Diploma in Law Clerk (Co-op)
Fanshawe College
Key Information
Campus location
London, Canada
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
CAD 7,832 *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* total fee for Canadian students. $31,903.44 for international students
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
By choosing Fanshawe’s Law Clerk (Co-op) program you will gain a competitive edge by integrating your academic studies with practical paid work experience. You will work on legal files alongside lawyers or paralegals in law firms, government agencies, corporate offices, or financial institutions. In many ways, the law is the most crucial institution in the country. If you find being a part of this prestigious career intriguing and you also want the opportunity to gain practical paid work experience, then the Law Clerk (Co-op) program is the right program for you!
Your Learning Experience
The Law Clerk (Co-op) program combines a solid understanding of several areas of law with practical paid work experience giving you the required skills for diverse career opportunities. Your law courses will include civil litigation, corporate commercial, debtor and creditor rights, real estate, landlord and tenant, estate administration, and family law. In addition, you will receive extensive training on leading software and online applications used by law firms and legal departments in Canada.
You can start the Law Clerk (Co-op) program in either September (fall term) or January (winter term), and your co-op sequencing will depend on when you start the program. After completing their co-op work terms our students return to campus with a better understanding of the type of work they will be performing after graduation, and an appreciation of how the material they learn at college applies to real-life legal cases.
When you graduate you’ll have learned everything you need to start your career off right. And, because you’ve chosen the Co-op program your studies will be integrated with working alongside real legal teams, on real cases, allowing you to graduate with a competitive edge. You will study many areas of Canadian law including civil litigation, corporate/commercial, debtor and creditor rights, real estate, landlord and tenant, estate administration, family law, and contracts. You will refine your communication and information processing skills as you learn how to research, analyze and write in the legal environment. You will develop an ability to work with a variety of leading-edge legal software applications and online commercial legal databases and services.
Depending upon your choice of career path, you could find yourself preparing motion records and trial documentation, interviewing witnesses, arranging trial dates and adjournments, drafting corporate/commercial documentation, completing Family Law Act financial statements, administering estates, negotiating leases, administering contracts, completing legal research, searching titles or processing real estate transactions.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada. This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for cooperative education programs in Canada and recognizes Fanshawe's commitment to excellence.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Co-op Opportunities
The Law Clerk (Co-op) program offers a cooperative education component, which provides students the opportunity to gain invaluable first-hand work experience in their chosen field. Here are some co-op jobs that have kick-started the careers of Law Clerk students before even graduate!
Litigation Law Clerk
Support a lawyer in a litigation law office with scheduling and document-related duties.
Insurance Law Clerk
Responsible for preparing and filing court documents associated with proceedings, and communicating with court staff and other parties involved in the legal proceedings.
Municipal Law Enforcement Officer
Work in the City’s By-Law department filing and researching work orders, invoices, and other documentation.
Courses
Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
Group 1
- LAWS-1077 ---- Legal Materials-Intro
- LAWS-1007 ---- Civil Procedure
- LAWS-1036 ---- Torts & Contracts
- DEVL-1051 ---- Professionalism & Client Relations
- COMP-1529 ---- Computer Applications 1
- COOP-1020 ---- Co-operative Education Employment Prep
Group 2
TAKE WRIT-1089 OR WRIT-1034
- WRIT-1089 ---- Reason & Writing 1 for Public Safety
- WRIT-1034 ---- Reason & Writing 1-EAP
Level 2
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- LAWS-1078 ---- Real Estate-Intro
- COMM-3044 ---- Prof. Communications for Law Clerks
- COMP-3108 ---- Computer Applications 2
- LAWS-1101 ---- Wills & Estates-Intro
- LAWS-1102 ---- Business Law-Intro
- SOCI-1101 ---- Diversity & Indigenous People in Canada
- PSYC-1120 ---- Nine to Five: Workplace Psychology
Level 3
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- LAWS-3006 ---- Family Law
- LAWS-5006 ---- Civil Procedure-Adv
- LAWS-1039 ---- Real Estate Title Searching
- LAWS-1040 ---- Legal Research & Writing
- LAWS-1010 ---- Creditors' Rights
- LAWS-5011 ---- Wills & Estates-Adv
Level 4
General Education - Take a 3-credit General Education elective course.
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- LAWS-3052 ---- Landlord & Tenant Law
- LAWS-3043 ---- Real Estate Procedure-Adv
- LAWS-5008 ---- Document Production & Management
- INSR-1006 ---- Fundamentals of Insurance for Consumers
- LAWS-5012 ---- Business Law-Adv
- DEVL-5010 ---- Professionalism & Career Development
General Education - Electives
Take 3 General Education Credits - Normally taken in Level 4
Program Residency
Students Must Complete a Minimum of 22 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and Graduate from this program
Program Outcome
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Support the needs of clients and legal professionals through the use of accurate terminology and professional communication strategies, both orally and in writing.
- Complete all work within routine and unexpected timelines and limitation periods within the legal environment.
- Use current and relevant electronic and print resources, within the legal environment, to conduct legal research, assist with file and evidentiary management, facilitate communication, and generate legal documentation, complying with current regulations and procedures.
- Research and summarize the presenting legal issues, applying knowledge of substantive law, to support the legal team.
- Apply the rules of procedure to support the best legal practices.
- Conduct oneself professionally in adherence to the guidelines of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
- Carry out clerical and administrative duties for the operation of a variety of legal environments.
- Outline strategies for ongoing professional development to ensure continuing competence as a Law Clerk.
- Act equitably and justly with diverse populations*.
- Provide support for legal professionals in courts and administrative tribunals within the legal system.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Law Clerk program find career opportunities in law firms, corporate legal departments, financial institutions, insurance companies, title insurance companies, Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governments, court offices, registry offices, government boards, and tribunals, legal aid, legal technology, and legal services providers. A career as a law clerk offers challenge, diversity, flexibility, and advancement in the fast-paced, constantly changing legal environment. Graduates are also well prepared to succeed in Fanshawe’s Paralegal program.
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Law Clerk program:
Class Action Law Clerk
Support a class action department by researching and filing documents related to court proceedings.
Real Estate Law Clerk
Support a lawyer’s work on real estate files from start to finish.
Family Law Clerk
Play an integral role in a family law firm by providing administrative support to legal counsel.
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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