Paralegal & Legal Assistant
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents. Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. (Occupational Outlook Handbook)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below.
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- A Day in the Life of a Paralegal - The Princeton Review
- Sokanu: occupational info and videos
- Careers in Justice: CliquezJustice.ca (JustJustice.ca)
- Legal Careers - Government of Canada
Education
The University of Manitoba does not offer the legal assistant training that is often required to be a legal assistant and paralegal in Manitoba. Please view the links below and above for more information about training programs and employment requirements for specific regions in Canada. If you are a University of Manitoba student who would like assistance determining an education plan that suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant.
Exploring Other Education Options
- Accredited Paralegal Education Programs in Ontario - Law Society of Ontario
- American Association for Paralegal Education - includes a list of programs in the U.S.
- Search Directories
Information for foreign-trained professionals - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Explore Careers: Job Market Reports - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- I want to be a paralegal. What will my salary be? - The Globe & Mail
- Winnipeg: holding steady - a city-based report from Canadian Lawyer magazine
- Robert Half Salary Guide for Legal Professionals - salary and hiring trends
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations organize events and directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities are also available. This is a great way to learn and network.
- Canadian Association of Paralegals (CAP)
- Paralegal Society of Canada
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations (U.S.)
- National Association of Legal Assistants (U.S.)
- Canadian Bar Association (CBA) - Sections
- Federation of Law Societies of Canada
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Canadian Law List
- FindLaw - includes an online lawyer database
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
- CAP job board
- Clearlegaljobs.com
- Legal Assistant Careers - Government of Canada
Other links
External resources that will provide you with additional information about the occupation, areas of work and opportunities to build experience:
- Article: Paralegal training offers ‘running start’ for aspiring lawyers - Maclean's
- Choosing the right legal profession - from the Law Society of Ontario
- Facts & Findings: The Paralegal Magazine - National Association of Legal Assistants
- Manitoba Law Libraries
- Legal Aid Manitoba
- Canadian Bar Association magazines
- Law Times - news website