Paralegal Degree

We are now accepting applications for September 2012!

General

Our Bachelor of Legal Studies (Paralegal) Degree is a new training option for paralegals in British Columbia. It was approved by the Minister of Advanced Education on October 27, 2009, and is the only paralegal degree in Western Canada, and just the second such degree in all of Canada. See the News Release and the announcement on Canada.com. 

Our first intake was September 2010. The Degree option is open to high school graduates, unlike our Diploma and Certificate options which require additional post-secondary training and work experience.

Students in the full-time four-year Degree option attend classes during the day at Capilano University's North Vancouver campus. They complete course studies in substantive law, procedural law and legal skills. Core legal courses are preset and require students to attend classes during the fall and spring terms (from September through April) for four consecutive years. Eighteen credits of legal electives are also required, and can be chosen from 300 and 400 level non-core Paralegal Program courses, or from approved 300 and 400 level legal courses from other institutions. General electives can be chosen from the Liberal Arts, Science and Technology, Business, or Health and Education, either here at Capilano University or other institutions.

Please note that the Degree does not replace the existing Diploma and Certificate credentials, nor is it intended to be recognized as a superior credential. It simply provides another option for obtaining core legal training for paralegals. As mentioned, the Degree is open to high school graduates and does not require further education or experience, as do our other program options. However, it may also appeal to mature students who don't have a degree or who are interested in obtaining this particular degree.

Degree Profile 

            Total credits: 120

All courses are three credits unless otherwise noted.

Core courses are bolded and include a work practicum under the supervision of a lawyer (LAW 499). The responsibility for securing a practicum position rests with the student; however, the Department works closely with students and the legal community to assist in obtaining successful practicum placements.

The timing and number of each term's electives shown in the Degree Profile chart above is a suggested order only. Electives can be taken in terms other than shown above: for example, over the summer. However, 300 and 400 level legal electives can only be taken in the 3rd and 4th years of the degree.

Legal electives
Current legal electives include: 

Legal electives from other institutions as approved by the Department will also qualify. To be approved, courses must have a substantial legal component as part of the overall course content.

General electives
General electives include any courses transferable to a BC university following British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer directives. The only required subjects are the two English courses and the Organizational Behaviour course. Otherwise, students can choose general electives from the Liberal Arts (e.g., Anthropology, Criminology, Economics, History, Languages, Philosophy, or Women's Studies), Science and Technology (e.g., Biology, Computing Science, Geography, Mathematics or Statistics) or Business (e.g., Accounting, Marketing or Industrial Relations). While students can focus on one subject area, please note that Capilano University degrees, including ours, do not currently offer the option of majors or minors. Please check back with us periodically, however, because this may change in the near future.

If you have taken, or are considering taking, a course at another BC post-secondary institution, please check its transferability to Capilano University and our degree by visiting the BC Transfer Guide. Select Capilano University as the Sending Institution, the name of the institution you attended, or will be attending, as the Receiving Institution, and click Go under Receiving Institution. Search through the course listing and if matches to Capilano University are shown, the courses will count as general electives.

If you cannot find the course on the BC Transfer Guide, or if you attended an institution outside BC, please see our Request Transfer Credit page for details and to find the Request for Transfer Credit form.

Also, you can submit a Request for Letter of Permission that, if approved, will act as a guarantee that your course(s) will be accepted and transferred.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Relationship between Degree and Diploma Profiles

Diploma and Degree students take the same core legal courses as noted above. The Diploma students take these courses over two years. Degree students take them over four years, along with general and legal electives. The Degree/Diploma Profiles Chart illustrates how the Diploma and Degree options run concurrently.

Unlike most other degrees with related diplomas, ours is blended not stacked. The admission requirements for the Diploma include two years of post-secondary academic training or equivalent learning experience. Typically, most of our Diploma students already have degrees. Diploma students take the core legal courses (bolded courses) alongside the Degree students, rather than taking two lower level years towards a diploma followed by two upper level years to complete the degree (stacked method). However, because Diploma students compress their studies (core legal courses only) into two years, they are able to complete their studies two years earlier than Degree students.

Admission Requirements

The basic admission requirement is high school graduation with an 80% or higher average through all courses in Grades 11 and 12, including 80% or higher in English 12 and at least four other academic courses which together average 80% or higher. See the Academic Courses Table for a listing of eligible subjects. In exceptional cases, and at the discretion of the Department, the 80% average requirement may be waived.

We recommend that you calculate your averages using the raw percentages from your high school transcripts; however, you may also do so using the Grade Point Average (GPA) system.

To calculate your percentage averages:

1) add the percentages from all your Grade 11 and 12 courses and divide by the number of courses; and

2) add the percentages from your academic courses (choose your highest five, including English 12) and divide by five.

Both averages must be 80% or higher, and the English 12 score must be by itself 80% or higher.

To calculate your averages using the Grade Point Average (GPA) system:

1) convert all your percentages to GPAs using our Percentage to Letter Grade to GPA Chart; 80% is equivalent to 3.33;

2) add the GPAs from all your Grade 11 and 12 courses and divide by the number of courses; and

3) add the GPAs from your academic courses (choose your highest five, including English 12) and divide by five.

Both averages must be 3.33 or higher, and the English 12 score must be by itself 3.33 or higher.

We recommend using raw percentages rather than calculating average GPAs because the GPA system may skew your average down. For example: 4 x 79% + 84% = 80% average. However, using the GPA system the average GPA is less than 3.33.

If there are more applicants than seats available, preference will be given to those with higher grades in more academic Grade 12 courses.

How to Apply

1) Complete and submit the application form at Apply for Admission/Readmission. Once your application is downloaded, you will receive an acknowledgement letter, which will include your student number and email account, from the Registrar's Office.

2) Submit your official transcripts and any other documents as indicated on your acknowledgement letter from the Registrar's Office.

3) Submit the following documents to the Department of Legal Studies:

• copy of high school and any post-secondary transcripts (if you have not yet graduated, please submit an interim transcript)
• 2 letters of reference
• current résumé

4) We will be in contact with you shortly, or please feel free to contact us.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Paralegal Program students are eligible to apply for a number of scholarships and bursaries. Please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries page for more information.

Association Memberships

Please note that Paralegal Program students are eligible for student membership with the BC Paralegal Association. See our Resources page under Associations for contact information.

Academic Standards and Graduation Requirements

1) Faculty will review the academic standing of all students each term and will provide assistance and counselling as necessary.

2) Students dropping below 2.0 ("C") at the end of first year will not be allowed to register for second year courses. Extenuating circumstances such as illness or injury will be reviewed by the faculty.

3) If a student's cumulative grade point average is below 3.0 ("B") at the end of second year, the student may be required to withdraw from the program after consultation with the Chair.

4) Students must pass all courses and achieve a minimum 3.0 ("B") cumulative average by the end of fourth year in order to enrol in LAW 499 (Practicum). The ultimate responsibility for monitoring the student's cumulative GPA and ensuring that this minimum average is achieved by the end of fourth year rests with the student.

5) The practicum must be commenced within two years of completing the course requirements.

6) Students may work in law firms or law related fields while they complete the academic portion of the LAW program. However, students are not permitted to use this work experience for credit towards the practicum requirement; the practicum must begin following completion of the four-year degree program course requirements.

7) Successful completion of the practicum is required before a student is eligible to graduate and receive a Degree. Students are responsible for obtaining a practicum position.

8) The degree option requires students to maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average. In addition, any student whose grade point average falls below 2.0 will not be permitted to continue in the program.

Information for Existing Graduates - What You Need to Get Your Degree

For existing graduates of Capilano's Diploma and Certificate options who wish to earn additional credits to obtain their degree, please see What do I need to get my Bachelor of Legal Studies (Paralegal) Degree? or the comprehensive Program Credits Chart or personalize your Program Credits Chart. For information on electives, please see Electives above. Please contact us to apply.

More Information

For more information, see also the Frequently Asked Questions page.