Who Am I?
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Éducaloi explains the law to Quebecers
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Who Am I?
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Who Am I?
To practise my profession, I need a bachelor’s degree in law
and a master’s degree. I must also be a member of my
professional association.
Quiz
I give clients advice at important times in their lives, for
example, before they get married, when they buy a house or
when a loved one dies.
I’m allowed to perform marriages. I often prepare “notarial
documents,” such as wills and mortgages.
I am a … N - Y - A - O - T – R
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Notaries
Notaries help their clients at important times
in their lives: when buying property, getting
married, starting a business, a loved one dies,
etc.
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•
They give legal advice to clients in order to
prevent or solve problems.
•
They write documents according to special
legal rules.
•
They make sure their clients are protected
legally and financially.
•
They represent clients in court in cases
where people are not opposing one another.
Who Am I?
Sometimes I work in an office. Sometimes I work on the streets.
Sometimes I work in a school. Sometimes I work with animals.
Quiz
I often work with a partner.
I protect the public and prevent crimes. If a crime is committed,
I investigate it and arrest the suspects.
I am a . . . P - L - I - C - O - E
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F - F- O - C - I - R - E
Police Officer
Police officers are very important to
society. These are some of their duties:
•
protect the public and prevent
crimes
•
arrest people who commit crimes
•
gather evidence to use in court
against people accused of crimes
Police officers must respect people’s
rights, especially the rights of people
they arrest.
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Who Am I?
I have excellent language skills. Being bilingual is also
important.
My work helps law firms and notarial firms run smoothly.
Quiz
I do various tasks, such as answering the phone, preparing and
formatting legal documents, and managing files.
I am a . . . L - L - G - E - A
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C-E-E-R-R-Y-A-T-S
Legal Secretary
Legal secretaries assist lawyers, notaries and
judges. They work on many files at the same
time and keep a close eye on deadlines.
Legal secretaries perform secretarial tasks.
They
•
answer the phone and meet clients,
•
write letters, and
•
organize agendas.
They help lawyers and notaries with their
legal work. They
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prepare and format legal documents,
•
manage files and make sure deadlines are
met, and
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collect amounts billed to clients.
Who Am I?
I am at the heart of the action during a court hearing.
I wear a black robe, but I’m not necessarily a lawyer.
Quiz
I spend most of my time in the courtroom sitting in front of the
judge. I’m the person who says “Do you swear to tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth?”
I am a . . . C - T - O - R - U
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C- E - L - K - R
Court Clerk
Court clerks handle administrative aspects of a
trial. These are some of their duties:
•
prepare and organize the court file
•
write the minutes, which is a document
detailing everything that happens during a court
hearing
•
swear in witnesses, that is, ask them to
promise to tell the truth
•
make sure lawyers and witnesses are in the
courtroom before the hearing begins
• schedule hearing dates according to lawyers’
availability
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Who Am I?
I must write well and pay close attention to detail.
I help lawyers, just like nurses help doctors.
Quiz
I do research and tell my boss what I found out, but I can’t give my
opinion on cases to clients.
I am a . . . P - L - L - G -R - E - A - A - A
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Paralegal
What paralegals do depends on where they
work. These are some of their duties:
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write drafts of legal documents, which
lawyers will finalize
•
research laws, judges’ decisions, legal
textbooks and other sources, for example,
to find convincing arguments for a case
•
do some work that legal secretaries do,
especially if they work in a small firm
Who Am I?
I help people with difficult life situations. I need to be a good listener
and a good communicator so that I can understand their problems.
Quiz
I often work with other specialists, such as doctors, teachers and
lawyers, to help people who are having problems.
I help people find lasting solutions to their problems. I help them deal
with life’s challenges.
I am a . . . S - I - A - O - C - L
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W-E-R-O-K-R
Social Worker
Social workers help people understand and
solve their problems. They also direct people to
available resources they might need.
These are their main duties:
• meet with people, alone or in groups, to
learn about their problems and to decide what
services they need
• give advice and help people learn skills to
solve their problems
• develop programs to give people the help
they need
• act as family mediators
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Who Am I?
There is no school program to teach people how to do my job.
Before I was chosen for my job, I worked as a lawyer for at
least 10 years.
Quiz
I represent authority and the law. I conduct civil and criminal
court cases.
I am a . . . U - G - J - E - D
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Judge
Judges are in charge of court cases and decide
who wins. They make sure everyone follows the
rules, just like referees at a hockey game.
These are their main duties:
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•
manage cases from beginning to end
•
direct court hearings to make sure everyone
follows the rules
•
listen to what is said in court
•
analyze evidence (proof), which is the
information presented during a court case
•
make decisions and explain how they were
made
Who Am I?
A witness or someone involved in a court case has a right to my services.
This right is guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Quiz
I work mostly in court. During trials, I speak in front of many people,
including judges, lawyers, witnesses and sometimes even a jury.
I am very fluent in two or more languages. My job is to accurately translate
what people say in court.
I am a . . . L - G - E - L - A
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I-R-T-P-E-N-R-R-E-T-E
Legal Interpreter
Legal interpreters are important in the legal
system. They break down language barriers
and help people exercise their rights in court.
These are their main duties :
• prepare well before going to court by
learning vocabulary that might be used
during the trial
• listen very carefully to what people say in
court
• state in another language exactly what
was said
Judges and lawyers might ask interpreters to
translate written documents out loud.
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Who Am I?
Most people don’t know much about my job. But the documents I prepare
are extremely important for cases that end up in court.
I have to get at least 90% on a spelling and grammar exam to be able to
practise my profession. I must also know how to record what people say.
Quiz
I transcribe word-for-word what people say during a trial: testimonies,
admissions, objections, judge’s decisions, etc. I am paid by the hour or by
the page.
I am an . . . O - F - C - F - I - I - A - L
N-E
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S- R- H - O - A- P- G - R -E -T-
Official Stenographer
Official stenographers record what people
say when questioned during a court
case.
They then prepare a transcript of what
they recorded. Judges rely on these
transcripts.
Official stenographers are not always
present in the courtroom during a trial. In
these cases, they might be asked to
prepare a transcript from a sound recording
automatically made during the trial.
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Who Am I?
I work in an office, either alone or as part of a team. I often travel all
over the city. I might have to work early in the morning, late at night or
on weekends.
Quiz
I deliver legal documents to people.
I make sure that court orders are followed and take the necessary steps
if they aren’t.
I am a . . . F - B - F - I - A - L - I
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Bailiff
Bailiffs often have tough jobs, such as evicting
tenants who
haven’t paid their rent. These are
.
some of their other duties:
• deliver legal documents to people
• carry out court orders
• prepare official reports on situations,
such as a neighbour making too much
noise or an apartment in bad shape. These
reports might later be used as proof in
court.
• collect money that people owe or get
them to voluntarily hand over property
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Who Am I?
Most of my colleagues work in private practice, but some work in
government, in companies or other organizations.
Quiz
I am a member of the Barreau du Québec (Quebec bar association).
I can represent clients in court. I also give clients advice and help
them understand their rights and responsibilities.
I am a . . . A - L - W - E - Y - R
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Lawyer
.
Lawyers can specialize in different areas of law,
such as criminal law, intellectual property,
labour law, etc. But no matter what type of law
they practise, they all do similar things.
• Lawyers listen to and advise their clients.
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They negotiate to try to settle
disagreements.
•
They analyze documents and laws to
answer their clients’ questions.
•
They represent their clients in court.
•
They write many legal documents, for court
or for their clients.
Who Am I?
I work during court hearings. I make sure they run smoothly, and I
assist the judge.
I make sure that everyone in the courtroom behaves properly.
Quiz
At the beginning of the hearing I say: “Silence. All rise please. The
court is now in session.”
I am a . . . C - T - O - U - R
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U-H-R-E-S
Court Usher
Court ushers make sure court hearings run
smoothly.
.
Before the judge arrives, they check that
everything is in order for the hearing.
They also accompany judges between their
offices and the courtroom.
During a hearing, court ushers make sure
everyone in the courtroom behaves properly.
They show witnesses where to stand and help
judges during the trial, for example, by making
photocopies.
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Who Am I?
I support people who were found guilty of a crime.
I help people return to the community after being released from
prison.
I make sure they follow the conditions of their release from
prison.
I am a . . . P - B - R - O - T - O - A - I - N
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O-R-C-E-I-F-F
Probation Officer
Probation officers help people released on
probation or parole to return to the community.
They work to lower the chances that they
will commit new crimes. These are their
main duties:
• interview them and decide what they need
to return safely to the community
• prepare intervention plans to help them
take responsibility for themselves
• make sure that they meet the conditions of
their probation or parole
• write evaluation reports on their
behaviour
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Who Am I?
I must have excellent analytical skills, be precise and pay close
attention to detail.
I play an important role in a country like Canada.
I am fluent in several languages. I translate legal documents from
one language to another.
I am a . . . L - L- A - G - E
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T-N-R-A-L-T-A-R-S-O
Legal Translator
Legal translators translate legal documents,
making sure the legal meaning stays the same.
These are their main duties:
•
analyze documents to understand exactly
what they mean
•
do research
•
accurately translate legal documents from
one language to another
• revise translations done by other translators
•
correct texts to make sure they are well
written
Legal translators play an important role in a
country like Canada where two official languages
live side by side.
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Who Am I?
I work in a tough environment with people who have been convicted of
crimes.
My main responsibility is to maintain order in places where prisoners are
kept. I also help prisoners return to the community.
My job was popularized in the television series Orange Is the New Black.
I am a C - R - A - O - I - C - R - T - N - L - O - E
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O-R-F-I-C-F-E
Correctional Officer
Correctional officers supervise prisoners and
maintain order. They have many other duties
including the following:
• maintain order and watch over places
where prisoners are kept
• make sure rules are followed and use
physical or verbal force when necessary
• accompany prisoners to the hospital or to
court
• evaluate prisoners’ records and help them
return to the community
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The
End
For more information, visit Éducaloi’s website at
www.educaloi.qc.ca/en/youth
© Éducaloi, 2015.