Program Highlights
Legal administrative assistants prepare legal documents, maintain records and files and conduct research to assist lawyers or other professionals. Notaries public administer oaths, take affidavits, sign legal documents and perform other activities according to the limitations of their appointment. Trademark agents advise clients on intellectual property matters. Legal assistants are employed by law firms, by record search companies and in legal departments throughout the public and private sectors.
The Legal Administrative Assistant Diploma program prepares students for the exciting and challenging world of the legal assistant. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary to assist an Alberta lawyer in various practice areas, such as civil litigation, criminal, family, real estate, corporate/commercial and wills/estates practice. Under a lawyer's direction, Legal Administrative Assistants are responsible for office procedures with a focus on case/file management, time/financial management and client communication/record keeping in compliance with professional standards.
Highly qualified instructors will provide you with individualized training and many opportunities for one-on-one attention. The learning environment is practical and hands-on. It reflects a simulated version of a “real world” work environment.
Legal administrative assistants perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare and key in correspondence and legal documents, such as deeds, wills, affidavits, and briefs, from handwritten copy, shorthand and machine dictation using computers
- Review and proofread documents and correspondence to ensure compliance with legal procedures and grammatical usage
- Schedule appointments, meetings, and conferences for the employer
- Set up and maintain filing systems, utilizing knowledge of legal records and procedures and frequently controlling confidential materials and documents
- Open and distribute regular and electronic incoming mail and other material and co-ordinate the flow of information internally and with other departments or organizations
- Determine and establish office procedures and routines
- May supervise and train other staff in procedures and in the use of current software
- May attend court, meetings or conferences to take notes, minutes and dictation
- May perform other general office work as required including preparing financial