This intensive program is designed for both beginning and experienced secretaries who are interested in improving their skills and working more efficiently within the law office. Students will study such topics as: legal terminology; legal process; jurisdiction and venue; ethics; written communications including letters, pleadings, discovery, notices and motions; filing procedures, billing and accounting; time management; records management; an overview of commonly used word and data processing programs; legal research; memoranda preparation, and citation format.

Participants will demonstrate the following skills through successful completion of all required coursework and assignments:

• Discuss the origins and history of the American legal system
• Define and apply important legal terminology
• Disucss ethics for the law office
• List the elements of tort law and contract law
• Explain the important rules of civil procedure
• Demonstrate how to conduct a legal interview and maintain good client relations
• Demonstrate how to use some of the common word processing features specifically for the law office
• Demonstrate how to prepare legal documents including letters, pleadings, discovery documents, motions and memos
• Apply the basic rules of citation format
• Define the elements of law office management

Expectations

Students will be expected to spend an average of 8 hours per lesson reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that extensions will not be granted for this course. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.

Prerequisites

This course presumes a basic knowledge of word processing and a typing proficiency of at least 50 words per minute. Basic word processing and typing skills will not be covered in this course.

Required textbooks for this course:

• A Uniform System of Citation, most recent edition, is available through The Center for Legal Studies.

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

• Oran’s Dictionary of the Law, 4th Edition, by Daniel Oran. Clifton Park: Delmar Cengage Learning

For more information, call The Center for Legal Studies at 800-522-7737, or visit our Online Store to order.

Tests:

For each lesson's topic you will submit a 50-point short answer/essay exam covering the topics in that lesson’s reading.

Writing Assignments:

Your writing assignment is to prepare a group of legal documents. The assignment is worth 100 points and is due with your Lesson Six assignments.

Reflection Assignments:

You will also submit your responses to six reflection assignments. These assignments must be submitted with the each lesson and make up your class participation grade. All lesson objectives, assignments, and tests can be found in the Lesson Material packet.

Your grade will be based on your completion of six tests and one writing assignment and class participation/Bulletin Board Submissions. The tests and writing assignment can be accessed from within the lesson material, or by selecting ‘Assignments’ under Activities on the Left Hand Block. You will have the opportunity to engage in “class participation” by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments will enhance your understanding of the reading material.

Your final grade will be figured as follows:

• The six tests are 50 points each and comprise 60% of your grade.
• The one writing assignment is worth 100 points and comprises 30% of your grade.
• Your participation in class participation assignments comprises 10% of your grade.

• Students have 30 days from the date they register for the Text-only course to return all course materials and drop the class to receive a refund less a $50 non-refundable administrative fee. Materials, including all printed handouts must be received by CLS in new condition no less then 30 days from the date of purchase. No items will be accepted after 30 days.
• If students drop after 30 days from their registration date no refund will be issued.