Paralegal and related occupations
Career Overview
Paralegal and related occupations include paralegals, independent paralegals, justices of the peace, notaries public and trademark agents.
Paralegals:
- Prepare legal documents and conduct research to assist lawyers or other professionals.
- Work for law firms, record search companies and in legal departments throughout the public and private sectors
Independent paralegals:
- Provide legal services to the public as allowed by government legislation,
- Provide paralegal services on contract to law firms or other establishments.
- Usually self-employed
Justices of the peace:
- Administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants and perform other court-related duties such as conducting bail hearings
- Work for federal and provincial, municipal and territorial courts
Notaries public:
- Administer oaths, take affidavits, sign legal documents
- Perform other activities according to the scope of their practice.
- Employed by government and in the public and private sectors
- Work in the public and private sectors or may be self-employed
Trademark agents:
- Advise clients on intellectual property matters.
- Employed by law firms and legal departments throughout the public and private sectors, trademark development and search firms
- Work for law firms and legal departments throughout public and private sectors, trademark development and search firms or may be self-employed
People in this group:
- Need to be able to conduct research
- Should have strong verbal and writing skills to communicate the details of legal matters with clients and supervisors
- Should have well-developed clerical abilities
- Should be interested in doing research, compiling information, interviewing clients, witnesses and other related parties,
- Put together documentary evidence to help lawyers
Job Titles
Duties
Paralegals and related occupations typically specialize in specific areas of law, such as commercial, corporate, family, real estate, litigation or criminal law. Paralegals and individuals in related occupations perform various duties described below.
Paralegals:
- Help lawyers by interviewing clients, witnesses and other related parties, assembling documentary evidence, preparing trial briefs and arranging for trials
- Prepare wills, real estate transactions and other legal documents, court documents and affidavits and research the law, records, court files and other legal documents
- Assist lawyers in preparation for mediation and judicial dispute resolutions
- Research records, court files and other legal documents
- Draft legal correspondence and perform general office and clerical duties.
Independent paralegals:
- May represent clients in small claims court and other lower court proceedings, at tribunals and before administrative bodies
- Advise clients and take legal action on issues within their jurisdiction, such as landlord and tenant matters, traffic violations and name changes (in some provinces outside of B.C.)
- Are not permitted to represent people in court in B.C., but they may attend to landlord and tenant disputes, and attend some tribunal and administrative hearings (e.g., immigration matters)
- Are also not permitted to assist with name changes or traffic violations in B.C., which is considered to be the practice of law
Justices of the peace:
- Issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants, including search warrants
- Receive affidavits, declarations and affirmations
- Administer oaths
- Conduct bail hearings
- Release defendants on judges' orders and explain rights and obligations
- Hear evidence at trials on summary conviction offences
- Preside over trials of criminal offences at the discretion of the chief judge of the jurisdiction or as provided for in federal, provincial or territorial statutes
- Perform civil marriages
- Register wills, probate and bankruptcy
Notaries public:
- Oversee oaths and take affidavits and depositions, as well as witness and certify the validity of signatures on documents
- May draft contracts, prepare promissory notes and draw up wills, mortgages and other legal documents
- May arrange probates and manage the estates of deceased persons
Trademark agents:
- Tell clients about intellectual property matters, and represent them before the Registrar of Trade-marks on matters including prosecution of applications for registration of trademarks
- Advise on whether trademarks may be registered, trademark licensing requirements, transfer of intellectual property and the protection of existing trademark rights, as well as represent clients at proceeding before the Trade-marks Opposition Board, and in related proceedings
- May represent clients internationally in consultation with foreign associates and attorneys
Special duties
The duties and responsibilities of justices of the peace vary significantly depending on the level of their authority. They may work part-time on a fee-for-service basis in small communities. Their duties range from receiving affidavits and similar documents, to presiding in courts and hearing and determining prosecutions under provincial/territorial and federal laws.
Notaries usually receive in-house training and perform their duties in rural or remote areas or in the offices where they work.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
4,790% Employed Full Time
72%Paralegals, independent paralegals, justices of the peace, notaries public and trademark agents carry out most of their duties in offices, courthouses or law libraries, although they must sometimes travel outside the workplace to do research or perform other duties.
Most work full time throughout the year during normal office hours. However, workers in this group must occasionally work very long hours under pressure to meet deadlines.
Workers increasingly use technology in their work, such as computers and online services offered through court, land title and corporate registries, so they should be able to learn new computer programs quickly.
Career Pathways
Recent graduates from the paralegal program usually find positions as junior paralegals.
These workers may be promoted to managerial and other law-related positions within a firm.
Those with a bachelor of law degree may be eligible to become lawyers if they meet the requirements of a provincial law society.
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Paralegals and related occupations require a college diploma in a paralegal (formerly legal assistant) program. Other requirements for paralegals may include:
- A bachelor's degree and in-house training from a law firm or other legal establishment
- Office experience
- Paralegals need a licence to perform advanced legal services
Independent paralegals:
- Require knowledge of legal principles and procedures usually obtained through industry-sponsored courses and through experience, or through completion of a community college paralegal program
Notaries public in B.C. must:
- Complete a course run by the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia
- Have a provincial licence
- Membership in the Society of Notaries Public
Justices of the peace:
- Justices of the peace requirements can vary from a background in law and the justice system, completion of a Justice registrar, Justice of the peace or other court training program depending on their duties and responsibilities
- Justices of the peace in the provinces are appointed by the lieutenant governor in council and, in the territories, by federally appointed territorial commissioners
Notaries public in B.C. must:
- Have a university degree in law or a related field
- Be appointed after examination and certification of their qualifications by the governing judiciary in their province or territory. All appointments have specific limitations on the activities they can perform and for specific periods of time
- Have a provincial licence
- Be a member of the Society of Notaries Public
Trademark agents must:
- Work in the area of trademark law, including the preparation and prosecution of trademark applications for registration, for two years in order to be licensed
- Must successfully complete the examination conducted jointly by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and the Registrar of Trade Marks, Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Trademark agents may have one of the two criteria listed previously, as well as be a lawyer entitled to practice in Canada
- Be registered with the federal Trade-marks Office
Those who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact the Society of Notaries Public of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
4,790Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 55 | 1.1% |
| Kootenay | 60 | 1.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,570 | 74.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 25 | 0.5% |
| Northeast | 30 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 420 | 8.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 630 | 13.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,950Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | -1.0% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,500 | 1.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | -0.7% |
| Northeast | 0 | -1.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 160 | 0.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 260 | 0.8% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 1,530 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 390 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 20 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Job openings in the coming years will arise from new job creation and the need to replace retiring workers. Industry sources report that there is currently demand for paralegals in the province.
Organizations that hire paralegals and related occupations, such as those offering real estate, financial, insurance and legal services, are expected to expand as the need for their services increases due to provincial population growth.
Law firms and other organizations may reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals and related occupations, however, a lawyer is still responsible for and must supervise the work of paralegals and legal assistants.
Resources
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British Columbia Paralegal Association (BCPA)www.bcparalegalassociation.com
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British Columbia Legal Management Association (BCLMA) – Career Opportunitiesbclma.org/career-centre/career-opportunities/
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Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)www.ipic.ca
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Notaries Actwww.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_96334_01
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The Notary Foundationwww.notaryfoundation.ca
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The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbiawww.notaries.bc.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a paralegal is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a paralegal is like.
