PRLG 100
3 credits
Introduction to Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course introduces the basic framework, concepts, and terminologies and the role of paralegals in the Canadian legal profession. The course will also cover introductions to the history of law and legal systems, and will answer the central questions of what law is and what it does in Canadian society.
PRLG 105
1.5 credits
Legal Office Procedures
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal diploma program
This course introduces the basic features of working in a law office and the duties of its personnel (e.g., lawyers, paralegals, office managers, and legal assistants/secretaries) as well as related service providers such as actuaries, accountants, agents, and process servers. Additionally, students will learn how to identify various basic office documents and their uses, and will examine filing systems, notification systems, and billing systems. Filing requirements and the organization of the court registries will also be covered. Students will trace the flow of legal documents in a typical civil action, understand and appreciate the roles of all members of a law firm, achieve familiarity with various filing, diary, and billing systems used in the profession, understand how to file civil documents in the Court Registry, understand the concept and importance of confidentiality in client records, and describe the purpose, distribution and proper handling of office documents.
PRLG 110
1.5 credits
Information Technology and the Legal System
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal diploma program
This course examines the present and evolving function of information technology in the legal field. Students will learn how technology is used to facilitate document generation, billing and time management, client file management, and the advantages of networked environments within the law office. They will explore how the Internet can be used to access legal research tools and databases for legal research purposes. In addition, students will examine how to use specialized applications, common programs, and technology to update information and research. A number of online applications, services, and sources of legal information will be used and assignments given to illustrate their functions.
PRLG 115
3 credits
Evidence
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal diploma program
This course examines the standards and rules Canadian courts use to determine the proof of a claim in a trial setting. Central concepts such as establishing materiality and relevance, identifying hearsay, characterizing evidence as direct or circumstantial, burdens of proof, presumptions in evidence, Judicial Notice, the role of expert witnesses, and the testimonial qualifications of witnesses will be examined. Students will be introduced to provincial and federal evidence acts and their application; how law enforcement bodies collect, preserve, and present evidence at trial; the underlying rationale for the rules of evidence and the principles upon which they are based; the various types of evidence and their application/admissibility at trial; the presentation of evidence, including examination in chief and cross examination; privileged communications and other types of excluded evidence; and the effects of changes and decisions in Canadian evidence law.
PRLG 120
3 credits
Family Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course examines the central aspects of family law: the formation and dissolution of legal relationships, the division of resources, and the obligation of child support and care. Students will examine the rationale guiding court decisions in family law cases.
PRLG 125
3 credits
Criminal Law and Procedures I
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course introduces the basic concepts, terminology, history, and legislation regarding criminal law in Canada. Major emphasis will be put on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Criminal Code of Canada and related legislation, and their respective impacts on our society, as well as the various initiatives for criminal law reform.
PRLG 130
3 credits
Intellectual Property Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
Emphasis will be placed on the identification and securing of actionable rights in creative works. The history and rationale behind the protection of intellectual property rights, copyright, and governing legislation related to intellectual property law will be examined.
PRLG 135
3 credits
Wills and the Probate Administration
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course covers the creation and execution of a will and a codicil, the process of probate, and the administration of estates. The legal status of holographic wills, dying declarations, and living wills/directives for future care are investigated.
PRLG 140
3 credits
Property Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program
Common law rules relating to personal and real property in all its forms, and the relevant provincial and federal legislation will be studied in this course. A closer consideration will be given to conveyancing in British Columbia, specifically the procedures for real estate sales, transfer of title, and financing arrangements.
PRLG 145
3 credits
Criminal Law and Procedures II
Prerequisite(s): PRLG 125
This course examines in depth a number of cases to illustrate the concepts and processes studied in Criminal Law and Procedures I. The utility of present systems and the various historical, existing, and theoretical alternatives will be discussed, and an understanding of the major issues in criminal law viewed from the various public policy perspectives will be achieved through comparative readings. The complementary roles of judges and juries will be studied in depth, and the structures and procedures of other related organizations, such as police and Correctional Service Canada, will be illustrated.
PRLG 150
3 credits
Contracts I
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course studies contracts: agreements that can be enforced in court, in everyday transactions, and business. The specific types of contracts include expressed and implied contracts, unilateral and bilateral contracts, and true contracts and gratuitous promises.
PRLG 155
3 credits
Corporate and Commercial Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
Business and commerce in Canada is the central topic of this course. Business associations are explored, and their relative advantages and disadvantages in practice. Agency law, employment law, contracts, tort, professional liability, sales and consumer protection, and property and insurance law are interpreted.
PRLG 200
3 credits
Litigation I
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course reviews resolution of civil disputes in Canadian courts. It identifies sources of law, analyzes structures and procedures, and follows the flow of events in various types of litigation, from initiation to appellate resolution. The courts as a system of dispute resolution and their history will be described.
PRLG 205
3 credits
Insurance Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
The principles of Canadian insurance law are covered in this course. Topics include the history and nature of the insurance arrangement, regulation of the industry, governing concepts, duties of the parties, law that applies to principals and agents, creation of insurance contracts, claims process, classes of insurance, and effects of no-fault systems.
PRLG 210
3 credits
Torts I
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course discusses wrongful or negligent acts and their treatment in civil laws including topics that apply to persons, relationships, and property including intentional torts, negligence, and strict and absolute liability. It also reviews the courts’ handling of the question of damages, including the concept of apportionment and other remedies
PRLG 215
3 credits
Administrative Law
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal diploma program
Administrative law is the field of law concerned with the delegated powers of tribunals, boards, and other regulatory bodies, and the scope of appeals available. The history and jurisdiction of such bodies will be examined, as well as their procedures. Students will discover how to determine the applicable powers of tribunals and how to understand their regulatory framework. The extent of applicable remedies will be canvassed and the relevant public policies discussed. Major topics will be the notion of “natural justice” and the extent of judicial review, the applicability of Charter protections in administrative law, the central role of a tribunal’s empowering legislation, the concept of “standing” as it applies to administrative law, and the function of “discretion” as a concept in administrative law.
PRLG 220
3 credits
Contracts II
Prerequisite(s): PRLG 150
This course reviews the elements to a contract, and covers a detailed examination of the principles of drafting basic contracts, using examples illustrating several common types. Cases illustrating various problems encountered in this field, potential liabilities, and the effects of drafting errors, are also studied. The rules and principles that guide how contracts are drafted and subsequently interpreted by the courts, both in common law and in legislation, are examined. Students also examine in detail available remedies and orders and how they are used to settle disagreement and breach. The expanding role of statutory consumer protections over the last century is illustrated and examples in various jurisdictions in Canada are studied.
PRLG 225
3 credits
Litigation and Its Alternatives
Prerequisite(s): PRLG 200
This course examines sample cases and follows them through the litigation process, where the strengths and weaknesses of the legal system will be identified. Alternative forms of process are examined and their utility assessed. The trial process is illustrated in a mock trial to demonstrate how courts reach decisions and to illustrate the form of reasoning used by judges and juries. Other related topics include the process of Discovery and its rationale, the trial process and the roles of the various actors within it, and the forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and their respective rationale and structures. Structured negotiation, arbitration, and mediation are examined, using current examples of functioning systems. General trends regarding the utility and efficacy of the various forms of civil and criminal law ADR and litigation are also discussed.
PRLG 230
3 credits
Legal Research and Writing I
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Paralegal certificate or diploma program.
This course includes legal research strategies and methodologies and the fundamentals of legal writing and document drafting. It includes locating and analyzing case briefs, memoranda, statutes, and reasons for judgment. It will also cover Constitutional law, statute law, regulations, and case law originating from the courts.
PRLG 235
3 credits
Torts II
Prerequisite(s): PRLG 210
Several cases are examined in depth to illustrate the logic and scope of allowable claims in tort law. Legislative modification of the common law framework for dealing with civil wrongs is examined through comparative studies. The effects of pivotal tort law decisions and concepts in changing the standards (personal, professional, and commercial) on which our society relies are discussed from a public policy perspective. Also examined are the no-fault systems and other alternative administrative schemes such as workers’ compensation.
PRLG 240
3 credits
Legal Research and Writing II
Prerequisite(s): PRLG 230
Sample research problems are examined in this course, and hypothetical situations will be used as research assignments. The research methodologies explored in Legal Research and Writing I are reviewed. Additional subjects focus on the development of listening, speaking, and writing skills necessary for work in the legal profession. Students review grammar and sentence structure and learn the mechanics of legal writing and its common formats. The style, tone, and layout of legal and standard business correspondence are examined to understand the writing styles appropriate for internal memos, court documents, and correspondence. Students develop the skills to draft specific clauses in legal documents and revise and prepare basic contracts, pleadings, and affidavits. Students have the opportunity to practice drafting complete formal court documents and memoranda.
PRLG 250
3 credits
Paralegal Practicum
Prerequisite(s): Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
This six-month paid practicum, which is mandatory for all students, provides participants with an opportunity for practical application of skills and techniques gained in coursework. Evaluations are made by both the agency and a UFV practicum supervisor.
