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CAREER OPTIONS
Most legal secretaries work in law firms, corporate legal departments,
and governmental agencies. Banks, insurance companies, investment firms,
and real estate companies are examples of private corporations that employ
legal secretaries. Advancement for legal secretaries generally comes about
by promotion to a secretarial position with more responsibility. Qualified
legal secretaries who broaden their knowledge of a company's operations
may be promoted to other positions such as senior or executive secretary,
clerical supervisor, or office manager. Some experienced legal secretaries
are promoted to paralegals with additional education or on the job training.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Legal secretaries are responsible for a variety of administrative
and clerical duties that are necessary to run and maintain organizations
efficiently. They prepare correspondence and legal papers such as summonses,
complaints, motions, and subpoenas under the supervision of an attorney.
They may also review legal journals and assist in other ways with legal
research. They schedule appointments, give information to callers, organize
and maintain files, fill out forms, and take dictation. They may also
type letters, make travel arrangements, or contact clients. In addition,
they operate office equipment like facsimile machines, photocopiers, and
telephones with voice mail capabilities.
In automated offices, legal secretaries increasingly use personal computers
to run spreadsheet, word processing, data base management, and law-related
software packages. With experience, some legal secretaries may handle
more complex responsibilities like conducting research, preparing statistical
reports, training employees, and supervising other clerical staff.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS NEEDED
Legal secretaries must have a working knowledge of how to use law
library resources and an understanding of typical civil and administrative
matters. Legal secretaries must be proficient in keyboarding and competent
in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and oral communication. Most employers
now require knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database management
programs. Shorthand is necessary for some positions. Employers also look
for communication and interpersonal skills, because secretaries must be
tactful in their dealings with many different people. Discretion, judgment,
organizational ability, and initiative are important for higher level
positions. Legal secretaries must be adaptable, versatile, and be willing
to learn to utilize updated software packages and operate new office equipment.
| ASSOCIATE
IN SCIENCE DEGREE WITH A
MAJOR IN LEGAL SECRETARY |
| Required Core Courses |
Units |
| BUS. 401 Business Communications |
3 |
| BUS. 443 Law Office Procedures or
LEGL 443 Law Office Procedures |
3 |
| CAOT 212 Word Processing I: WordPerfect
or
CAOT 214 Word Processing I: Word |
1 |
| CAOT 213 Word Processing II: WordPerfect
or
CAOT 215 Word Processing II: Word |
2 |
| LEGL 245 Legal Operations |
3 |
| LEGL 252 Principles of Civil &
Administrative Process |
3 |
| Plus a minimum of 9 units
from the following: |
| ACTG 103 Ten Key Skills |
0.5 |
| ACTG 194 Introduction to QuickBooks
|
1 |
| BUS. 103 Intro to Business Information
Systems |
3 |
| BUS. 107 Dealing with Difficult People
|
1 |
| BUS. 115 Business Math |
1.5-3 |
| BUS. 400 Business English |
3 |
| BUS. 670 Business Work Experience |
1 |
| CAOT 101 Computer Keyboarding Skill
Building |
1.5 |
| CAOT 104 Intro to Computers with Windows
I |
1.5 |
| CAOT 200 Introduction to MS Suite |
2 |
| CAOT 201 Integration of MS Office Applications
|
1 |
| CAOT 222 Business Presentations I |
1 |
| CAOT 223 Business Presentations II
|
1 |
| CAOT 225 Spreadsheets I |
1 |
| CAOT 226 Spreadsheets II |
2 |
| CAOT 230 Database Applications I |
1 |
| CAOT 231 Database Applications
II |
2 |
CAOT 301 Maximizing Your Employment Potential |
1 |
| CAOT 400 Internet I |
1.5 |
| CAOT 403 HTML & Web Authoring Applications
I |
1.5 |
| CAOT 404 HTML & Web Authoring Applications
II |
1.5 |
CAOT 430 PHP/MYSQL I |
1 |
CAOT 431 PHP/MYSQL II . |
1 |
CAOT 432 PHP/MYSQL III |
1 |
| LEGL 250 Legal Research |
3 |
| LEGL 305 Judicial Process in California
|
3 |
| SPCH 120 Interpersonal Communications
|
3 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED UNITS IN MAJOR AREA
|
24 |
| Plus General
Education and other requirements for the Associate degree (refer
to Associate Degree Requirements). |
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| LEGAL
SECRETARY CERTIFICATE |
| Required Courses
|
Units
|
| BUS. 401 Business Communications
|
3 |
| BUS. 443 Law Office
Procedures or
LEGL 443 Law Office Procedures |
3 |
| CAOT 212 Word Processing
I: WordPerfect or
CAOT 214 Word Processing I: Word |
1 |
| CAOT 213 Word Processing
II: WordPerfect or
CAOT 215 Word Processing II: Word |
2 |
| LEGL 245 Legal Operations
|
3 |
| LEGL 252 Principles
of Civil & Administrative Process |
3 |
| Plus a
minimum of 9 units from the following: |
| ACTG 103 Ten Key Skills
|
0.5 |
| ACTG 194 Introduction
to QuickBooks |
1 |
| BUS. 103 Intro to Business
Information Systems |
3 |
| BUS. 107 Dealing with
Difficult People |
1 |
| BUS. 115 Business Math
|
1.5-3 |
| BUS. 400 Business English
|
3 |
| BUS. 670 Business Work
Experience |
1 |
| CAOT 101 Computer Keyboarding
Skill Building |
1.5 |
| CAOT 104 Intro to Computers
with Windows I |
1.5 |
| CAOT 200 Introduction
to MS Suite |
2 |
| CAOT 201 Integration
of MS Office Applications |
1 |
| CAOT 222 Business Presentations
I |
1 |
| CAOT 223 Business Presentations
II |
1 |
| CAOT 225 Spreadsheets
I |
1 |
| CAOT 226 Spreadsheets
II |
2 |
| CAOT 230 Database Applications
I |
1 |
| CAOT 231 Database Applications
II |
2 |
CAOT 301 Maximizing Your Employment Potential |
1 |
| CAOT 400 Internet I
|
1.5 |
| CAOT 403 HTML &
Web Authoring Applications I |
1.5 |
| CAOT 404 HTML &
Web Authoring Applications II |
1.5 |
CAOT 430 PHP/MYSQL I |
1 |
CAOT 431 PHP/MYSQL II . |
1 |
CAOT 432 PHP/MYSQL III |
1 |
| LEGL 250 Legal Research
|
3 |
| LEGL 305 Judicial Process
in California |
3 |
| SPCH 120 Interpersonal
Communications |
3 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED UNITS
|
24 |
|
Degree
Paralegal