Standard |
PLS 112 - Law Office Management
Introduces the student to common forms of law practice. The student will be exposed to methods of billing and time-keeping, automation in the law office, the law office library, the appropriate role of support staff in the law office, and ethical concerns relevant to law office management. Topics include: forms of law practice and insurance needs, support systems, support staff, and ethical responsibilities.
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Competency Areas |
Hours
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Forms of Law Practice and Insurance Needs |
Class |
5 |
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Support Systems |
D. Lab |
0 |
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Support Staff |
P. Lab/O.B.I. |
0 |
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Ethical Responsibilities |
Credit |
5 |
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Prerequisite: |
Program admission |
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Corequisite: |
PLS 101 |
Course Guide |
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Competency |
After completing this
section, the student will: |
Hours |
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Class |
D.Lab |
P.Lab/ O.B.I. |
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FORMS OF LAW PRACTICE AND
INSURANCE NEEDS |
10 |
0 |
0 |
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Law office structure |
Identify the common forms of law practice. |
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Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the common forms of law practice. |
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Insurance considerations |
Identify insurance needs and employment benefits in a law practice. |
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Explain insurance needs and employment benefits in a law practice. |
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SUPPORT SYSTEMS |
15 |
0 |
0 |
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Office systems |
Identify billing and timekeeping systems commonly used in law offices. |
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Discuss advantages and disadvantages of billing and timekeeping systems commonly used in law offices. |
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Identify the variety of law office automation systems currently available for the law office. |
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Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of law office automation systems currently available for the law office. |
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SUPPORT STAFF |
20 |
0 |
0 |
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Describe the role of support staff in a law office, including legal assistants. |
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Describe how to open, maintain, and close client files. |
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Maintain staff time records. |
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Maintain personal calendar. |
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Describe the ways in which a law office calendar and staff monitor systems can be established and maintained. |
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Describe requirements for setting up and maintaining a law office library. |
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Utilize special United States postal service. |
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Obtain printed forms. |
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Prepare printed forms. |
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Draft documents. |
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Proofread materials prepared by support staff. |
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Utilize public relation techniques. |
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ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES |
5 |
0 |
0 |
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Paralegal ethics |
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Suggested Resources |
ABA Journal
American Lawyer
Fulton County Daily Report
Georgia State Bar Journal
Legal Economics
Legal Professional
National Paralegal Professional
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