Paralegal
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code2870
- SchoolThe Business School
- CredentialOntario College Graduate Certificate
- Program TypeGraduate Certificate program
- Program Length1 year/ 3 semesters
- LocationProgress Campus
- Emailbusiness@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000 ext. 52280
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- The Business School Student Success Guide
- Advising
The Business School will be offering a variety of delivery modes for new students in all programs. These can include, asynchronous learning, synchronous learning, hybrid, and on-campus deliveries, including evenings and weekends.
Access to justice requires well-trained and licensed paralegals to fill the growing demand for affordable services in the legal profession. Centennial College’s Paralegal program will prepare you to excel in the field through strong theoretical and practical courses.
The Law Society of Ontario accredits Centennial’s one-year (three-semester) undertaking. This graduate certificate program will make you eligible, upon successful completion of all requirements, to write the Law Society’s Paralegal licensing examination — enabling you to practice as a licensed paralegal in Ontario. Licensed paralegals may represent clients in areas such as summary conviction criminal offences, traffic violations, provincial and municipal offences, tribunals and the Ontario Small Claims Courts.
Throughout your studies in the Paralegal program, you'll gain solid knowledge of Canadian law, concentrating on subject areas within the permitted scope of paralegal practice. In addition to dedicated academic lectures, practice management and mock trials, there will be a two-day-per-week work placement in the third semester, providing hands-on training in established law and paralegal firms. Centennial’s experiential learning will exceed the requirements of the Law Society and assist in preparing you to enter the field, not only with practice experience but also with the chance to network within the industry.
As a Centennial Paralegal graduate, you'll be well prepared to write your licensing examination and become an integral part of the legal system.
Program Overview
The Business School will be offering a variety of delivery modes for new students in all programs. These can include, asynchronous learning, synchronous learning, hybrid, and on-campus deliveries, including evenings and weekends.
Access to justice requires well-trained and licensed paralegals to fill the growing demand for affordable services in the legal profession. Centennial College’s Paralegal program will prepare you to excel in the field through strong theoretical and practical courses.
The Law Society of Ontario accredits Centennial’s one-year (three-semester) undertaking. This graduate certificate program will make you eligible, upon successful completion of all requirements, to write the Law Society’s Paralegal licensing examination — enabling you to practice as a licensed paralegal in Ontario. Licensed paralegals may represent clients in areas such as summary conviction criminal offences, traffic violations, provincial and municipal offences, tribunals and the Ontario Small Claims Courts.
Throughout your studies in the Paralegal program, you'll gain solid knowledge of Canadian law, concentrating on subject areas within the permitted scope of paralegal practice. In addition to dedicated academic lectures, practice management and mock trials, there will be a two-day-per-week work placement in the third semester, providing hands-on training in established law and paralegal firms. Centennial’s experiential learning will exceed the requirements of the Law Society and assist in preparing you to enter the field, not only with practice experience but also with the chance to network within the industry.
As a Centennial Paralegal graduate, you'll be well prepared to write your licensing examination and become an integral part of the legal system.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Program Highlights
- You learn in state-of-the-art facilities such as an on-campus mock courtroom that gives you the opportunity to practice being a paralegal through moot court and mock trial competitions.
- Hands-on learning within The Business School program includes the use of technology systems such as ULaw and other legal research tools that support paralegal objectives.
- Successful Paralegal program students are highly organized, possess the ability to plan and prioritize, are comfortable with researching tasks, possess strong analytical, numeracy and interpersonal skills, thrive under pressure, have the ability to meet deadlines, are innovative problem solvers and decision makers, have the ability to work successfully in a team environment and adapt easily to technology and current industry computer software.
- This Centennial program offers Paralegal students' unique opportunities for experiential learning and cultural exchange through our Faculty Led International Program (FLIP) working with survivors of human trafficking in Nepal and a moot competition in the United Kingdom at the University of Leicester.
Please note: The qualification requirements and costs for each external accreditation, designation, certification or recognition are set by the granting body, not by Centennial College. In order to qualify for any external accreditations, designations, certifications or recognitions, students and graduates will need to follow the processes and meet the applicable requirements listed on the websites and in the materials of those external bodies.
Career Outlook
- Paralegal business owner
- Paralegal for corporation
- Paralegal agent
Education Pathways
Graduates of the Paralegal graduate certificate program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study. Listed below are the credentials from partnering institutions that are available for this program.
Please note that each partner has minimum admission requirements to be met in order qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving partner institution.
| Partner Institution | Degree Program |
|---|---|
| Ontario Tech University | Honours Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies |
Please visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/ for more information on articulation agreements.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Professional Associations
Upon successful completion of the Paralegal program, provided you meet the Law Society of Ontario’s eligibility criteria, including Good Character requirements, you will be able to write the Law Society’s P1 Paralegal Licensing Exam.
Areas of Employment
- Law firms
- Municipal prosecutors
- Debtor/creditor agents
- Contract reviewers
- Process servers
- Notary publics/commissioners of oaths
- Paralegal firms
- Community legal service
- Government
- Insurance firms
- Self-employment
- Collection agencies
- Corporations
- Highway Traffic Act offences
- Small claims court
- Tribunals
- Provincial
- Minor criminal offense consultants
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Degree or a two-year college diploma in any discipline
- We will consider applicants who have partial (minimum 50%) university degree completion and who have a minimum of two years' work experience relevant to the program (transcript and resume review required).
Additional Requirements
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
Domestic Students
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please apply at the Employment Training Centre (Progress Campus). The Better Jobs Ontario Program is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
International Students
Apply directly to Centennial College here.
2. Submit Documents
Domestic Applicants
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on three semesters, beginning Fall 2024.
| Student | Tuition (3 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $3,630.00 | $1,683.66 | $5,313.66 |
| International | $24,973.50 | $2,079.84 | $27,053.34 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Utilize the applicable structure, process, and jurisdictional authority of courts and administrative tribunals to successfully resolve disputes and appeals within the legal system.
- Develop and assess strategies which adhere to established principles of ethics and codes of conduct, and enhancement of professional competence.
- Select, evaluate, and utilize effective advocacy techniques, including oral and written legal presentations, using accurate legal terminology.
- Employ effective human relations, interpersonal, and intervention strategies to assist in resolving conflicts.
- Research, analyze, and interpret legislation and examine judicial interpretation of legislation, and produce proper citation of provincial and federal statutes, regulations, and other legal resources.
- Develop a coherent case management strategy and execute it effectively.
- Conduct legal research and collect, analyze, and synthesize different research tools for the purpose of legal drafting and representation.
- Work within areas of permitted practice and articulate limitations on representation for agents and paralegals.
- Utilize information technology resources and current industry computer software.
The Business School Student Success Guide
- Personality TestSTARTMatch your personality to a career
- Career ExplorerLEARN MOREExplore your future career
Sabah Fatima, Paralegal, GraduateCentennial's Paralegal program prepared me for my career not only with respect to practical skills and knowledge, but also in shaping me into a true professional.