Legal Secretary Overview

Program Description:

The skills learned through successful completion of the Legal Secretary Program should prepare each graduate to work in a law firm, legal department of a corporation, business entity, or government agency as an entry-level legal secretary or administrative assistant.

Each successful graduate of the Program will gain advanced skills in current software applications that will allow them to create custom documents, effective presentations and complex spreadsheets. The graduate will have an understanding of database uses for legal purposes. Additionally, they will be able to locate information from legal reference books and know the correct citation of case law.

Graduates will develop aptitude and understanding of legal terms, legal rules and procedures, document assembly and management. They will understand the importance of professional ethics and identify unethical behavior. In courses of substantive areas of law the students will learn the differences of legal areas such as criminal, bankruptcy, family, and litigation plus the documents and unique procedures involved in each practice.

Law office skills and procedures classes will give the graduate excellent grammar, spelling and proofreading skills and introduce new technology used in law offices. Graduates will be able to perform business communication tasks and will know how to operate office equipment that is currently in use in law firms and businesses.

Tutorials and lab time for typing and transcription will help build speed and accuracy. The target typing speed is 70-75 wpm.

Professional Development class prepares the graduate to be comfortable in a professional office working with other career professionals and teaches the student how to conduct and record professional business meetings. Guest speakers or field trips will provide real-world exposure to the students. Career Development prepares the graduating student to successfully attain entry-level employment by developing interview skills, creating a finished resume, learning networking skills and job search strategies.

Courses Include:

• Litigation Legal Document Preparation
• Family Law Legal Research and Rules of Court
• Criminal Law Typing Speed Building and Dictation
• Trial Preparation Advanced Microsoft Office Suite
• Legal & Medical Terminology Professional and Career Development
• Law Office Skills and Procedures Spelling, Proofreading and Grammar

Admissions Requirements:

All enrollees into the Legal Secretary Program must pass a criminal background check, be able to type 30 wpm, and pass a basic spelling and grammar test.