NOC: 4211 2234 NON-regulated NOC: Paralegals Paralegals Introduction What are the Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C.? British Columbia welcomes you! Like you, over 35,000 immigrants from around the world settle in B.C. each year and find work in a variety of professions. The process of finding work can take time, so it is important to understand each of the steps needed to gain employment. If you are preparing to come to B.C., or have just arrived, this guide provides the following information: Section 1 - how this occupation is practiced in B.C. Section 2 - steps to help you prepare before you arrive Section 3 - qualifications needed in B.C. Section 4 - tips to help you find employment Learn More Paralegals may have various job titles Commercial Law Clerk Commercial Paralegal Conveyancer (Real Estate Paralegal) Corporate Paralegal Section 1 Occupational Overview Family Law Paralegal Land Titles Examiner Occupation Description Paralegals prepare legal documents and conduct research to assist lawyers or other professionals. Working Conditions Paralegals, notaries public and trade mark agents carry out most of their duties in offices, courthouses or law libraries, although they must sometimes travel outside their usual workplace to conduct research or perform other duties. Legal Researcher Legal Assistant Litigation Paralegal Real Estate Law Clerk Workforce Highlights 4,700 Paralegals in B.C. Hourly Wage $12.69-$35.00 Range For more information on wages and workforce see Section 2. This Occupational Guide for Immigrants to B.C. is a resource to help immigrants build a career plan. Occupational qualifications and requirements sometimes change. Planning your career in B.C. will require additional research and direct contact with the appropriate regulatory bodies, professional associations and training institutions. This Occupational Guide is for general information only and is not legal or professional advice. WelcomeBC.ca NOC: 4211 2234 NON-regulated NOC: Paralegals Section 2 Prepare Before You Come to B.C. Explore Regions in B.C. to Live and Work The demand for each occupation varies throughout the regions of the province. B.C. is a big province, about the same size as Tanzania or Venezuela, and bigger than Pakistan or Turkey. Each region has different employment needs and industries. Use the labour market information and resources in this guide to explore regional employment options. B.C. Labour Market Information To learn more about your chosen profession visit the following websites where you will find information including salaries, regional employment opportunities, and job descriptions. 7 B.C. Job Trend Tracker www.bcjobtrendtracker.ca 8 6 Education Planner www.educationplanner.ca 5 WorkBC www.workbc.ca 3 1 Working in Canada Tool www.workingincanada.gc.ca 4 2 BC Wage and Salary Survey 2009 www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/LabourIncome/Earnings.aspx B.C. DEVELOPMENT REGIONS Prepare Yourself Plan and prepare for your career as much as possible before arriving in B.C. Be sure you understand the provincial job market and professional requirements of your occupation. You may be able to start or complete many of these tasks before you arrive in Canada. 1. 2. 3. 4. Vancouver Island/Coast Mainland/Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay 5. 6. 7. 8. Cariboo North Coast Nechako Northeast Get Started! 1. Learn about the occupation. Know the name of the job in Canada, and make lists of potential employers. 2. Collect documents. Collect copies of relevant documents, and if necessary, have them translated into English. Degrees, diplomas or certificates from universities, colleges or schools Program descriptions related to your studies, and transcripts of grades Reference letters and performance reviews from employers Work descriptions and letters from professional and other regulatory bodies 3. Improve your workplace skills. You may need to improve your skills or knowledge before you start working in B.C. Explore all the resources provided in this guide. 2 NOC: 4211 2234 NON-regulated NOC: Paralegals Essential Skills Essential skills are the basic workplace abilities you need to succeed on the job. The most important Essential Skills for Paralegals are: reading text, oral communication, and critical thinking. The resources below can help you assess and upgrade your essential skills. Essential Skills in the Workplace www.itsessential.ca How Do Your Skills Measure Up? measureup.towes.com/default.asp Test of Workplace Essential Skills www.towes.com English Language Requirements Although there is no formal English language prerequisite to be a Paralegal, you will need to have a good grasp of industry terminology. Once employed, you must be able to communicate with your employer, co-workers and clients in English. Your chances of success will be enhanced if your communication and comprehension skills are at a high school or equivalent level. In order to work in this industry, you should have reached a minimum English proficiency level of CLB 6 (Canadian Language Benchmarks: www.language.ca). You may need to enroll in training or upgrading programs. Many of the programs for paralegals have language level requirements and each vary in the types of tests they accept and the minimum scores required. For example, Vancouver Community College’s Paralegal Certificate/Diploma requires TOEFL IBT score of 75 or IELTS 6.5; while Capilano University’s Bachelor of Legal Studies (Paralegal) program requires TOEFL IBT 83 (PBT 560/CBT 220) or IELTS 6.5 with no score less than 6. The following website can help you to explore various training facilities and their entrance requirements: www.educationplanner.ca. Improve Your Language Skills Continue improving your language skills by taking further English and Canadian cultural training, joining organizations, getting involved in different community groups, and attending events where English is the primary language spoken. The more skills, certification, and languages you have, the more attractive you are to a potential employer. English Language and Communication Services DIVERSEcity www.dcrs.ca English Language Services for Adults www.elsanet.org Planning to Work in British Columbia, Canada Workbook www.welcomebc.ca/local/wbc/docs/ BC_Workbook_EN_June4_Fillable.pdf IELTS International English Language Testing System www.ielts.org Immigrant Services Society of BC www.issbc.org MOSAIC www.mosaicbc.com S.U.C.C.E.S.S. www.successbc.ca TOEFL www.toefl.org Welcome BC www.welcomebc.ca 3 NOC: 4211 2234 NON-regulated NOC: Paralegals Section 3 Qualifications The following information will help you understand how to become qualified to work in your profession in B.C. This is only a guide; you should do more research to make a career plan that will work for you. Paralegal is a non-regulated occupation in B.C. This means there is no required certifications or licensing to work in this job; however, most employers prefer a combination of education, training, and experience. Paralegals in law firms require a bachelor’s degree in law, a college diploma in a paralegal or law clerk program, or in-house training from a law firm or other legal establishment. Learn More Important Links for Paralegals in B.C. B.C. Paralegal Association (BCPA) www.bcparalegalassociation.com Canadian Association of Paralegals (CAP) www.caplegal.ca 4 NOC: 4211 2234 NON-regulated NOC: Paralegals Section 4 Tips to Finding Employment in B.C. Get Help with Your Job Search Finding a job in B.C. may be very different than in your home country. You may need help finding job vacancies, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews, and understanding what B.C. employers are looking for. ! Skills Connect for Immigrants program provide employment-related support services that move internationally educated professionals into the B.C. labour market: www.welcomebc.ca/skillsconnect Employers want experienced workers. Even with the right certification and years of experience in your country, some employers may want you to start in an entry-level job to show your skills before you work in your chosen profession. B.C. Employment and Labour Market Services employment programs: www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca Industry Links These industry organizations provide important information and offer key resources: ! Look for jobs in the classified sections of newspapers, or use on-line resources like: Canada Legal-Law Reference Information Links www.lawyers-bc.com/hotlinks.htm British Columbia Law Firms www.lawyers.com/British-Columbia/browse-law-firms-by-city.html ! CraigsList geo.craigslist.org/iso/ca/bc BC Legal Management Association: BC Law Firm Job Board www.bclma.org/employment/law/ legal%20positions%20British%20 Columbia%20Vancouver.cfm The Canadian government provides employment and settlement services in China, India, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. The program is called the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program. More information about these pre-arrival services: www.newcomersuccess.ca Build Connections Within Your Profession Many job vacancies are not advertised. Get advice from people you may know in B.C., including relatives, friends or neighbours. Working as a volunteer, attending events, and joining clubs and associations are good ways to meet people, learn about Canadian workplace culture, and improve your English language and communication skills. You may benefit from joining local Chamber of Commerce and business clubs, attending business functions, and meeting with unions, contractors, employment agencies, and recruitment specialists. For more information see: www.bcchamber.org This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada with support from the Province of British Columbia. WelcomeBC.ca Updated December 12, 2012 5 The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is used in Canada to classify jobs by industry and level of education. If you are considering applying for an immigration program in Canada, you will need to know the NOC code for your occupation. The NOC Code for Paralegal is 4211. To learn more about NOC 4211, visit www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/noc/english/noc/2011/QuickSearch.aspx?val65=4211