Law Clerk Training Insights – What You’ll Learn to Launch Your Future

With a passion for legal matters and a propensity for details and how to wield them to make a compelling argument or case, you may be poised to succeed in a law clerk course or pursue a legal assistant degree.

As you assess the opportunities and look to discover a career fit, you can take the “Anderson College Legal Career Training Readiness Quiz” and see just how your interests align with an education for legal assistant. Next, seeing that you may have a future in this field, you’ll want to know the details of precisely what you’ll learn, how you’ll gain hands-on experience and leverage that knowledge in a practicum with potential employers, to land a job.

Anderson College’s Law Clerk program will enable you to not only have a keen technical understanding of the law and procedures but you will hone your skills in analytical thinking and problem-solving; management of time and stress; communications, interpersonal relationship development and client service; and, self-motivation and professionalism, to name a few.

But what does all that look like, exactly?

Law Clerk Training Insights – Where and What You’ll Learn to Launch a Successful Future

First, The Learning Environment:

Anderson College is student centred, which means students are at the forefront of every one of the choices we make, every step along the way.

How this plays out at Anderson:

• Leading-edge programs, as reflected by student feedback and testimonials, to demonstrate that upon graduation you will, in fact, be confident and in demand and will have had an enriching experience both professionally and personally. We truly are a close community because we know that to succeed you need to feel supported on all levels.
• Each program is held to the highest standards, is taught by industry experts in small class sizes so that you have the attention and connection you need to thrive with your instructors and your colleagues.
• You learn an extraordinary amount in fast-track programs, blending theoretical and hands-on training so that you have the skills and experience required, in a timeframe that gets you launched into a career quickly.
• We’re so dedicated to your long-term success that our career services, from resume building to interview prep and delivery, from a team committed to seeing you soar, are available FOR LIFE.

The Law Clerk Program

Here’s where we get specific. To make an informed decision you need to know what you’re in for, what you’ll glean and how you’ll leverage what you learn to land that dream job.

The Skills:

• Student Success Strategies: We want to ensure you thrive not only in this program but in life. This course covers choosing and developing effective strategies for your academics, self-awareness, and self-management. You’ll explore becoming an integral part of the college community and how diverse cultures, values and perspectives drive an overall incredible college experience.
• Computer Skills: This gets you grounded in precisely what you need to support you in the law clerk program and in your future career. Introduction to computers gets you acquainted and proficient with the Microsoft Suite, including Excel and Word.
• Legal Office Procedures: This course covers all you need to know about office management, practices, procedures, and the roles and responsibilities of professionals in a legal setting. It also explores the workings of the court system, organizational and communications skills and producing legal documents and legal terminology. Most thrilling is the final topic that focuses on program work practicum, resumes, portfolios, interviews, and your career path in the short and long term.
• Legal Research, Writing and Communications: You will gain a keen understanding of the workings of the legal system and how to effectively work within and support it. Courses in these areas cover everything from basic research and writing skills to how to write legal memos and case briefs. You will learn legal terminology and how to use it effectively to support clients and your team. The specifics of client care are also covered, recognizing the essential nature of this relationship for your career. From fact-gathering and advising to the use of a client-centred approach to problem solving and decision making, you’ll have all you need to know to contribute powerfully within these areas.
• Specialized Legal Software/Knowledge: Specific software is essential to an effective law practice, from managing client issues to file management, billing, and accounting. You’ll have a course on legal accounting that relays the principles and requirements of the Law Society for maintaining financial records. In addition, in your various courses the specific software programs you’ll learn are: PCLaw, Conveyancer, Teraview, Fast Company, Estate-a-base and Will builder. Also, you’ll be working with “uLaw EDU”. To find out more about that exciting development with Anderson – check out our blog on that … Anderson College partners with uLaw EDU for Law Clerk, Paralegal programs.

The Areas of Law: Here are the various and expansive areas that you’ll dive into in this comprehensive program.

• Canada’s Legal and Constitutional Framework – History and background of Canadian government and political system to understand the Canadian legal system and procedures.
• Tort and Contract Law – History and intricacies of contracts and how to navigate them and the distinctions and conditions of the law of tort.
• Employment Law – The employer/employee relationships and the acts that govern them, including labour relations, human rights, employment standards and much more.
• Real Estate Law – Includes topics on estates and interests of land, government controls, mortgages, and residential tenancies, to name a few.
• Criminal Law – Covering everything from evidence of crime, roles of the parties in criminal matters, differences between types of convictions to processes and procedures of the police, the Crown, and the Court.
• Family Law – Introduction to the substantive and procedure law of separation and divorce, spousal and child support, custody and access, property right etc …
• Debtor-Creditor Law – The fundamentals of debtor/creditor law and procedure, focusing on proceedings to obtain and enforce judgment.
• Business & Corporate Law – An overview of the main legal issues and procedures associated with the business sector, reviewing the various types of businesses, examining key legislation, rights and remedies, agency relationships and much more.
• Civil Litigation – The process of civil litigation in the Province of Ontario, from an overview of the entire process of a civil lawsuit and commencement of proceedings to the end of the trial.
• Small Claims Court – Includes an overview of how the Court works, types of claims, roles of the parties, drafting pleadings, serving documents and the entire step-by-step trial process.
• Wills & Estates – Covers wills and estates as they relate to planning, administration, and litigation.

Preparation and the Provincial Law Exams for Credibility

Ultimately, Anderson College’s Law Clerk diploma program prepares you to write one, or all, of the four provincial law clerk exams: Litigation, Corporate Law, Real Estate, and Wills and Estates. These examinations allow you to demonstrate your knowledge and upon passing them offer you additional credibility and as you pursue your ideal position.

Program Details, Practicum and Employment

• Program Length – 52 weeks – full time.
• Practicum – 3 weeks (120 hours) of on-the-job training, offsite with potential employers.
• Employment Success Strategies Course – In the Law Clerk program you also have a specific course designated to empowering students to enter the competitive business world with confidence. You’ll learn how to write winning resumes and cover letters and ace the interview.

Now that you can see the road ahead, let’s help you navigate the way to getting started in your legal program. Within one year you can shift from dreaming about a law career to living it.

If you’re ready to embark on your Law Clerk career, we’re here to support you in the process. Book a virtual appointment with one of our Admissions Advisors today.

Quick Links to Fuel Your Success!

We want to make sure you have what you need to succeed! Check out these reference links:

• Law Clerk Program & Courses at Anderson College
• What Jobs Can You Do with A Law Clerk Diploma? (andersoncollege.com)
• Your Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Law Clerk
• Study Law Clerk and Be More Than Just a Number – a Graduate’s Perspective