Law Clerk Diploma Proves Valuable in the Legal Field
"This program is a two-year, four-semester program,” says Patty-Ann
Sullivan, coordinator of the Law Clerk diploma undertaking at Centennial
College. "They are taught the theory of the law. They also do a lot of
hands-on application of the theory. So what we do, for example, in
Family Law is I have them filling in divorce documents. In Real Estate,
they actually work in the lab with the real estate legal software they
are going to be using when they are working in the workplace.
Throughout the entire program, they are learning the law and then
applying the law. Our faculty members work with the students and meet
with them individually to put together a wish list of what they would
like to do for their work placement — whether it’s working for a law
firm or a corporation or the government or in a courtroom setting. Our
faculty then contacts the various employers, arranges the interview and
the students are then working for the entire 15-week semester, four
days a week.”
Patty-Ann provides a wonderful overview of this
Law Clerk program. Let’s take a look at some of its specific details.
First and foremost, those who wish to apply must have completed an
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of
age or older. In addition, they must have completed compulsory English
12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent and Math 11C, M or U, or
12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent. Possession of minimum
admission requirements does not guarantee admission.
The
Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario accredits the Law Clerk program,
which results in an Ontario College Diploma. During the four semesters
students spend at Centennial College, emphasis is placed on practical,
career-oriented assignments. In addition, a wide variety of law
courses, in conjunction with computer legal software courses, fully
prepares students for employment in the legal profession. Specific
courses within the Law Clerk offering include: Current Issues in
Canadian Law (students gain an understanding of the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, the Ontario court system, as well as an introduction to
torts, contracts, sale of goods and consumer protection law, employment
law and property law); Corporate Law (teaches students the laws and
procedures for incorporation, maintaining corporations, and commercial
searches and registration); Legal Research and Writing (students learn
the basic steps required to carry out both legal and factual research);
and more.
As Patty-Ann mentioned, another major component of
this Law Clerk diploma undertaking is the work placement. This feature
allows students to work alongside seasoned law clerks applying what
they have learned and gaining new knowledge while networking.
In order to graduate and become a law clerk,
students must achieve an overall minimum GPA of 2.0, a minimum C grade
average, a minimum C grade in COMM-170 and a minimum keyboarding speed
of 40 words per minute. Upon graduation from the Law Clerk program,
most begin their careers by applying for judicial clerkships.
Jason writes of the Law Clerk diploma
undertaking at Centennial College, which balances courses such as
Current Issues in Canadian Law, Corporate Law, and Legal Research and
Writing with a work placement.
