Durham College launches new Honours Bachelor of Paralegal degree

This message is being shared on behalf of Ralph Hofmann, executive dean, Faculty of Social & Community Services. Please direct any questions to scs@durhamcollege.ca.

Starting September 2023, Durham College (DC) will offer a new Honours Bachelor of Paralegal degree. This program is in direct response to the needs of our growing community and an increased demand for accessible and affordable legal representation in Canada. The program will prepare students with the legal context they need as well as the cultural competency lens to provide legal services to a wide range of diverse populations including immigrants, refugees, Indigenous peoples, women and people who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+.

By combining in-depth classroom learning with an experiential field placement, graduates of this degree program will have the tools they need to be future leaders in the legal sector. Graduates of the program will be prepared to provide legal services under the supervision of a lawyer or a licensed paralegal and are also eligible to apply to become Licensed Paralegals themselves through the Law Society of Ontario. Licensed Paralegals can independently represent their clients before various courts and tribunals within their regulated scope of legal practice. They also have the ability to continue their education by applying to law school or graduate studies.

This exciting new 4-year program is one of five degrees offered at DC. You can learn more about what the program includes online.