Standard

BUS 217 – Legal Office Procedures I

Course Description

Introduces office procedures practiced by the legal secretary. Topics include: legal terminology, preparation of legal documents and correspondence, ethics, and legal office procedures. Specific topics covered include legal office duties, the courts and court documents, litigation, criminals, wills, probate, real estate, corporations, family law, and noncourt documents.

Competency Areas	Hours
Legal Terminology	Class	4
Preparation of Legal Documents and Correspondence	D. Lab	6
Ethics	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
General Office Procedures	Credit	7
Prerequisite: BUS 102, ENG 111, BUS 158 Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D. Lab	P. Lab/ O.B.I.
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY		22	0	0
The court system	Describe the functions of the courts at the local, state, and federal levels.
	List the names of the courts at the local, state, and federal levels.
	Describe the origins and define common, civil, and criminal law.
The law library	Categorize sources of primary and secondary authority.
	Explain how the law library is kept current through the use of pocket parts, supplements, advance sheets, and loose-leaf services.
	Describe the use of computerized legal research systems.
Contracts	Define terms related to contract law.
	Categorize different types of contracts.
Family law	Identify terms related to marriage dissolution, adoption, and child support matters correctly.
Bankruptcy	Identify terms related to bankruptcy proceedings correctly.
	Distinguish between voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy.
PREPARATION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE		8	30	0
The court system	Compose and key letters to court clerks regarding filing of legal correspondence.
Contracts	Compose and key letters of transmittal to parties of a contract.
Family law	Prepare court and noncourt documents related to domestic relations matters to include: keying divorce petitions and decrees, adoption papers, and child support documents.
Bankruptcy	Compose and key letters to the courts and clients related to bankruptcy proceedings.
ETHICS		3	0	0
ABA’s governance	Distinguish canons from ethical considerations and disciplinary rules governing the legal profession.
Canons	Describe the intent of each of the nine Canons of Professional Ethics.
The secretary’s role	Explain how a secretary’s abiding by the National Association of Legal Secretaries’ Code of Ethics can avoid subjecting the law firm to censure by the ABA.
	Describe how the legal secretary should respond to those situations involving possible ethics violations given day-to-day simulated situations.
GENERAL OFFICE PROCEDURES		7	30	0
Telephone	Demonstrate the ability to place and receive calls correctly and take messages properly.
Mail	Given a set of facts related to mailing documents or correspondence, choose the most appropriate service for mailing.
	Complete various forms used for special mailing services (e.g., certified, express) accurately.
	Process incoming and outgoing mail.
Scheduling	Explain the importance of appointments individual and office calendars in a law firm.
	Compose and key letters to clients related to scheduled appointments.
	Maintain an office calendar system in a simulated situation.
Filing	Demonstrate knowledge of filing rules by correctly processing legal documents and correspondence for filing.
	Demonstrate knowledge of filing rules by correctly indexing names and arranging the names in proper filing sequence.

Suggested Resources

Books

Bate, M.D., & Casey, M. C. (1981). Legal Office Procedures (2^nd ed.). New York; McGraw-Hill

BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY with pronunciations

Cogswell, E.G. (1984). Filing: A Course in Modern Methods for the Business Office (2^nd ed.). Baltimore: H. M. Rowe.

Fulton, P.J., & Hanks, J. D. (1985) Procedures for the Professional Secretary. Cincinnati: South-Western.

The Harvard Law Review Association. (1981). A Uniform System of Citation (13^th ed.). Cambridge, MA: Gannet House.

National Association of Lega Secretaries (International). (1987). The Career Legal Secretary (rev ed.). St. Paul: West.

National Association of Legal Secreatries (International). (1987). The Career Legal Secretary, Student Study Guide and Work Projects (rev ed.). St. Paul: West.