Paralegal Honours Bachelor Degree Program Details
The Honours Bachelor in Paralegal (HBPL) program at Durham College is designed to meet the increasing demand for accessible legal services and representation in Ontario. As the legal landscape evolves, so does the need for trained professionals who can provide comprehensive legal support in a variety of settings. This degree program offers students a pathway to become licensed paralegals, preparing them with the necessary skills to advocate for clients and navigate the complexities of the justice system.
Developed in response to the growing need for legal representation and access to the justice system, the paralegal honours bachelor degree program prepares students with the knowledge, skills and expertise required to work in a variety of legal fields. In addition to gaining a solid understanding of legal concepts and practices, students will also develop essential soft skills such as client communication, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking.
The Honours Bachelor of Paralegal program is grounded in the entry-level competencies of a licensed paralegal in Ontario and the complex legal thinking required to practice in court and tribunal proceedings. In Canada, legal services are not exclusively provided by lawyers, there are professions that provide legal services under varying degrees of lawyer supervision, including law clerks, legal assistants and paralegals. In Ontario, Paralegal is established as a licensed and regulated profession that can work independently within a prescribed scope of practice.
Students in the HBPL program explore and examine constitutional law and the Charter, criminal and summary convictions, contracts and tort law, the law of Tribunals, the procedure and practice for small claims court, the theory and strategies of negotiations and mediation, insurance law and employment law. This broad range of subjects ensures that graduates are well-versed in multiple areas of law, allowing them to work across different sectors such as criminal law, civil litigation, corporate law, or administrative tribunals.
Courses in the paralegal bachelor degree program will provide students with the legal context they require as well as the cultural competency lens to provide legal services to diverse populations, including immigrants, refugees, Indigenous peoples, women and people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. To best serve their future clients, students will gain an in-depth understanding of human rights claims, disability applications, Immigration and Refugee Board hearings, criminal code offences involving those who have experienced inter-generational trauma and applications involving mental health, housing and financial stability issues.
Through a comprehensive mix of theoretical, research and applied courses, students will apply their knowledge in a mandatory 14-week, 420-hour experiential field placement. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to successfully apply their expertise and professional practice in a legal setting with the ability to translate theoretical learning to the actual field. DC’s Faculty of Social and Community Services is dedicated to assisting students securing their field placement and supports them throughout the process.
Graduates from the paralegal bachelor degree program will be ready to enter the workforce as licensed paralegals or pursue further education in other areas of law. With a solid foundation in both legal theory and practical application, students will be prepared to make a significant impact in helping individuals navigate the complexities of the justice system.
Paralegal Honours Bachelor Degree Program Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate substantive, legal, and procedural issues to determine the legal remedies and facilitate access to justice.
- Present legal issues, arguments and solutions using a client-centred service-oriented practice to demonstrate alignment with client needs, objectives, and
goals.
- Conduct research by identifying the legal context, issues, case law, legislation, and organizational rules and guidelines to interpret, summarize, and present legal research findings.
- Develop a cogent legal argument in accordance with/and supported by leading statutes and case law based on an organized body of relevant facts.
- Evaluate case details and seek support or referral to appropriate legal counsel to ensure compliance with the scope of practice for a paralegal.
- Advocate for a client’s legal position and access to the justice system by strategically employing methods of negotiation and analytical reasoning.
- Complete with accuracy, clarity, conciseness and organization a variety of documents used in paralegal practice.
- Evaluate personal and professional competence and access professional development opportunities to support continuous learning with the goal of
meeting client needs.
- Manage and maintain personal and professional lifelong learning.
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