To complete program requirements, you will take a total of 60 credits.
The paralegal studies core curriculum includes legal ethics, law firm processes, time management, client relations and interpersonal and team skills to prepare you to work in a legal setting. You will develop your computer skills, understand file management and specialized legal software and develop effective presentations. Solid writing and communication skills are critical for work in the legal environment, and in this program you will learn to analyze, summarize and synthesize written material of all kinds.
ENGL 102 - Analysis and Argument
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| This course helps students to develop the academic writing skills they use throughout their university studies. The essay is the most important genre in this course, but students may also study works from other genres. By analyzing, summarizing, synthesizing, and critiquing a variety of texts, students learn how to develop their own analyses and arguments with appropriate and correctly documented primary and secondary sources. A thorough review of grammar and sentence structure is a key component of this course. Note: Students should not register in more than one first-year English course per term. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 180 - Financial Procedures for the Law Office
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students study law office administration, with a focus on the procedures and concepts used in law office accounting/trust accounting. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
OR
ACCT 311 - Introductory Accounting
| Hours:45:15:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students are introduced to the preparation, use, and interpretation of financial statements. Emphasis is on reporting to shareholders, creditors, and other external decision makers. The course also includes principles and standards of balance sheet valuation, income measurements, financial disclosure, and cash flow analysis. Restricted to Bachelor of Commerce, Asia Pacific Management, Bachelor of Applied International Business and Supply Chain Management and Business Studies Minor students. |
| Prerequisites: ECON 102. |
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LEGL 210 - Business Law I
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students are introduced to the Canadian legal system and substantive areas of law that are of special interest to the business student. Topics of study include tort, contract, ethics, agency, partnership and corporations. The student acquires a general knowledge of the basic principles of business law and is able to apply them to everyday business situations. Note: Students can obtain credit in only one of LEGL 105 and LEGL 210. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 211 - Legal Research and Analysis
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students are introduced to the fundamental elements of legal research including analysis of primary and secondary research materials. This course focuses on legal research tasks and analysis, including researching and citing case law, statutes, regulations and legal treatises and monographs. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 215 - Commercial Transactions
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students will apply legal principles to documentation for common business transactions such as confidentiality agreements, partnership agreements, unanimous shareholder agreements, various methods of commercial finance agreements, including secured transactions and equity financing. They will also master the principles and rules concerning the purchase and sale of commercial land and personal property, the purchase of a business enterprise through either purchase of shares of a corporation or by the purchase of assets of a business. They also master the rules of Alberta's Personal Property Registry system and learn how to interpret public registry search results. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 231 - Corporate Procedures
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students learn the procedural and substantive law governing Alberta proprietorships, partnerships and corporations, and federal corporations, as well as the processes to create, maintain, amend and terminate the registrations of such organizations. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 235 - Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students explore contemporary developments in law and the practice of civil litigation and dispute resolution alternatives. Subject matter will include litigation steps and processes such as commencement and pleadings, applications, discovery, trial preparation and judgment procedures under the Rules of Court, Court of Queen’s Bench Act and Provincial Court Act. Students will examine selected topics in the litigation process such as personal injury actions, settlement, experts, and civil appeals and will explore alternatives to litigation including alternative dispute resolution methods such as judicial dispute resolution, mediation and arbitration. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 250 - Real Estate Transactions
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students learn the basics of real property law, and in particular how those principles apply to the purchase and sale of real estate. The Alberta Land Titles system is explored in detail. The standard form Real Estate purchase contract is analyzed. The methodology involved in concluding a Real Estate transaction is also covered. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
|
LEGL 261 - Creditor and Debtor Law
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students learn significant aspects of creditors’ and debtors' rights, including relevant statute and case law. The emphasis is on provincial legislation and case law relating to the bringing of debt collection processes and the various means of enforcing a judgment. The enforcement of various security interests and other creditor remedies such as landlords' rights of distress are also reviewed. |
| Prerequisites: LEGL 210. |
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LEGL 292 - Paralegal Studies
| Hours:45:0:200 |
Credits:3 |
| Students examine the role of the paralegal professional in Alberta, including the paralegal's role in law firms and other legal environments. Students will learn how the profession is governed by ethical rules and the Code of Conduct. Students will examine the organization and operation of the law office, learn techniques for practice management and develop skills for managing the client relationship. This course includes a 3 week practicum in which students will observe and work as a student intern. |
| Prerequisites: Minimum 21 credits of completed LEGL course work. |
|
LEGL 308 - Administrative Law and the Regulatory Environment
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
Students are introduced to the law that determines how the powers of government and regulatory authorities affect citizens, companies and organizations. Students will gain insight into the governance of modern society through statutory regulations, tribunals and agencies created by government and supervised by the courts.
The law is discussed in terms of principles applicable to the boards' hearings and what principles of review and appeal are possible to the Courts. The relationship between the citizen and government is explored by examining specific commissions and authorities established by government. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
|
BUSN 201 - Introduction to Sustainable Business
| Hours:30:0:15 |
Credits:3 |
| This is an interdisciplinary cornerstone course, based on the premise that responsible leadership and effective management requires an understanding of business and its substantive disciplines, how a sustainable business is run and how emerging issues in business can be addressed from a sustainability perspective. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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MGMT 107 - Business Computing
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students develop foundational computer skills in the areas of file management, word processing, spreadsheet analysis, presentation development, and emerging technologies in order to support subsequent courses in their university career and to prepare them for the business world. Students solve business problems through data analysis, financial forecasting, and the use of Internet communication tools. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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Option
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| No description available. |
|
Option
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| No description available. |
|
Option
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| No description available. |
|
Elective
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Please see your university/faculty advisor for advice on choosing elective(s). |
|
Elective
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Please see your university/faculty advisor for advice on choosing elective(s). |
|
Elective
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Please see your university/faculty advisor for advice on choosing elective(s). |
|
Elective
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Please see your university/faculty advisor for advice on choosing elective(s). |
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LEGL 221 - Criminal Law
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students are introduced to substantive law as well as the procedures for criminal law in Canada. Topics include, definitions of offences, related defences, effect of the Charter of Rights on the administration of criminal law, search and seizure powers, arrest, disclosure of information held by the Crown Prosecutor and trial processes. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
|
LEGL 271 - Estate Law
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students learn general legal principles surrounding the disposition of property. They explore the law governing the drafting of wills, estates disposition, and substitute decision making (powers of attorney, personal directives and dependent adults). A brief introduction to the law of trusts is also included. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
|
LEGL 281 - Family Law
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students learn the substantive and procedural law relating to family law matters, including divorce actions, family law chambers applications and desk divorce applications. Students complete a research project on either a procedural or substantive family law topic. The procedural topic will emphasize document production, in conformity, with the Rules and Practice Directives. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 291 - Legal Technology for Paralegals
| Hours:0:45:0 |
Credits:3 |
| This course provides an overview of the technological tools that are often utilized in the legal services environment. Students become familiar with different technology tools that increase efficiency and productivity; including software for project management, docketing/accounting, e-Discovery and evidence management, secure web transfer, among others tools. Students will also learn about data management and protection as well the capabilities arising from OCR and Metadata characteristics. Prior completion of LEGL 231 and LEGL 235 is strongly recommended. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 310 - International Business Transactions
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students are introduced to basic principles of international law, the legal structure of the contemporary international business environment, Canada's international trade law and services, fundamentals of common international dispute resolution methods and a selection of common international business transactions. |
| Prerequisites: LEGL 210 or LEGL 211. |
|
LEGL 312 - Legal Issues in the Workplace
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students apply the principles of employment law with an emphasis on analysis of legal risks and liabilities. The course surveys important legal issues that arise between employers and non-unionized employees. The course applies contract principles to the employment relationship from both employer and employee perspectives to achieve equitable employment relations. This course does not discuss unionized workplaces. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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LEGL 315 - Business Law II
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students examine selected business law topics including the Sale of Goods Act and consumer protection legislation, priority of creditors and enforcement of secured and unsecured debt obligations, the law of personal and real property including enforcement of mortgages along with bailment of personal property and landlord and tenant relationships. The course includes an introduction to the various forms of intellectual property including copyright, patents, trade-marks, and industrial designs. In addition, the student learns about common law protection of confidential information and trade secrets along with protecting intellectual property in the online environment. |
| Prerequisites: LEGL 210. |
|
LEGL 320 - Law of Business Organizations
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Students are introduced to the three principal forms of business organization (proprietorships, partnerships, corporations) including variations of these forms such as limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, professional corporations as well as distributing and non-distributing corporations. Students evaluate the advantages and costs of all three forms pertinent to business persons in Alberta and Canada. Topics include liability and duties of directors and officers of corporations and shareholders' rights and remedies. Students are introduced to the process of forming a simple non-distributing corporation in Alberta. Students need not have taken any previous Business Law course to benefit from this course. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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ECON 101 - Introduction to Microeconomics
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| This course will provide an introductory investigation to supply and demand analysis; the theory of production, costs, and price determination under competitive and non-competitive market conditions. Emphasis is given to the Canadian Economy. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
|
ECON 102 - Introduction to Macroeconomics
| Hours:45:0:0 |
Credits:3 |
| Following a brief introduction to the discipline of economics, this course provides an introductory investigation of national income determinations, monetary and banking systems, and fiscal and monetary policies. Contemporary problems of unemployment, inflation, economic growth, exchange rates and international trade are analyzed. Emphasis is given to Canadian issues. |
| Prerequisites: N/A |
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