Outline

 

Unit 1 - Office Environment/Front Office Procedures.

1. Types of firms
Small, medium, large and sole practitioner.
2. Describe the specific function of
the office.
3. Duties of a Legal Secretary.
4. Organizational structure.
5. Opening & Closing the office.
6. Maintaining inventory stock control & ordering.
7. Preparing files for new clients.
8. Open and sort business correspondence.
9. Scheduling techniques.
10. Organization guidelines



Unit 2 – Communication Skills & Customer Service.

1. Identify the importance of oral, written and non-verbal communication.
2. Demonstrate methods of receiving, placing and recording calls.
3. Evaluate and record a phone message.
4. Develop effective listening skills.
5. Greeting and responding to the client.
6. Escorting and instructing the client.
7. Develop a plan on how to deal with common scenarios.
i. Late appointments.
ii. Angry clients.
iii. Talkative clients.
iv. Missed appointment.



Unit 3 – Office Finance.

1. Prepare a bank deposit.
2. Post entries on a day sheet.
3. Fill out cheques correctly.
4. Establish and maintain a petty cash fund.
5. Ledgers, records & credits.
6. Clients statements.
7. Billing methods.



Unit 4 – Legal Terminology & Abbreviations.

1. Interpret legal terminology.
2. Use legal terms and abbreviations correctly.



Unit 5 – Ethics and the Legal Secretary/Assistant.

1. Evaluate ethics and related issues.
2. Clients rights to know.
3. Confidentiality.
4. Client contact guidelines.



Unit 6 – Legal Documentation.

1. Basic cover letters for legal documents.
2. Samples of legal documents/applications.
3. Motions, letters, appeals, briefs, interrogatories, contracts.
4. Preparing documents for transport.



Unit 7 – Filing and Data Management.

1. Distinguish between subjective and objective information.
2. The purpose of client files.
3. Formatting & maintaining files.
4. Electronic research.
5. Organize alphabetical and numerical filing.
6. Motions, Letters, Appeals.



Unit 8 – The English/Barbadian Legal System.

1. Nature & function of law.
2. Classification of law.
3. Sources of English Law.
4. The court structure.



Unit 9 – Items of Law.

Understanding mainstream aspects and documentation of the following areas of law:
a. Law of Contract & Law of Tort.
b. Civil Litigation.
c. Wills, Probate & Administration.
d. Land law & conveyance.



Unit 10 – Fire Safety.

1. The Fire Triangle.
2. Evacuation Procedures.
3. Use of Extinguishers.
4. Types of Fires.
5. Types of Extinguishers.



Unit 11 – Safety at Work.

1. Identify procedures for lost and found property.
2. Explain security procedures for equipment and materials.
3. Identify security threats or hazards.
4. Describe methods to deal with above threats and hazards.
5. Describe safety precautions with unauthorized persons and dangerous or threatening persons.



Unit 12 – Professional Presentation.

       1. How to look professional.
       2. Etiquette in the work place.