing Studies
250 West Pender St.
Vancouver, B.C., V6B 1S9
† 2018 Job Bank Wage data
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