Course Overview

If you wish to pursue a career in a legal department then the introductory module provides a sound understanding. You will learn more about the responsibilities of a legal secretary focussing on the working of a legal office, civil and criminal law, and the court system. Successful completion of this course will enable you to work towards further qualifications.

Aims and Objectives

• To provide an introduction to the work, documentation and responsibilities of a legal secretary.
• To prepare those who wish to progress to take the OCR Level 2 Legal Text Processing Examination.

Target Audiences

Those who wish to consider a career as a Legal Secretary and gain an overview of the different legal departments.

Prerequisites

Word processing experience to an intermediate level; ideally students should have completed a Microsoft Office Word course.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Including: The legal office, legal practitioners, support staff, the legal secretary, importance of proof-reading.

Lesson 2: Including: Difference between civil law and criminal law, court system and structure, how laws are made, general office procedures, different methods of communication, setting up files for a new client, client care letter, instruction form, telephone attendance note.

Lesson 3: Including: House style, business letter layout, special instructions and marks. Routing correspondence, inserting dates into documents, legal document layout, inserting specified horizontal space, precedents and specialised software, preparing a codicil, importance of good file management.

Lesson 4: Including: The office account and client account, how time is record, client care and invoicing, business memo layout, letter before action, correct expansion of abbreviations.

OCR Additional Exercises – Including: Revision of OCR topics covered during the course, interpreting amendment and correction signs, locating information for insertion in a document.