The Canadian Paralegal Association (CPA) states that educational requirements can vary greatly from law firm to law firm. CPA recommends that you contact prospective employers before you enroll in a program of study to determine what their educational requirements might be. Most prospective employers now require successful completion of a course or program of study. However, paralegal curriculum will vary from province to province.
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Ontario have colleges and certificate programs in paralegal studies. Not all provinces require paralegal certification as well; your training may or may not include a competency examination. Most programs are for two years. You can pursue part-time or full-time study. In Alberta, paralegals are not regulated.
Each province has different requirements for becoming a paralegal. In Ontario, Bill 14 of the Access to Justice Act expands the regulatory authority of The Law Society of Upper Canada to regulate legal services provided by independent paralegals. Anyone wishing to become a licensed paralegal must apply through a legal services program approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Although specific qualifications may differ among practice areas, CPA indicates that paralegals should try to develop sound knowledge of relevant statues and procedures, research skills, a pleasant personality, attention to detail, reliability, accuracy, ability to handle stress, ability to meet deadlines, diligence, problem solving skills, dedication, strong analytical ability, an ability to work independently and part of a team, and strong oral and written communication skills.
Paralegals are trained to work as small claims court agents, legal researchers, court monitors, investigators or paralegal firm managers. CPA suggests that typical employers include paralegal firms, federal/provincial government departments, court administration offices, administrative tribunals, law firms, or legal departments of corporations. Banks, investment firms, marketing firms or financial services institutions are also potential employers of paralegals.