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Continuing Education

Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate

Legal Administration and Paralegal

Boost your admin skills with a law specialization

Become a trained legal administrative assistant and support legal professionals in law, corporate, government, notary, insurance, or real estate offices.

When you graduate from the program, you possess a full range of essential skills in legal procedures, including litigation, family law, corporate law, wills and estates, and conveyancing. You are fully ready to launch a rewarding career in the legal field. You also have the option to continue your studies to earn a Paralegal certificate or diploma.

Credential: Certificate

Format: Full time

Delivery: Online courses, practicum in person at an assigned work site

Duration: 7 months

Days and times: Online with no scheduled meeting times. Students must attend two scheduled online orientations.

Tuition*: $7,803

Program eligible for financial aid

Practicum available? Yes

Start dates: January, September

Application deadline:
Students can apply at any time and will be considered for the next available intake.

* Tuition subject to change without notice. Textbooks are not included in tuition.

Employment facts

Legal Administrative Assistants (LAA) qualify for a variety of administrative support positions in corporate offices, law enforcement agencies, government services including court services and Crown Counsel, federal, provincial, and municipal offices, notaries public, insurance companies, financial organizations, correctional institutions, and real estate offices.

These diverse workplaces require assistants that have a higher skill set, knowledge base, and keen multitasking abilities. UFV’s LAA program offers you the most up to date industry knowledge and practical skills so that you are job-ready upon graduation. A career as a legal administrative assistant provides interesting and challenging work and can be both personally and financially rewarding.

Upon successful completion of the Legal Administrative Assistant certificate, you can continue your studies into the Paralegal Certificate and Paralegal Diploma programs.

Entrance requirements

View the entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

Program outline

Courses

The program is divided into eight courses, as listed below. The first is an overview of general legal procedures, followed by five courses covering specialty areas of law.

  • Introduction to Legal Office Procedures
  • Litigation
  • Family Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Wills and Estates
  • Conveyancing
  • Review
  • Practicum

 

Practicum

At the end of the Legal Administrative Assistant program, you will complete a two-week practicum that provides you with meaningful work-like experience and exposure to the legal field.

In order to qualify for the practicum module, you must have successfully completed all previous coursework with a grade percentage of 85%.

 

Practicum schedule

Practicum placements reflect the business practices of the practicum host, which includes placement during standard business hours.

 

Practicum location

If you live in the Lower Mainland, Continuing Education will provide you with a practicum placement. While we try to place students near their city of residence, we cannot guarantee a practicum placement in a specific city. For example, students who live in Chilliwack may need to travel to Abbotsford to complete their practicum. Transportation to the practicum site is your responsibility. 

You will receive one practicum site placement. If you refuse your assigned practicum site, you will need to find your own site and obtain departmental approval prior to the start of your practicum.

 

Missing your practicum

Completing your practicum is a requirement for graduation. If you are unable to attend or complete your practicum due to extenuating circumstances, please contact Continuing Education immediately.

Extenuating circumstances are defined as a situation beyond your control that prevents you from completing a course, program, or practicum. These are circumstances that are unexpected and/or uncontrollable and arise during the course of the program. Examples include:

  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Car accident
  • Medical emergency
  • Incapacitating illness
  • Serious personal situation

The following does not qualify:

  • Inability to achieve a passing grade
  • Unawareness of deadlines
  • Unfavorable weather conditions
  • A short-term illness
  • An unmanaged, pre-existing health condition

Please discuss any barriers that may affect your practicum assignment with Continuing Education immediately after registration.

Textbooks

To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.

Questions?

Phone: 604-851-6324
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441 ext. 6324
Email: continuingeducation@ufv.ca
Ask a question

"Baker Newby LLP has had the pleasure of hosting several UFV practicum students over the years. I find them well educated and prepared for the professionalism expected in our industry. I have hired many UFV students and expect to continue to do so in the future."
  • – Tim C. Wurtz
  •    Administrator, Baker Newby LLP

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