Legal Administration

Behind every court filing, property transfer and signed will is an assistant who prepared the documents and kept the file on track. Assiniboine’s Legal Administration certificate is a 16-month programme that trains office professionals for law, justice and real estate settings. It is delivered at the Victoria Avenue East campus in Brandon, with a September start.

The legal side begins with Legal Issues, an introduction to Manitoba’s legal system and the legislation governing business, workplaces and privacy. Criminal Law follows a case from offence to sentencing, Family Law covers marriage, separation, divorce, adoption and family violence, and Private Law deals with civil litigation, corporate and commercial matters, and wills and estates. Real Estate & Trust Accounting explains Manitoba’s land registry and conveyancing under the Trust Accounting Rules. Office Procedures 1 to 3, Microsoft Office 1 to 3, Accounting for Office 1 and 2, and Customer Service 1 to 3 build the office foundation.

Each law course centres on preparing the actual documents a firm produces, and Private Law introduces law office management software. Microsoft Office runs through every term, so a Windows laptop is needed because Mac devices do not run the programme software. Employability and Job Prep readies your resume and interview skills before Practicum - OFFA, a 240-hour placement with an employer, which is open to students holding a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater.

Legal Administration graduates work in law firms, municipal offices, land titles offices, the court and judicial system and mortgage companies. Typical titles include legal assistant, legal administrative assistant, real estate conveyancing assistant, litigation assistant, court clerk and municipal office clerk. The certificate suits organised, discreet people who like precise wording, deadlines and confidential work, and who want a legal career without studying law itself.