Ontario College Diploma in Paralegal
Start Dates:
September 2019
January 2020
Fleming College's Paralegal program is specifically designed to prepare you, as a graduate, to meet Ontario’s paralegal licensing standards. The program is accredited by the Law Society of Ontario.
Program Highlights
The Fleming Paralegal diploma is accredited with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO ). The LSO is the governing body for paralegals. Fleming program courses meet all competency requirements and prepare you to write the licencing exam and become a member of the LSO. As a licenced paralegal in Ontario you can commission documents and represent clients dealing with lawsuits falling within the jurisdiction of Small Claims Court. You can act for people facing summary conviction charges under municipal by-laws, provincial statutes or the Criminal Code. Some serve as by-law enforcement personnel, or act in a prosecutorial capacity for municipal governments. Paralegals are also trained to assist clients through the potentially complex proceedings of tribunals such as the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, or the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal. Some paralegals choose to work under the supervision of lawyers or other paralegals, while others offer their services directly to the public.
* Students starting in January are required to attend classes over the summer semester.
University Grad?
Are you a university graduate? You may be eligible for direct entry into second semester of this program and graduate in as little as three semesters. Contact the program co-ordinator for more information.
Why Choose Fleming
Fleming’s two year (four semester) Paralegal program has some practical advantages. Not only will you be taught by experts, with a wide range of experience in the field, your first three semesters of study are completely integrated with students in the college’s Law Clerk program. Should you so choose, you can enhance your qualifications and possible job opportunities by returning for an extra semester of study and leave with a second diploma in that related field.
The start date for this additional semester is subject to student interest and enrolment. Check with the program coordinator for details.
Common First Semester
Students in our Law and Justice diploma programs take the same courses for the first semester after choosing and being accepted into one of our programs. This common focus exposes you to a variety of career options and other programs, while you acquire a base of knowledge and fundamental skills. It also enables you to change direction if you find another program or career area is more appealing. You can enter that program in semester two, provided that you have achieved academic success in first semester, and subject to enrolment capacity. The Law and Justice diploma programs sharing the Common First Semester include Community and Justice Services, Customs Border Services, Law Clerk, Paralegal, Police Foundations, and Protection Security and Investigations.
Work Experience
The 160-hour unpaid field placement is an opportunity to get an understanding of the demands and rewards of this career. Field Placement can be completed during the final 15 week semester of the program or can extend beyond your final academic semester. Placement opportunities must be within scope of practice as provided by the LSUC. In some cases a clear criminal record check may be required by the placement employer.
Licensing Requirements
Please refer to the Law Society web site for licensing requirements. All applicants must have graduated from an accredited program, pass the licensing exam and be of good character.
Is this You?
A desire to help people, to interpret the legal system for them, and make fair representation on their behalf is important if you want to be successful and satisfied with your Paralegal career. You should also possess:
- an entrepreneurial attitude
- confidence to act as an advocate for others
- strong oral and written communication skills
- ability to read and analyze complex legal materials
- determination to conduct intricate research
- strong time management skills and organizational ability
- high standard of ethics
- good stress management skills
If you are up to these challenges, this may be a career path worth considering. The work can be varied, stimulating and financially rewarding.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities such as this are growing in the legal system and include employment with:
- government agencies
- legal clinics
- administrative tribunals
- law / paralegal firms
Sample job titles include: Paralegal, Administrative Tribunals Agent or Court and Tribunal Agent. After some experience in the legal field, you may decide to work on a self-employed basis, and start up your own business offering services in permitted areas of legal representation -- for example, as an agent at Small Claims Court and at some administrative tribunals, or providing legal services for residential tenancy matters.
Indigenous Perspectives Designation
The Indigenous Perspectives Designation (IPD) is an option available to students studying in the Child and Youth Care program. To qualify for the IPD, students must take and successfully complete GNED49 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies and GNED128 - Indigenous Knowledges, along with a minimum of four approved co-curricular Indigenous events or experiences that will be incorporated into the final portfolio assignment in GNED128. The student’s transcript will indicate the IPD designation. Upon graduation, students with an IPD will have a strong foundational basis in Indigenous Studies, and a designation that will be marketable in the employment sector.
Additional Costs
Plan to spend approximately $740 per year for books and supplies.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Students applying to Paralegal must meet the following requirements:
- OSSD including Gr 12 C English
OSSD with majority of courses at College (C ) or Open (O) unless otherwise stated.
Grade 12 C courses will be accepted where Gr 11 C course requirements are listed.
Where College level courses are listed, U and M courses will be accepted.
Two Gr 11 courses will be accepted in lieu of a Gr 12 course requirement.
Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission. Additional testing or academic upgrading may be necessary to meet specific course requirements for this program.
Tuition Detail
Tuition and ancillary fees are subject to change without notice. The fees presented below reflect Fall start programs only for the current academic year. For details about the fee differences for other program start dates please refer to the Tuition Details chart below.
View complete tuition details
Domestic Students
| Semester 1 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health Plan | $280.00 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Integrated Transportation Fee | $365.00 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $1,290.38 |
| Total | $2,458.62 |
| Semester 2 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $1,290.38 |
| Total | $2,272.62 |
| Semester 3 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health Plan | $280.00 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Integrated Transportation Fee | $365.00 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $1,290.38 |
| Total | $2,458.62 |
| Semester 4 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $1,290.38 |
| Total | $2,272.62 |
The fees above are for the current academic year for domestic students. Please note that the fees reflect the Health Plan and Integrated Transportation (Sutherland Programs only) charges for the fall entry point. These charges are applied up front and provide service coverage for a full year September to August. The charges for the winter and spring terms are as follows:
| Health Plan | Integrated Transportation | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | $180.50 | $255.50 | January to August |
| Spring | $129.50 | $142.35 | January to August |
International Students
| Semester 1 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Integrated Transportation Fee | $365.00 |
| International Health Plan | $708.43 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $6,775.00 |
| Total | $8,371.67 |
| Semester 2 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $6,775.00 |
| Total | $8,203.09 |
| Semester 3 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Integrated Transportation Fee | $365.00 |
| International Health Plan | $708.43 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $6,775.00 |
| Total | $8,371.67 |
| Semester 4 | Amount |
|---|---|
| *Alumni Fee | $14.61 |
| *Student Administrative Council Clubs | $2.80 |
| *Student Administrative Council Governance | $8.00 |
| *Student Administrative Council Provincial Advocacy | $5.00 |
| *Student Food Bank | $1.25 |
| Academic Supports | $32.52 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $67.81 |
| Career Services | $13.43 |
| Health and Counselling | $48.91 |
| Information Technology Fee | $99.81 |
| Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre | $87.55 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $11.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $48.00 |
| Student Building Fund | $42.00 |
| Student Centre Renovation Fund | $40.00 |
| Tuition | $6,775.00 |
| Total | $8,203.09 |
The fees above are for the current academic year for international students. Please note that the fees reflect the Health Plan and Integrated Transportation (Sutherland Programs only) charges for the fall entry point. These charges are applied up front and provide service coverage for a full year September to August. The charges for the winter and spring terms are as follows:
| Health Plan | Intergrated Transportation | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | $645.82 | $255.50 | January to August |
| Spring | $263.60 | $142.35 | January to August |
Transfer Agreements
You may be able to use credits obtained at Fleming College to continue your postsecondary education in pursuit of a degree. The articulation and credit transfer agreements with our partner institutions are summarized below.
Carleton University
Requirement
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative program Grade Point Average (GPA).
Transfer Credit
- 5 out of a 20 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Humber College
Requirement
- Minimum 75% cumulative program average.
- Must possess ENG4U (Grade 12 University English) or equivalent with a course grade of 65%.
Transfer Credit
- 60 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Colleges website.
For more information
Ontario Tech University
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 60 out of a 120 credit degree.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 60 out of a 120 credit degree.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
- Successful completion of the Ontario Tech Commerce Bridge program.
Transfer Credit
- 45 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 18 credit diploma.
- Note: No transfer credits awarded.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Royal Roads University
Requirement
- Minimum B cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- Entry into 3rd year studies of a 4-year program.
- Refer to the articulation agreement for further details.
To apply please see the Royal Roads University's admissions website.
For more information
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