Law clerk program includes real world experience to ensure confidence

1. Law Clerk Program Includes Real World Experience To Ensure Confidence
There are a variety of jobs in the Canadian justice system that ensures it runs efficiently at all
times. For example, tasks such as searching for and studying legal documents to investigate facts
and law of cases to determine causes of action and to prepare cases; preparing affidavits of
documents and maintaining document files and case correspondence; researching and analyzing
law sources to prepare drafts of briefs or arguments for review, approval, and use by attorney;
reviewing and filing pleadings, petitions and other documents relevant to court actions; and more
falls to the Law Clerk. At Centennial College’s program of the same name, students spend two
years becoming familiar with the know-how they need to complete these tasks.
The offering is accredited by the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO), which supports the
highest professional standards by providing opportunities to innovate, share ideas and knowledge
of best practices. As such, Centennial College students benefit from a curriculum that includes
both practical and theoretical law lessons, with an emphasis on career-oriented assignments. Also
included are legal software courses, which fully prepare students for employment in the legal
profession by introducing them to the tools they will use on a regular basis.
Among specific courses in this offering are: Civil Litigation (traces the steps in a
typical civil action from the commencement of proceedings to the point of trial, which
readies students to prepare documentation for pleadings, affidavits and motions);
Family Law (helps students to understand the family’s legal rights and obligations
and how to assist a lawyer in proceedings related to separation, division of property,
support payments, custody and access privileges, and divorce); Computers for Law
Clerks (one of the program’s more practical courses, this feature builds keyboarding
skills and familiarizes students with introductory computer concepts such as
microcomputer operating systems, file management, e-mail and the internet.
Emphasis is also placed on building written and verbal communications and critical
thinking skills); and many others.
In their fourth semester, once students have become familiar and comfortable with
many aspects of the law, they partake in a Work Placement with a firm or legal
department of government or business. This four-day-per week experience provides
invaluable hands-on practice and allows students to apply their knowledge to real-life
legal situations.
To apply for the Law Clerk diploma offering, interested parties must have successfully acquired
an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19
years or older). In addition, they must have English Grade 12 C or U credit, or equivalent or take
the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission; and the Mathematics Grade 11 or
12 C, M or U credit, or equivalent or take a Centennial College Math Skills Assessment for
Admission.