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Paralegals and Legal Secretaries. CLN4C1 Mr. Nero. Paralegals can have many small roles associated to their job. Each role may have a uniques title such as: commercial law clerk corporate paralegal family law paralegal independent paralegal land titles examiner law clerk legal assistant
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Paralegals and Legal Secretaries CLN4C1 Mr. Nero
Paralegals can have many small roles associated to their job. Each role may have a uniques title such as: • commercial law clerk • corporate paralegal • family law paralegal • independent paralegal • land titles examiner • law clerk • legal assistant • legal researcher • notary public
Legal assistants and paralegals prepare legal documents, maintain records and files and conduct research to assist lawyers or other professionals. • Notaries take 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. Independent paralegals provide legal services to the public as allowed by government legislation, or provide paralegal services on contract to law firms or other establishments.
Legal assistants and paralegals are employed by law firms, by record search companies and in legal departments throughout the public and private sectors. • Independent paralegals are usually self-employed. • Trademark agents are employed by law firms and legal departments throughout the public and private sectors, trademark development and search firms or they may be self-employed. • Notaries are employed by government and in the public and private sectors or they may be self-employed.
Legal assistants and paralegals in law firms or in other establishments perform some or all of the following duties: • Assist lawyers by interviewing clients, witnesses and other related parties, assembling documentary evidence, preparing trial briefs, and arranging for trials • Prepare wills, real estate transactions and other legal documents, court reports and affidavits • Research records, court files and other legal documents • Draft legal correspondence and perform general office and clerical duties.
Notaries public perform some or all of the following duties: • Administer oaths and take affidavits and depositions • Witness and certify the validity of signatures on documents • May draft contracts, prepare promissory notes and draw up wills, mortgages and other legal documents • May arrange probates and administer the estates of deceased persons.
Trademark agents perform some or all of the following duties: • Advise clients on intellectual property matters and represent clients before the Registrar of Trade-Marks on matters including prosecution of applications for registration of trademarks • Advise on the registrability of trademarks, trademark licensing requirements, transfer of intellectual property and protection of existing trademark rights • Represent clients at proceedings before the Trade Marks Opposition Board and in related proceedings • May represent clients internationally in consultation with foreign associates and attorneys.
Independent paralegals perform some or all of the following duties: • Represent clients in small claims court and in other lower court proceedings, at tribunals and before administrative bodies • Advise clients and take legal action on landlord and tenant matters, traffic violations, name changes and other issues within their jurisdictions.
Paralegal • For a paralegal position, a diploma of collegial studies (DEC) as a paralegal is generally required. University graduates in law often work as paralegals to acquire experience before practising as lawyers or notaries.
Trade mark agent • To work as a trade mark agent, candidates must: (a) Have worked in Canada in the area of Canadian trade mark law and practice for a period of at least 24 months and have passed the qualifying examination relating to Canadian trade mark law and practice; or (b) Be a lawyer entitled to practice in any province in Canada, or a notary in the province of Quebec who has: Passed the qualifying examination relating to Canadian trade mark law and practice or worked in the area of trade mark law, including the preparation and prosecution of applications for registration of trade marks, for a period of 24 months or more and who has submitted an affidavit or statutory declaration to that effect to the Registrar of Trade-marks. And in each case pay the government-prescribed fee and apply in writing to the Registrar. The pass rate for the qualification examination under the Trade-marks Act is very low, because the mark depends not on only legal knowledge and experience, but also on scientific and technical knowledge
The average employment income is $41,321 for people in this occupation who worked full-time and/or for a full-year. The average employment income for those who did not hold full-time, full-year jobs came to $23,549.
Employment growth in this occupation depends primarily on the demand for legal services. The most influential factor on this demand is economic growth. When companies are growing and more individuals have jobs, are setting up their own businesses or own things of value, the possibility of disputes and the need for legal counsel increase rapidly. Many studies on the demand for legal services have concluded that this demand increases by about 1.5% for every percentage point in economic growth.
The general trends should continue. According to the 2008 Socio-economic Study by theBarreau du Québec, lawyers expect environmental, bankruptcy and insolvency law, computer law, commercial law, administrative law and intellectual property to be the fastest growing areas in the coming years. Similarly, the fact that it is more important for companies to develop and defend a brand image will benefit trade mark agents in particular. • In view of all these factors, the number of paralegals and related occupations is expected to increase significantly over the coming years
Constant changes in legislation and the related regulations, the requirements of the rules of evidence and good economic growth should result in a significant increase in the number of paralegal and related occupations over the coming years. • This occupation seems to attract just enough candidates to meet labour market demand. Generally, the employment situation for graduates with a Diploma of College Studies (DEC) in paralegal studies compares well with the situation for graduates of technical programs in general.
