Powerful Insights into Paralegal Training and Taking Life to New Levels with Grad Samantha

Training to become a paralegal can open the door to career opportunities unimagined. But before you invest your time, energy and finances into paralegal studies in Ontario, you undoubtedly want to know precisely what you’re in for.

From understanding what aspects and offerings truly make up a leading-edge paralegal training program to the career prospects you can expect, there is much to learn to empower you to make an informed decision.

We had the distinct opportunity to connect with Paralegal program graduate Samantha Halvarson, and she shared insights, ideas and advice second to none.

If you’re exploring your career options in the legal field, you can always take the “Anderson College Legal Career Training Readiness Quiz”.

But when you’re ready to leap in and learn all there is to know about how you can gain the knowledge and skills required to successfully enter the Law Society of Ontario’s paralegal licensing process, read on. Do we have a viable and proven path for you! I mean, we’re obviously proud of our program, but our graduates always say it best and we recognize that that is who your really want to hear from.

So, with no further adieu … Samantha’s take on what paralegal can do for you.

Samantha’s Adventure to Anderson

We asked Samantha what brought here to here, to embracing this career training and opportunity and she has a fascinating, serendipitous backstory.

“I was actually in travel before this. And then the pandemic hit, and I was laid off for about a year. It was a difficult time, as so many of us know.

“I was talking with a friend because I wasn’t too sure about what I wanted to do. He mentioned exploring Better Jobs Ontario. Essentially, this program allowed those who were laid off to apply for funding to go back to school.

“I’d take police foundations in college years before. I didn’t finish because I realized that I couldn’t be a cop, but I’ve always loved law; at that time, paralegals weren’t well known. So, when I was looking into programs with Westervelt, now Anderson College, I was reading through what the paralegal program had to offer and I thought, “Yep, absolutely; that’s it!”. In submitting my application with Better Jobs, I had to research two private schools and then one public school. I connected with Nicole Gauvin, and she made me feel so comfortable that I knew this was the choice for me. And then I got the funding and took the program, and yeah, it feels like such a wild journey looking back on it now, but I’m so happy.”

What Made Anderson Stand Out

“The small class sizes. I had learned throughout my education that I don’t do well with such large classroom crowds. I loved that in this program we had seven people who saw it through to the end. I loved that because I was able to build connections with the instructors and I am still in contact with almost all of them to this day. It was really nice to be able to have that almost one on one kind of relationship.

“I also appreciated the fact that the instructors came with ties to the field that I was intending to enter into. This made it possible for me to ask them, not only legally related questions, but personal questions as to how they moved through the legal field as a woman or as a human being, and what kind of struggles that placed on their mental health, and how they navigated that. I found that aspect fascinating. I even met two of my best friends who I still keep in contact with. It was all a really terrific experience.”

Challenges Faced and Overcome

We know that every student faces unique challenges when they launch into training for their first or next career, and all the transition and adjustments that go along with that. We wanted Samantha’s take on this; here’s what she had to share.

“As I wasn’t working while I was going to school, I can say that I didn’t experience the same types of challenges as the classmates who did. The amount of time that is required to do your studying and homework, makes doing anything outside of that challenging for sure. Although my classmates handled it really well, just taking in information, for me, especially because the law is so nuanced, I had to find a way to make it work for me personally. I had to colour code a lot of stuff so that I could practice and remember info.

“Everyone was so supportive. The teachers were incredible, and I was really lucky that I had supportive classmates and parents. At home I was basically in my little office area doing school because it was online because of the pandemic. I was sitting in front of a computer screen for probably 16 hours a day, because I was doing work and constantly studying and constantly making sure that I knew all of it because I was trying to get honours. I ended up with a 4.5 GPA, and although I was aiming for a 5, this is still incredible.

“The challenges for me centred around classes being online, doing exams online and that sort of thing, because you had to have a quiet room. It was challenging but I never felt like I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t wait for the chance to be together in person.

“I was really lucky in that I was able to lean on my classmates, and we were able to do Google meets and study that way, when we couldn’t meet in person. And then even when we were in person, we’d have breaks together, and we would all talk about how we could support one another. This college really has a good community feel to it; you don’t feel like you’re on your own, you feel like you’re part of a team, and that you’re all working together. And that’s what I loved about it. I love being able to walk down the halls and say hey to literally everyone, because I knew everyone’s name and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”

Samantha’s Favourite Parts

“I think that I loved it all, to be honest with you. Any class with Ms. Susan Slemon was incredible. Also Mr. Aaron Humphrey: he was awesome. Practice management and ethics and responsibility were some of my favourite subjects. I can still hear Ms. Slemon’s voice with some of the things she said, to this day. Even when I’m working or I’m in court or anything, I can hear her in the back of my mind. It stuck, Ms. Slemon, it stuck!

“Another course that really stood out for me was small claims court with Mr. Riyad Bacchus. I loved that course, I loved them all, but I really did like that one. We watched some court appearances virtually due to Covid. Mind you, it was tough back then, but now that I attend court virtually in my job, it’s nice that we had that kind of experience where we got to see how it operates, see what the flow of it is. That way, when I got into it, it wasn’t as daunting, because I had seen it already and I had participated, in a fashion.”

The Powerful Bits and Benefits of Hands-On Learning

“The Law Society of Ontario required us to have, I think it was, 120 hours of practical learning. We could do it anywhere, but we had to have a certain amount of experience, which makes sense. So, I was lucky that one of my instructors, Nikisha Evans, was good friends with the people I did my placement with; they actually became my close friends. I am best friends with both of the paralegals at my placement, and I ended up completing the 120 hours. Then I went on to volunteer with them after that, before I got a job. That was interesting, because the paralegal program doesn’t touch base on too many of the tribunals. You learn about them, but we couldn’t go into everything in detail at the time.

“This enabled me to constantly be around the social benefits tribunals and working with people in crisis who needed support, a social worker or housing because of addictions etc. That was incredible, because it also taught me how to interact with people who are in need. It was interesting too, because I was able to piece together a lot of the law that I had taken from school and put it into a humanitarian effort, so that I would be able to properly advocate for someone actively going through withdrawal, whose benefits just got cut off etc. I really think everyone who’s going into the legal profession should learn about this aspect of the field for a time, just to understand that it can literally happen to any one of us. Understanding the human aspect of the law is as important as the law itself.”

The Anderson College Team Support Samantha Received

It deeply matters to us that our team, from administration to instructors and career services, and everyone in between, really show up for our students, consistently. So, we asked Samantha how the team supported her on her journey to awesome.

“There was a time when I was really struggling, and I reached out to Ms. Slemon and told her that I didn’t know how I wasn’t getting this particular aspect of the law. She gave me so many good resources to check out and helped me to understand it. She also sent a detailed email to me and reworded a lot of things so that I could better understand. Then she mentioned that she would go over a few more things in class, and that way, because a lot of my classmates were also asking questions, we’d be able to come to understand the material together. So that was awesome, because then if somebody else had the same question that I had it would help them too. Her handling it that way made me feel less alone and validated my asking for help.”

Transforming Learning into a Career Launch

At the end of the day, our classes for paralegal are really all about your landing a job and building a career you can be proud of and that empowers you for years to come. So, we discussed the practical aspects of Samantha’s training and how she leveraged her learning to land a reputable position, or a few, gaining experience all along the way.

“For a time, I was a legal assistant at a law firm; I got that job because of a family friend who was able to get me in the door. But now I’m at a new job; I’m working as a licensed paralegal for a firm representing commercial drivers under the Highway Traffic Act and provincial offenses. I absolutely love it.

“I think the best part about Anderson, is that right after I completed my hours at my practicum, I wrote the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) exam. The program truly prepared me to write that exam. Almost all the questions that were on the exam were covered by some instructor in some shape or form, and I could take what I had learned in school and my notes and apply them to preparing for and writing the exam.

“Ms. Nikisha Evans was a former Westervelt student who completed the program. Ms. Slemon was constantly walking us through how to prepare for it, what to expect the day of and what to expect afterwards. She also prepared us for the emotional toll that it takes on you, because it’s a four-and-a-half-hour exam, you basically stay the entire day, because there are many security measures to go through. The exam is so nuanced, it takes such a lot out of you, mentally and emotionally. It’s open book, and while you can use the text, relying on it takes too much time and you realize that you can relax and trust your training. I learned I could rely on everything that the instructors taught me and that I did know it well enough, and I really did. I passed on the first try, and that was awesome”.

Valuable Insights into the Law Society of Ontario Licensing Exam

A huge part of having credibility in the field, so that you can have that competitive advantage, is gaining a diploma from a reputable college, preferably one that creates their curriculum and program based on the highest industry standards. At Anderson, we’ve developed our training to ensure that every graduate has the potential to provide legal services in Ontario. This requires that a person is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. To obtain a license, a person must graduate from a program accredited by the Law Society of Ontario, like Anderson College is, pass a licensing examination and be of good character.

“Anderson is honoured to provide a pathway such as this, but we wanted you to learn from Samantha what that practically looks like from a student’s perspective. She gives you the top line details of what to expect.

“You have to graduate from your program, complete your practicum, satisfy all those hours and then apply to take the exam. In my experience, we finished our placement in September of 2022, I wrote the exam in March of 2023, and within that timeframe, I was required to apply. This included filling out the application, proving that I was of good character, and submitting references.

“Once you’re approved, then you have to pay for it, in the amount of about $2,000. This includes study materials and sending in the application etc. Next, you get the study materials, then you study to prepare, in whatever way you find is most effective. As you write the exam in Etobicoke, you need to make travel and stay arrangements. If you’re working, you need to book the necessary time off, of course. There’s a lot that goes into it; it’s a long process.

“I remember, as soon as I had written the exam and we were allowed to leave, I sat in my car for about 30 minutes and cried because I thought, now, what do I do? I felt that things had come to an end. I felt like my life was boring now because I wasn’t worried about so many things.

“Yes, it was definitely a lot, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

What Happens After You Ace the Exam

“Well your learning, and the process of staying relevant and credible, is ongoing. Every year we’re required to complete so many hours of continuing professional development. We pay our dues every year, and we have to annually send in reports that reflect the area of law we’ve worked in, or if we worked in law, or what we were doing. The advancement and upgrading are lifelong. I think that people need to know that, because this aspect of commitment can go overlooked. Becoming licensed is just the beginning. You will always be paying fees to the Law Society regardless of whether you practice law, because you have to become a member. So, you want to be prepared and leverage your learning so you’re getting a return on your investment in your future.

“The law is constantly changing, so we have to make sure that we are changing too and constantly learning and evolving, and also at the same time upholding the law as human beings, as representatives and as legal professionals. That’s something you carry with you every single day, especially when you’re going to court or dealing with clients. You are a spokesperson, so to speak, of the Law Society. So, I feel I have a duty to uphold. We all do.

“While it is a lot, I absolutely love it. I finally found the thing that doesn’t feel like work. I have such satisfaction when talking to my clients and hearing their stories. And on some of their most stressful days, I get to say, “Well, you don’t have to worry about it, and you don’t have to be scared, because I’m not scared, and I can help you.” There’s no better feeling than that, and it’s all thanks to this amazing program.”

Samantha’s Awesome Advice

“This Paralegal program is hard and challenging and it’s the greatest thing you will ever do. You will learn, coming out of the program and out of the exam that there is nothing that you cannot face while going through it.

“I actually had depression while I was going through this. So not only was I fighting my mental health, I was also doing schooling, and I’m so proud of myself for how far I’ve come. So, it’s going to take a toll on you in some way, but just know that you have classmates who are most likely in the exact same place that you are. Remember to reach out for help, because there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

“Create study groups, lean on the people who are understanding something that you’re not, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructors. They’re all fantastic human beings. I’m very lucky to have known and still know them. And don’t hesitate to reach out to the faculty, too, if you’re struggling or you don’t really know what the next step is. It’s as much as a community as you are willing to make it so, lean into it, make it fun. Do whatever you need to do to understand the material. Do have fun with your classmates. There were a few days off, where we created a whole game basically, on how we can study this.

“Yeah, just have fun with it, because it is literally one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I’m very thankful for it all.”
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We’re thrilled for and so very proud that Samantha has taken her career and life to such soaring heights, and we cannot wait to see where she evolves to next. Perhaps after hearing these details, you feel that becoming a paralegal in Ontario is for you.

If so, we’re here to help you navigate every step along the way. Book a virtual appointment with one of our amazing Admissions Advisors today so that we can start exploring your Paralegal career together.