“I took the Legal Administrative Assistant program. CDI College helped me see what I wanted to do with my life and showed me the steps that I needed to take to get there.” - Cindy C., CDI College Graduate
Legal administrative assistants are a key element to any legal team. In order to succeed in this fast-paced and fascinating career, you'll need a strong education in the policy and procedures of a modern law office, as well as an understanding of the Canadian legal and court system.
CDI College's Legal Administrative Assistant program will teach you legal terminology, court systems, office procedures, legal record keeping and bookkeeping. Students will also build strong transcription and keyboarding skills and become adept at using common office software such as MS Word and Excel. Course material in this program will include wills and estates, real estate, corporate and commercial law, civil litigation, and family law.
Job Opportunities
- Legal Secretary
- Legal Administrative Assistant
Legal Administrative Assistant - BC
Also offered in Manitoba as Legal Administrative Assistant - MB At:
WinnipegAlso offered in Alberta as Professional Legal Assistant At:
Calgary City Centre Calgary North Edmonton City Centre Edmonton WestProgram Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia. Click here to see the outlines for Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec.
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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- Excellent communication skills are essential in the smooth operation of a business office. In this course, the emphasis is on the application of language arts skills to produce grammatically correct communications.
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- Students are introduced to the incorporation and organization of a British Columbia company. There will be an overview of the British Columbia Business Corporation Act (by which the BC Company Act was repealed), the Society Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Canada Corporations Act. Guidelines and procedures for selecting a corporate name are covered. Student understanding of corporate by-laws and corporate structure is built, along with the typical requirements of corporate meetings, minutes, resolutions and the duties of directors and officers. Students use legal precedents to prepare articles of incorporation and corporate by-laws. Experience is gained with routine filings and resolutions. Students learn how to set up and maintain corporate records (Records Book and as well as the transitions to the new Business Corporations Acts). Corporate securities, records and changes are also covered.
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- In this introductory course, students learn about the nature,purpose, scope, sources and basic principles of criminal law.The Criminal Code of Canada and the Charter of Rights andFreedoms are discussed. Students review the basic elements ofa criminal offence and the practical procedures utilizedthroughout a client’s arrest, trial, sentencing and appeal.Jurisdictional issues are presented, along with the process forjury election. There will also be a discussion of evidence.
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- This course introduces the family court system in British Columbia. Students become familiar with Provincial and Supreme Court documentation and procedures used to bring issues of marriage, separation, divorce, custody/access, child welfare, adoption, maintenance and property to resolution using the legal system. The Family Relations Act and the Divorce Act re covered. Students gain experience in completing a contested divorce file. Child Support guidelines are also covered.
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- In this module, students learn about the day-to-day organization,management and procedures of a legal office. The latestdevelopments in office technology are presented and practicallyapplied as students draft standard legal documents (agreements,statements of claim and defense, letters and memos). Studentsare also introduced to the important skills of timekeeping, filingand the effective use of communication systems (telephone,fax). Law office, trust accounting concepts and procedures arecovered. One of the most highly valued abilities of legaladministrative assistants and paralegals is that of being able toprioritize and organize multi-task workloads. Students learnthese important skills in tandem with problem solving andcritical thinking skills development.
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- This course covers working with the Windows operating system to manage files and folders and customize the desktop, creating documents, and using the Internet for communication and research.
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- Students will be provided with an overview of the Canadian legal system, legal institutions and the structure of the Canadian court system. Students learn about the history of Canadian law, including an analysis of the development of the Canadian constitution. The Legal Professional Act and the Rules of the Law Society of British Columbia will be discussed with a view towards professionalism and ethics in the field.
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- Keyboarding speed and accuracy are developed through this intensive course with the use of drills and timings.
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- The focus of this course is on civil litigation. Students learn the steps for opening and maintaining a litigation file and the British Columbia court litigation stages and procedures. Familiarization is built with different types of damages and claims as well as the procedures for proving a claim. Students gain experience preparing all relevant documents (for pre-trial and trial proceedings). Proceeding to trial is also covered, along with the procedure for actions (in Provincial Court and Civil Division). Mediation and settlement are introduced.
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- This course offers a case-oriented, problem-solving approach for learning Microsoft Excel. Students explore both basic and advanced features while creating a variety of documents such as budgets, marketing and sales reports, forecasts, and statistical tables.
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- Students work with basic and more advanced features of Microsoft Outlook to manage messages for efficient communication, maintain personal and business contacts, and organize appointments and tasks.
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- Students will explore both basic and more advanced features of Microsoft PowerPoint while creating visually attractive and effective presentations.
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- This course is designed to equip students with interpersonal skills identified by employers as essential for success in the professional world. Using a variety of instructional methods including case studies, group exercises, and discussion, students learn and practice key communication skills.
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- In this foundation course, students learn about wills and estates planning, estate succession, testacy, intestacy, requirements of a valid will and execution procedures. There is an introduction to the roles of the Executor and Trustee. Students learn about the Notice to Beneficiaries, Living Wills, Power of Attorney and Representations Agreements. Assets, inheritance and estate inventory are also presented.
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- In this course students develop keyboarding speed and accuracy and practice using the most common features of Microsoft Word while working on typical office documents.
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- In this course students continue to develop keyboarding speed and accuracy and practice using more advanced features of Microsoft Word.