Public Sector Paralegalism on the Canadian Landscape - An Analysis of Training (From Public Sector Paralegalism in Canada Today, P 91-150, 1979 - See NCJ-76739)

• NCJ Number: 76743
• Author(s): H Savage
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 60 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

Basic training issues of public sector paralegalism are discussed, and some of the kinds of training currently offered in Canada are described.

Abstract

Basic issues in developing training for paralegals are determining the essential roles of paralegals, identifying the training needed to perform the various roles, and deciding where and by whom the training should be conducted. Other issues that should be addressed are whether training should be accredited and provision of training to prevent burnout, training for community boards, and special interest training. The connection between recruitment and training is discussed. The types of current Canadian training programs discussed consist of on-the-job training, interclinic training, provincial legal aid training, law school training, community college training, private training institutes, and special emphasis training (advocacy, native courtworker, work with the mentally handicapped, and legal awareness training). The most basic and fundamental training, when aimed at service providers, starts from the experiences of the trainees, refines that experience with some formal theory and techniques, reinforces it with practical experience, and gradually crystallizes it with continued upgrading. There should be a central facility whose role would be that of facilitating training programs rather than implementing them. Footnotes are provided.