WHAT IS A LAW CLERK?
LAW CLERK
A Law Clerk is a legal profession in Law Firms in Ontario. A trained professional doing independent legal work, which may include managerial duties, under the direction and guidance of a lawyer and whose function is to relieve a lawyer of routine legal and administrative matters and assist them in the more complex ones.
Law firms, corporate and governmental legal departments are now constantly challenged to provide the highest level of service at the lowest possible cost. Having a Law Clerk in any legal services organization can provide very effective and cost efficient benefits, with the advantage that a law clerk's services are always provided under the direction and supervision of a lawyer. The main differences between a law clerk and a lawyer are the level of responsibility and liability level of legal education. A law clerk is the right-hand person to the lawyer. They have a general understanding of the law, practices, and procedures involved within their particular field of training and specialization. Law Clerks can also assist Lawyer with more complex matters.
DUTIES
A LAW CLERK SHALL
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Have a general knowledge of the law, practice and procedures involved within the particular field of specialization;
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Provide services according to the specifications of statutory requirements, The Law Society of Ontario, principal's instructions and office procedures;
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Assist in maintaining the authority and dignity of the courts and the integrity of the legal profession;
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Conduct oneself in a professional, diligent and ethical manner.
When you call your lawyer’s office with questions about your real estate transaction, you’ll be speaking with one of the law clerks since they do the majority of the work on a transaction in real estate. This is why law clerks are required to have extensive knowledge about real estate law.
LAW CLERK VERSUS
LAWYER
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LAW CLERK AND A LAWER
The main differences between a law clerk and a lawyer are the level of responsibility, liability and level of legal education. A law clerk is the right-hand person to the lawyer. They have a general understanding of the law, practices, and procedures involved within their particular field of training and specialization. The lawyer is ultimately responsible to the client and is expected to have the legal knowledge to resolve legal issues and properly represent the client in all legal matters. In a law firm some of the work is delegated to a law clerk. The lawyer will supervise the work being preformed and will deal with any unusual difficulties that may be encountered.