Law Clerk (Co-op)
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Program Overview
By choosing Fanshawe’s Law Clerk (Co-op) program you will gain a competitive edge by integrating your academic studies with practical paid work experience. You will work on legal files alongside lawyers or paralegals in law firms, government agencies, corporate offices, or financial institutions. In many ways, the law is the most crucial institution in the country. If you find being a part of this prestigious career intriguing and you also want the opportunity to gain practical paid work experience, then the Law Clerk (Co-op) program is the right program for you!
Program Details
Program Code
LCK2
Credential:
Ontario College Diploma
Duration
60 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
2025 January
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
The Law Clerk (Co-op) program combines a solid understanding of several areas of law with practical paid work experience giving you the required skills for diverse career opportunities. Your law courses will include civil litigation, corporate commercial, debtor and creditor rights, real estate, landlord and tenant, estate administration, and family law. In addition, you will receive extensive training on leading software and online applications used by law firms and legal departments in Canada.
You can start the Law Clerk (Co-op) program in either September (fall term) or January (winter term), and your co-op sequencing will depend on when you start the program. After completing their co-op work terms our students return to campus with a better understanding of the type of work they will be performing after graduation, and an appreciation of how the material they learn at college applies to real-life legal cases.
When you graduate you’ll have learned everything you need to start your career off right. And, because you’ve chosen the Co-op program your studies will be integrated with working alongside real legal teams, on real cases, allowing you to graduate with a competitive edge. You will study many areas of Canadian law including civil litigation, corporate/commercial, debtor and creditor rights, real estate, landlord and tenant, estate administration, family law and contracts. You will refine your communication and information processing skills as you learn how to research, analyze and write in the legal environment. You will develop an ability to work with a variety of leading-edge legal software applications and online commercial legal databases and services.
Depending upon your choice of career path, you could find yourself preparing motion records and trial documentation, interviewing witnesses, arranging trial dates and adjournments, drafting corporate/commercial documentation, completing Family Law Act financial statements, administering estates, negotiating leases, administering contracts, completing legal research, searching titles or processing real estate transactions.
Co-op Opportunities & Career Information
Co-op Opportunities
The Law Clerk (Co-op) program offers a cooperative education component, which provides students the opportunity to gain invaluable first-hand workplace experience in their chosen field. Here are some co-op jobs that have kick-started the careers of Law Clerk students before even graduating!
Litigation Law Clerk
Support a lawyer in a litigation law office with scheduling and document-related duties.
Insurance Law Clerk
Responsible for preparing and filing court documents associated with proceedings, communicating with court staff and other parties involved in the legal proceedings.
Municipal Law Enforcement Officer
Work in the City’s By-Law department filing and researching work orders, invoices and other documentation.
For more information regarding co-op, please check out our co-op site or contact the Co-op Office at coop@fanshawec.ca to connect with a consultant.
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Law Clerk program find career opportunities in law firms, corporate legal departments, financial institutions, insurance companies, title insurance companies, Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments, court offices, registry offices, government boards and tribunals, legal aid, legal technology and legal services providers. A career as a law clerk offers challenge, diversity, flexibility and advancement in the fast-paced, constantly changing legal environment. Graduates are also well prepared to succeed in Fanshawe’s Paralegal program.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Law Clerk program:
Class Action Law Clerk
Support a class actions department by researching and filing documents related to court proceedings.
Real Estate Law Clerk
Support a lawyer’s work on real estate files from start to finish.
Family Law Clerk
Play an integral role in a family law firm by providing administrative support to legal counsel.
Program Progression
Fall intake
| Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Level 1 | Academic Level 2 | Co-op |
| Co-op | Academic Level 4 | Academic Level 3 |
Winter Intake
| Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Level 1 | Academic Level 2 | |
| Academic Level 3 | Co-op | Co-op |
| Academic Level 4 |
The Law Clerk program can be challenging and rigorous at times, but the support of the professors, and the student support centre, instill confidence and understanding for student’s individual success. Professors put a great deal of effort and time into lectures both in the physical and virtual classrooms to provide students with the highest level of education.
Julie Russell
Law Clerk student
This program is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada. This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for co-operative education programs in Canada, and recognizes Fanshawe's commitment to excellence.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Support the needs of clients and legal professionals through the use of accurate terminology and professional communication strategies, both orally and in writing;
- Complete all work within routine and unexpected time lines and limitation periods within the legal environment;
- Use current and relevant electronic and print resources, within the legal environment, to conduct legal research, to assist with file and evidentiary management, to facilitate communication and generate legal documentation, complying with current regulations and procedures;
- Research and summarize the presenting legal issues, applying knowledge of substantive law, to support the legal team;
- Apply rules of procedure to support best legal practices;
- Conduct oneself professionally in adherence to the guidelines of the Law Society of Upper Canada;
- Carry out clerical and administrative duties for the operation of a variety of legal environments;
- Outline strategies for ongoing professional development to ensure continuing competence as a Law Clerk;
- Act equitably and justly with diverse populations*;
- Provide support for legal professionals in courts and administrative tribunals within the legal system.
Related Programs
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Barbara Bidner, B.A., LL.B.
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or a mature applicant with the following courses
- Grade 12 English (U or C) - minimum final grade of 65 required for C level
- Grade 11 (C, M, or U) or 12 Math (C or U)
- Note: Grade 11 or 12 Foundations for College Math (MBF3C or MAP4C) will require a minimum of 65%. Applicants are encouraged to take MCT4C for adequate academic preparation for this program.
Students who do not meet the admission requirements are recommended for academic upgrading. A conditional offer may be possible with proof of enrolment. Alternatively, applicants may choose to do the one-year Public Safety Fundamentals preparatory program. Graduates who have a minimum final grade of C+ in the courses listed above will meet the admissions requirements for this program.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 79 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
| PTE Academic | 53 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
- Grade 11 Understanding Canadian Law (M) OR Grade 12 Canadian and International Law (U)
- Grade 12 English (U) is strongly recommended. Advanced writing skills are essential.
- Grade 12 Business and Technological Communication (O)
- Academic and Career Entrance Certificate (ACE): Computer Skills course
Recommended Personal Preparation
Recommended Personal Preparation
- Students should possess excellent oral and written communication skills
- Students should possess basic computer skills
- Students should develop a high degree of responsibility, maturity, conscientiousness and the ability to work independently with little supervision
- Students should speak to a Law Clerk, Paralegal or Lawyer to acquire some knowledge of the duties of a Law Clerk
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Note: Admission to the Fanshawe College Public Safety Fundamentals program does not guarantee admission in a subsequent year to the Law Clerk program. Successful completion of the Fanshawe College Public Safety Fundamentals program does, however, enable the student to be given additional consideration when applying to the Law Clerk program. The Public Safety Fundamentals program is the preferred designated preparatory program for admission to the Law Clerk program.
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Mandatory Placement Assessment for WRIT CourseCourses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
Group 1 | ||||
| LAWS-1077 | Legal Materials-Intro | 3 | ||
| Introduces students to the Canadian legal system. The course focuses on sources of Canadian law. Students are given the opportunity to become familiar with primary and secondary legal sources. The course will familiarize students with the process of finding legal materials to the extent necessary to follow instructions and to assist in legal research by locating and updating relevant legal materials. | ||||
| LAWS-1007 | Civil Procedure | 4 | ||
| This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the rules of civil procedure and the necessary skills to assist in the processing of the various steps involved in a civil action, including drafting various documents required for civil litigation. Topics include commencing the action in the Superior Court of Justice, service of documents, pleadings, motions, discovery, listing for trial, orders and costs. | ||||
| LAWS-1036 | Torts & Contracts | 4 | ||
| An introduction to the law of torts, including intentional torts against persons, property or economic interests, and primarily the law of negligence. Included are the fundamentals of contract law including the requirements for the formation of a valid contract, different types of contracts and remedies for breaches of contract. | ||||
| DEVL-1051 | Professionalism & Client Relations | 3 | ||
| This course provides students with an overview of the role, basic responsibilities and workplace expectations of a law clerk. Students will examine the Law Society of Ontario's Rules of Professional Conduct and practice management guidelines as they relate to lawyers and law clerks. Emphasis will be placed on ethics and ethical behaviour, acting equitably and justly with diverse populations, professionalism, conflict resolution, oral and written communication, and client interviewing skills. | ||||
| COMP-1529 | Computer Applications 1 | 3 | ||
| This course introduces students to Microsoft® Word, Excel, and Outlook to prepare them to work efficiently and productively in the legal field. At the conclusion of this course students will be able to use Microsoft ® Word to create professional legal documents using correct formatting, spelling and grammar; Microsoft® Excel to create basic spreadsheets; and Microsoft® Outlook to assist with scheduling and organizing information. Students are introduced to the Law Society of Ontario's file and time management guidelines (the "Guidelines") and to Soluno® time, billing and accounting software and complete basic law firm accounting tasks that incorporate the Guidelines' principles and standards. To help students work towards achieving the industry standard for keyboarding, a minimum speed of 30 WPM is required for successful completion of this course. | ||||
| COOP-1020 | Co-operative Education Employment Prep | 1 | ||
| This workshop will provide an overview of the Co-operative Education consultants and students' roles and responsibilities as well as the Co-operative Education Policy. It will provide students with employment preparatory skills specifically related to co-operative education work assignments and will prepare students for their work term. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.