Professional Legal Assistant Diploma

This course is designed to smoothly transition students into post-secondary education and maximize their career path preparation for the workforce. Learn about various learning styles, effective goal-setting strategies, note-taking techniques, and testing methods to excel in your academic and professional endeavours. This program will equip you with essential skills to enhance your learning experience and succeed in your chosen career path.

What you will learn:

• Develop the ability to recognize the characteristics of a successful student
• Cultivate a positive mindset and employ effective goal-setting methods
• Understand the benefits of note-taking while reading
• Formulate comprehensive strategies for effective test preparation

Microsoft’s signature email platform, Outlook, is found in most offices worldwide. In this class, students learn some of the most used functions of Outlook, ones used by both administrators and staff. You will learn to use Outlook’s file management system, edit text, and format and print files received as part of incoming mail.

What will you learn:

• Establish fresh email accounts
• Organize messages by tagging, labeling, and categorizing them
• Utilize tracking options for effective message management
• Configure and activate automatic reply features

In a business setting, being familiar with the most widely used word-processing platform is essential. Whether you work on a Windows or Macintosh computer, our course provides practical, interactive instruction on formatting and editing Word documents. This training will equip you with the proficiency to navigate the program efficiently and confidently.

What will you learn:

• Create reusable building blocks and hyperlinks and insert page numbers
• How to use researcher and clipboard
• Create and use field documents
• Record, save, edit and run automated macro tasks

Gain practical experience through skill-based simulations to master creating functional spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Through hands-on activities, you will develop a deep understanding of the platform’s complexity while learning its core features. Begin by inputting and formatting data and then creating formulas to manipulate the data into valuable insights. With your data, you can craft visual representations such as charts and graphs to present your findings effectively. Excel, Word, and Outlook are essential for securing a position in an office environment.

What will you learn:

• Employ the quick analysis tool to compute totals efficiently
• Generate, edit, and execute queries for data manipulation
• Apply auto fillers and slicers to filter and arrange data effectively
• Incorporate Trendlines to add, modify, and forecast values

Effective communication plays a pivotal role in achieving success in today’s dynamic work environment. This course emphasizes the essential elements of successful communication, such as enhancing written communication abilities, mastering appropriate communication techniques, handling diverse workplace situations, and creating impactful business presentations. With the acquired knowledge and skills, participants can elevate their professional performance and make a lasting impact.

What will you learn:

• Explain the primary variables influencing an organization’s communication types and quantity
• Know the four principles of document design: contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity
• Write clear, concise, and favourable answers to inquiries
• Craft engaging sales messages that grab readers’ attention, employ persuasive techniques, feature relevant visuals, and encourage prompt action

This course will equip students with the essential English language skills to secure employment opportunities in the contemporary business world. It provides a detailed overview of regular syntax, grammar, and spelling errors that may set students apart from other job applicants. Furthermore, students will receive practical training in using standardized proofreading marks to edit business documents efficiently. By developing these skills, students can enhance their professional prospects and distinguish themselves in the competitive job market.

What will you learn:

• Familiarize yourself with various techniques for proofreading documents and be able to apply them effectively
• Comprehend and employ the principles of proofreading documents on-screen
• Utilize frequently used abbreviations appropriately in your writing
• Locate and rectify errors related to pronoun-antecedent agreement

This course will give you a strong understanding of the Canadian legal system. As a student, you will explore the history of Canadian law, the Constitution of Canada, the Legal Professional Act, and the Law Society of Alberta regulations. Additionally, you will review professionalism and ethics in the field.

What will you learn:

• The characteristics of the legal system in a democratic society
• Understand the difference between substantive and procedural law
• Understand the concept of parliamentary supremacy and how it is used within the Canadian framework
• The difference between the three branches of government and their functions

In this course, you will learn about various legal topics, including general law, civil litigation, family law, real estate law, and corporate and estate practices and procedures. You will also receive updates on legal systems and the impact of technology, with a particular focus on electronic filing and registration for corporate and real estate matters.

What will you learn:

• Understand the distinctions between fees and disbursements
• Compile a comprehensive list of fundamental and interpersonal skills required for law clerks, paralegals, legal assistants, and legal administrative assistants
• Gain knowledge about the various letter styles used in legal office correspondence
• Familiarize yourself with the correct formats for statute and case citations

In this course, students will acquire practical experience conducting primary and secondary legal research using various resources such as legal documents, annotated reports, law reviews, and case comments. The course also emphasizes the significance of appropriately citing sources and analyzing case law, statutes, regulations, and legislation. Upon completion, students will thoroughly understand legal research methods and the essential skills required to thrive in the legal profession.

What will you learn:

• Acquire proficiency in conducting the fundamental steps of legal research
• Understand the concept of bylaws and their legislative scope
• Recognize and elucidate the sequential steps involved in analyzing a factual scenario
• Differentiate between binding law and persuasive law and comprehend their respective implications

Throughout this course, students will explore a wide range of software programs commonly utilized in the legal field. By doing so, students will learn how to evaluate different support software choices to help attorneys streamline their document and transcript search, organization, and analysis processes for case preparation. This course is highly recommended for those who want to enhance their proficiency in legal software technology.

What will you learn:

• Show your proficiency in fundamental legal office accounting procedures, including legal fees, docket fees, and applying GST to lawful products and services.
• Understand the distinction between the two types of bank accounts commonly used in a legal office.
• Understand the basics of legal accounting, including types of accounting, accounting firms, and accounting software.
• Navigate software programs like PC Law, EsiLaw, Clio, and CosmoLex.

In this class, the focus is on the crucial aspects of real estate law. Students learn about the conveyancing procedures, encumbrances, mortgages, and land title systems commonly used in Alberta.

What will you learn:

• Describe the responsibilities of an estate trustee
• Explain how multiple property owners typically hold title to land and the concept of the right of survivorship
• Know the obligations of a mortgagor
• Understand the functions and benefits of wills

By taking this civil litigation course, students will understand the legal procedures and stages involved in civil litigation within Alberta courts. They will develop the skills to prepare pre-trial and trial proceeding documents and comprehend the process for action in the Provincial Court and Civil Division. The course is designed to equip students with a comprehensive knowledge of the civil litigation process and prepare them for a successful legal career.

What will you learn:

• Define litigation and an overview of the parties that are involved
• Identify and describe the four types of evidence
• Define and identify the three types of injunctions
• Know pre-trial conferences and the necessary steps to prepare pre-trial conference briefs

In this course, students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the family court system in Alberta. They can explore different facets of family law, such as divorce, child custody, child welfare, and child support. Additionally, they will learn practical skills, such as completing a contested divorce file and understanding filing procedures. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the family court system, providing them with the tools to navigate the legal process more effectively.

What will you learn:

• How domestic situations are affected when couples live together, marry or separate
• What determines custody, support, and property division
• Which courts handle each type of case
• The differences and steps involved when dealing with sole/straightforward and joint divorces

In this course, students will be introduced to the basic principles of commercial law, focusing on the structure of companies in Alberta. The curriculum will cover essential topics such as the Canada Business Corporations Act, Alberta Companies Act, Canada Corporations Act, Alberta Business Corporation Act, and Societies Act. After completing this program, students will thoroughly understand the legal framework for incorporating and organizing a company in Alberta.

What will you learn:

• The challenges surrounding business ethics and their relationship with legal requirements
• Constitutional law and its role in protecting commercial rights and freedoms
• How to access and manage legal services
• Be able to recite the litigation process

In this course, students will gain an in-depth comprehension of the fundamental structure of corporate businesses. They will familiarize themselves with different financial arrangements, understand companies’ creation and transfer requirements, and learn about the typical documentation involved in commercial transactions. Furthermore, students will delve into the complexities of corporate business operations, including corporate governance, risk management, and strategic planning. There is also an emphasis on the significance of ethical decision-making and responsible business practices, which contributes to a comprehensive education in corporate business.

What will you learn:

• The agency relationship and how it is relevant to a business
• How the agency relationship ends
• The characteristics and the effective forms of business organization
• The rights and liabilities required of both shareholders and creditors

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the structure of the Canadian Legal System. It covers various topics, such as Criminal Law, Substantive Criminal Law, Criminal Procedures, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. By taking this class, you will better understand the legal system and its operations. Whether you are a law student or simply curious about the Canadian legal system, this course is an excellent starting point.

What will you learn:

• The differences between substantive and procedural law
• What role the police have in the criminal justice system
• What exactly constitutes an offence under the law
• What options are available regarding sentencing under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

In this course, students will gain insight into the essential concepts of the energy industry in Canada and Alberta. The topics covered include Canada’s electricity market structure, key players, statistical information, and carbon emissions. The course also explores renewable resources, financing options, and the challenges and opportunities that arise as Canada transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

What will you learn:

• Know the methods, effects, and legal processes of green building
• Provide information about Alberta’s laws, policies, and strategies regarding renewable energy
• Future of renewables trends in Canada
• What jobs the growing renewable energy sector will create

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the energy industry fundamentals in Canada and Alberta. It covers various aspects such as the structure and market of Canada’s electricity industry, significant players, statistical data, and carbon emissions. Additionally, renewable resources and financing methods are thoroughly discussed. As part of the course, students will explore the opportunities and challenges within Canada’s gradual transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

What will you learn:

• Understand how applications, technologies, costs, barriers, and legal issues can affect renewables
• Know why renewable energy an essential issue for society is
• The way energy is stored
• How renewables are a benefit and the future of employment in renewables

This course offers a comprehensive insight into energy management in Canada and Alberta, encompassing various topics like energy management principles, energy managers, energy economics, and energy efficiency. Its objective is to enhance the understanding of companies’ challenges while managing energy firms, particularly renewable energy companies.

What will you learn:

• Solar energy and both its passive and active forms
• Discuss and describe tidal barrages and tidal streams
• Gain insight into the transformative impact of electric vehicles, EV charging stations, electric buses, e-scooters, high-speed trains, and hyperloop rail systems on how we operate
• How hydroelectricity generates electricity and the two methods used for hydroelectricity: water storage (dams) and run-of-river systems

This course is designed to help students develop the necessary skills to take advantage of opportunities in the current job market. They will participate in practical exercises that enhance their communication skills to ensure success during the job application process. By the end of the course, students will have gained expertise in strategically planning, crafting, and finalizing a compelling résumé. They will also learn effective job search techniques and improve their presentation skills, enabling them to secure fulfilling employment opportunities.

What will you learn:

• Develop a compelling résumé and a robust LinkedIn profile
• Utilize the AIDA approach for crafting impactful application letters
• Understand the stages involved in job interviews
• Get ready for job interviews through thorough preparation

The capstone project will test a student’s cumulative knowledge of what they have learned throughout the course. They will put their skills to the test and get a feel for what they will experience in an objective legal office setting. This is an integral part of the course and gives students the experience they will need as they embark on their careers.