Update: The Carleton County Law Association—representing over 1,800 legal professionals—has formally written to the Province and Algonquin College opposing the proposed cuts to the Law Clerk and Paralegal programs.

See full letter here: CCLA OPPOSES CUTS TO LAW CLERK/PARALEGAL PROGRAMS

"As the organization that represents over 1,800 legal professionals across Ottawa and the East Region, the CCLA is deeply concerned by the proposed elimination of Algonquin College's Paralegal and Law Clerk programs. [...] The closure of these programs at Algonquin College will have a serious detrimental impact on the provision of legal services in Ottawa and Ontario's East Region."

"Law clerks and paralegals are indispensable to the effective functioning of Ontario's legal system. [...] a lawyer is to a doctor as a paralegal is to a nurse practitioner and a law clerk is to a nurse."

"Paralegals provide legal services within their scope of practice to individuals and businesses who may not be able to afford a lawyer. [...] Law Clerks are the backbone of the legal profession. They are trained legal professionals who assist lawyers and paralegals by handling essential legal work that does not require a licence. [...] Beyond legal tasks, law clerks are the operational glue of a law firm."