FEBRUARY, 2013 insight S9
Enterprise
Careers:
Paralegal
A GROWING OCCUPATION By Larkin Schmiedl
I
f you’ve got a passion for the law but don’t want to become a lawyer, paralegal work may be for you. Paralegals assist lawyers in their work – preparing documents, maintaining records and files, and doing research. And the ThompsonOkanagan is going to be short on them in coming years.
It’s a growing occupation, and one that Jill Barrett, paralegal at Kamloops Morelli Chertkow lawyers, is glad she chose. “I’ve been working in the legal field for 17 or 18 years, and I love the research, some of it’s really interesting. It’s not all fun and games; some is not as exciting as others. But sometimes you get to really feel like you help people. Sometimes you feel like you’ve figured out a legal problem. I feel like I make a difference,” she said.
make from $12.69 to $35 per hour, with the median wage at $25 an hour. Barrett started out as a legal secretary at age 19, and worked her way up. “Paralegals do more in-depth work, whereas the legal assistant (or secretary) will generally type your documents, do your pleadings; the paralegal will dictate it or actually prepare the document or do the research necessary. They’re sort of an in-between the legal assistant and the lawyer.” Barrett trained through Capilano University’s two-year distance program. “The requirement at the time, I think you had to have two years’ experience and a recommendation from your employer. You had to be working full-time to do this distance education. It was quite a rigorous endeavour but well worth it. I would definitely recommend that program.”
diploma offered at Capilano to the certificate and diploma at VCC. The BC Paralegal Association recommends on its website the best way for aspiring paralegals to set themselves apart is to get training and distinguish themselves through the quality of their work. There is no professional certification for paralegals in B.C. Barrett said, “I would recommend taking a legal assistant position and get some experience. And then look at doing the paralegal bit.”
“It can be stressful. It can wake you up in the night (thinking), ‘Oh my God, did I finish that, or did I do this?’ Because in some situations you’re dealing with people’s lives.” WorkBC says the occupation has above-average growth and job stability. It’s possible to work both on staff at a law firm, or doing contract work. Each has its benefits. Some of the duties involved in paralegal work can include interviewing clients and witnesses,
assembling documentary evidence, preparing trial briefs and arranging for trials, preparing wills, court reports and other legal documents, researching records and court files, drafting legal correspondence and general office duties. “You definitely have to like the law and accept that there are confines there – you have to work within the box of the law,” Barrett said. She said she thinks it just depends on the person as to whether someone will enjoy the work.
Occupations with the Highest Expected Shortages in Thompson Okanagan 2010-2020
Cumulative Shortage 2010 - 2020
NOC 642 Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks
260
NOC 666 Cleaners
220
NOC 341 Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services
220
NOC 421 Paralegals, Social Services Workers and Occupations in Education and Religion, n.e.c.
220
NOC 825 Contractors, Operators and Supervisors in Agriculture, Horticulture and Aquaculture
210
NOC 315 Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses
200
NOC 141 Clerical Occupations, General Office Skills
200
“I’ve been doing it a long time and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”
There’s also distance training available from Vancouver Community College.
NOC 727 Carpenters and Cabinetmakers
180
NOC 664 Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations
170
According to the government of Canada’s Working in Canada website, paralegals in the Thompson-Okanagan can expect to
Students can also study on site, and the programs offered range from the degree, citation, certificate and
NOC 647 Childcare and Home Support Workers
150
Source: WorkBC's Regional Labour Market Outlook for Thompson-Okanagan
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