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Ministry-approved title: Law Clerk
The Law Clerk Program will provide you with opportunities to develop the legal, technical, and essential skills necessary to secure full-time employment and launch an exciting legal career. Students benefit from a balanced learning program, combining legal theory, practice, and technology as well as communication and research skills needed to succeed.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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The demand for qualified law clerks and legal assistants continues to rise, offering graduates a variety of pathways to build a rewarding career in the legal field. With a strong foundation in legal research, document preparation, and court procedures, you’ll have the skills to excel in law offices, corporate legal departments, or government agencies.
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The Law Clerk program prepares students for a rewarding career in the legal field by equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in various professional settings. Whether you want to be a law clerk or legal assistant in a law office, a corporate legal department or a government agency, you’ll have the skills needed for a successful career. Graduates of our law clerk program in Ontario are known for their ability to manage complex legal tasks, such as drafting legal documents, conducting research, and assisting lawyers in preparing cases for court or administrative proceedings.
The demand for graduates has never been greater with students routinely securing full-time related employment upon graduation. The program’s curriculum is designed to meet the needs of today’s legal industry, ensuring that students are career-ready.
The Law Clerk program embeds hands-on learning seamlessly into courses. This includes working with industry-standard software used in legal practices and completing assignments that mirror actual tasks performed by law clerks. Each student will complete a field placement that includes 210 hours of on-the-job training, and an optional co-op can add another 420 hours of invaluable experience.
Throughout the Law Clerk program, students will develop essential skills such as legal research, document preparation, time management, and communication—all critical to success in the legal field. With a focus on practical learning and professional development, the Law Clerk program ensures graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of today’s legal environment and excel in their chosen career path.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
The law clerk program opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities in the dynamic and growing legal industry. Graduates from law clerk programs in Ontario are equipped with specialized knowledge and hands-on experience that prepare them to take on roles such as law clerk, legal assistant, litigation coordinator, or real estate law clerk. With expertise in areas like legal research, drafting contracts, preparing court filings, and interpreting statutes and regulations, you’ll be ready to support lawyers and legal teams in diverse professional settings. Graduates can also specialize in areas such as real estate law, wills & estates, corporate law, family law, or civil litigation, offering flexibility and room for career growth.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Durham College’s (DC) Law Clerk program offers the right combination of classroom-based learning and work integrated learning through the field placement component. Students complete a 210-hour placement in the final semester of Year Two of the program. Students also have the option to complete a Co-op work term of 420 hours between Year One and Year Two in addition to the field placement.
Law Clerk graduates are well positioned to acquire additional credentials to become paralegals or pursue further legal education at the university level.
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
To help students have the best learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Internet connection
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the facuty office.
Nicole Doyle has been with Durham College since 2005. With her expertise in legal research and professional skills, and her experience working in the consulting industry, Nicole helps prepare law clerks for success in their legal careers. She also supports students and faculty through her role as Program Coordinator.
Jordan Inia, a Durham College Law Clerk Advanced Diploma graduate, joined the Faculty of Social & Community Services as a part-time professor in September 2021. She works full-time as a Wills and Estates clerk, bringing valuable insights from her legal career and personal experience as a former student into her teaching.
Kystra Ryan is recognized as one of Toronto's leading Litigation Law Clerks, with extensive knowledge of the civil process. Her expertise spans across banking, construction, employment, and estates. A committed professor at Durham College, she shares her knowledge in legal writing and education and holds a Certification in Legal Project Management.
The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals.
Students in the Law Clerk Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students enrolled in the co-op option are required to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third semesters of their program and will still complete the field placement in semester 4 as an additional work-integrated learning experience.
Supports are available through Experiential Learning to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, Experiential Learning is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters of the program before graduating.
Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.
Once transferred to the co-op option of this program, students will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts during the academic semester(s) prior to scheduled work term(s). The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co+-op students. These services are dedicated to support student success.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer.
E: co-op@durhamcollege.ca
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