Overview
Expand your skills in legal terminology, research, and procedures for work in specialized areas like litigation, corporate law, and real estate.
Program Updated!
Exciting changes are coming to the VCC Paralegal Program starting Fall 2025! With updated curriculum and enhanced career pathways, new students who apply between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, will benefit from a special tuition discount. Learn more in this news post!
What you will learn
- Overall court process in the Supreme Court of British Columbia
- Basic law procedures for litigation, corporate, real estate, family, and estate law
- Court documentation
- Referencing of legislative materials
- Legal terminology
- Legal research
- Legal ethics
- Organization
- Critical thinking
What to expect
- Four and a half years of part-time study
- Lectures and discussion
- Group work and hands-on practice
- Optional online coursework
- Projects, presentations, participation
- Assignments and quizzes
- Final exams
Admission requirements
- English Studies 12 with a minimum ‘B’ grade, or equivalent
- Completion of one of the following:
- VCC’s Legal Administrative Assistant program, or equivalent,
- VCC’s Office Administration Certificate – Legal Office Skills, or equivalent,
- Minimum of one-year legal administrative assistant or paralegal experience as demonstrated by:
- a resume, and
- VCC Paralegal Employer Reference Checklist,
- Minimum of one-year of office administration experience as demonstrated by:
- a resume or reference letter, and
- completion of all the VCC Legal Office Skills courses:
- OACP 1113, or equivalent,
- OACP 1114, or equivalent,
- OACP 1115, or equivalent,
- OACP 1116, or equivalent,
- OACP 1117, or equivalent.
Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free in academic upgrading, university transfer or English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses.
Recommended Characteristics
- Respect for the rigidly hierarchical system of authority on which the legal profession is based
- Highly competent legal secretarial skills
- Typing speed of at least 50 wpm
- Excellent computer skills, including intermediate to advanced MS Word, Excel, file management and Internet search capabilities
- Detail oriented
- Excellent writing skills
- Exceptional work ethic
- Ability to follow instructions and prioritize work
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Interest in working in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment
Fees and other costs
| Fee description | Fee Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $36 | |
| Tuition | $15,781 | |
| College initiative | $122 | |
| Campus resource | $316 | |
| Graduation | $45 | |
| Total | $16,300 |
Need help with tuition?
Explore your options for scholarships, grants, bursaries, and loans.
* Fees are approximate and subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors. Students are required to pay any applicable fee increases. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable.
Any refunds are issued according to VCC's refund policy.