This article highlights Centennial College’s Paralegal program, which prepares students for a range of areas, making their career prospects positive upon graduation.

1. Paralegal Program Employs Realistic Training
Did you know that if you have already completed a university degree or two-year
college diploma in any discipline or have partially completed a University degree, and
have a minimum of two years work experience relevant to the program you have what
it takes to apply for a post-secondary program that will open the door to the legal arena.
Centennial College offers its Paralegal program as a Graduate Certificate undertaking.
This means it is designed for mature students who wish to work with law firms,
community legal service, government, insurance firms, collection agencies,
corporations or in self-employment. Among the areas in which paralegals may find
work are: Highway Traffic Act offences, small claims court, tribunals, and
provincial/minor criminal offences. While the duties of these professionals vary
depending on the area in which they work, common tasks of paralegals, according to
About.com, include: investigating the facts of a case; interviewing clients and witnesses
for lawyers; performing legal research; drafting pleadings, deposition notices,
subpoenas, motions, briefs, discovery and other legal documents; organizing and
managing files, documents and exhibits; filing documents with federal and state courts;
and assisting at hearings, arbitrations, mediations, administrative proceedings, closings
and trials. Paralegals also have the distinction of being allowed to represent clients in
Small Claims Court.
To prepare students, each Paralegal course in this offering is a combination of
theoretical and practical training. While theoretical training is provided by way of
lectures from instructors who are experienced professionals, hands-on learning involves
technology systems, such as PCLaw, Quicklaw and other legal research tools that
support paralegal objectives.
As a respected paralegal program Toronto offers, this undertaking is accredited by the
Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) accredits. Upon graduation, students are eligible
to write the mandatory LSUC licensing examination that is required to practice as a
paralegal in Ontario. Additionally, the LSUC provides the program with academic
materials.
Among specific courses included in this undertaking are Legal Computer Applications,
Legal Research/Writing, Administrative Law, Evidence and the Litigation
Responsibility, Small Claims Court, Criminal/Summary Conviction Procedure,
Residential-Landlord and Tenant Law and more.
Additionally, students get a huge advantage of other paralegal programs thanks to an
Experiential Learning Opportunity (field-placement) in the third semester that exposes
students to realistic workplace environments, and prepares them for industry
expectations. This program’s field placement offers 210 hours of on-the-job training. At
the same time as they gain quite a bit of experience learning tasks from professionals,
students also build a network of professionals on which they may be able to call on
once they complete their education. Some students are even hired on by the companies

2. with whom they have their field experience.