Paralegals and Related Workers

Nature of work

Paralegals do independent legal work under the general supervision of lawyers and may act as officers of the court. They carry out routine legal and administrative tasks and help lawyers with more complex matters. Paralegals work for law firms, record search companies, and in legal departments throughout the public and private sectors. Independent paralegals are usually self-employed. Notaries work for government and in the public and private sectors or they may be self-employed. Trademark agents work for law firms and legal departments throughout the public and private sectors, trademark development and search firms or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Paralegals:

• Help lawyers by interviewing clients, witnesses, and other related parties, assembling evidence, preparing trial briefs, and arranging for trials.
• Help lawyers prepare for mediation and judicial dispute resolutions.
• 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.
• Independent paralegals represent clients in small claims court and in other lower court proceedings, at tribunals and before administrative bodies, and advise clients and take legal action on landlord and tenant matters, traffic violations, name changes and other issues within their jurisdictions.

Notaries public:

• 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:

• 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.

Sample job titles

• criminal law paralegal
• family law clerk
• labour law clerk
• land titles clerk
• law clerk
• legal researcher
• notary public
• paralegal
• real estate law clerk
• trademark agent
• wills and estates law clerk

Skills

• You should be interested in the legal profession. Accuracy and the ability to understand and follow instructions are important. You must be tactful and have good interpersonal skills for dealing with clients. Excellent spoken and written communication skills are also necessary.

Job requirements

• Paralegals in law firms require a bachelor's degree in law or a law college diploma and in-house training from a law firm or other legal organization.
• Independent paralegals require knowledge of legal principles and procedures usually obtained through industry-sponsored courses and through experience, or through completion of a community college paralegal program.
• Notaries public are appointed after examination and certification of their qualifications by the governing judiciary in their province or territory. All appointments have specific limitations on the activities they can perform and for specific periods of time.
• Notaries public require a provincial licence.
• To be licensed, trademark agents are required to work in the area of trademark law, including the preparation and prosecution of trademark applications for registration, for two years and to successfully complete the examination conducted jointly by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and the Registrar of Trade-Marks, Canadian Intellectual Property Office or either one of the above and to be a lawyer entitled to practice in Canada.
• Trademark agents require registration with the federal Trade-Mark Office.

Other considerations

• Notaries public usually receive in-house training and perform their duties in rural or remote areas or in the business offices in which they are employed.

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

There are no additional resources for this occupation.