Legal Secretary

Be at the forefront of the law world.

Legal secretaries play a vital role in law firms. In addition to the normal office management and operational duties, they must understand how to present a professional face to clients in the rarefied context of legal practice. The job requires considerable knowledge of the work of attorneys and solicitors, often demanding the secretary fulfil a variety of important professional tasks. As a result, qualified and competent legal secretaries are always in high demand.

The Cengage Education Legal Secretary course gives aspirants a sound background understanding of the legal secretary’s place in the conduct of a legal business. You’ll gain a solid grounding in legal methods, terminology and the specialist elements of office management – everything you need to move into an exciting, well-paid career with a legal office.

On completion of your course:

Upon successful completion of the following competencies:

  • BSBCMN203A Communicate in the workplace
  • BSBCMN211A Participate in workplace safety procedures
  • BSBCMN206A Process and maintain workplace information
  • BSBCMN208A Deliver a service to customers
  • BSBCMN209A Provide information to clients
  • BSBCMN207A Prepare and process financial / business documents
  • BSBCMN212A Handle mail

students will receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. This course contains selected units of competency from the BSB20101 Certificate II in Business.

About our Nationally Recognised Training accreditation Cengage Education is a Registered Training Organisation registered by VETAB (Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board).

Austudy approved

This course is Austudy approved, please apply directly to Centrelink to receive this benefit. Get more information about Financial Assistance programs.

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Course Number 88300C
Course Type Correspondence
Course Duration Max 18 months
Study Hours Approx 320 hrs
Qualification Statement of Attainment

Prerequisites

No previous knowledge or experience is required to take this course.

Learning periods

This course has been divided into 4 learning periods

Computer requirements

To complete this course you will need access to:

  • A computer with Windows®95/98 or higher
  • CD-ROM drive

Assessment details

  • 10 written assessments
  • 3 computer based assessments

Extra learning materials included

  • The Legal Secretary's Handbook - Textbook
  • Electronic Applications (Legal) CD

Key areas of learning

  • The legal person
  • Legal methods
  • Office specialist (legal)
  • Office specialist electronic applications (legal)

Subjects You’ll Cover

BSBCMN203A Communicate in the workplace

  • Communication in the workplace
  • Spoken messages and telephone skills
  • Written Information

BSBCMN211A Participation in workplace safety procedures

  • Health and safety in the workplace
  • Identifying hazards in the workplace
  • Your workstation
  • Identifying and controlling emergency situations
  • Contributing to a safe workplace

BSBCMN206A Process and maintain workplace information

  • Collecting workplace information
  • Processing workplace information
  • Maintaining information systems

BSBCMN208A Deliver a service to customers

BSBCMN209A Provide information toclients

  • Understanding your organisation
  • Procedures for communicating with customers
  • Communication Skills
  • Identify and respond to customer needs
  • Providing quality customer service

BSBCMN212A Handle Mail

  • Receive and distribute incoming mail
  • Receive and despatch outgoing mail
  • Organise and send bulk mail
  • Organise urgent and same day deliveries
  • Organise and send electronic mail

BSBCMN207A Prepare and process financial/business documents

  • Financial transactions and cash flow
  • Financial records
  • Petty cash
  • Banking

BSBCMN207A Prepare and process financial/business documents

  • Financial transactions and cash flow
  • Financial records
  • Petty cash
  • Banking

Electronic Applications (Legal)

  • Health and Safety
  • Workplace Hazards
  • Duties of Employers
  • Duties of Employees
  • Purchasing & Using Equipment

Legal Terminology

  • General Terms
  • Latin Terms
  • Conveyancing Terms
  • Litigation Terms
  • Family Law Terms
  • Transport Accident & Accident Compensation Terms
  • Commercial Law Terms

Presentation of Documents

  • Design of Documents
  • Layout & Style of Document
  • Entering Information
  • Glossary

Production of Documents

  • Creation of Documents
  • Glossary

Records Management

  • Record Keeping Procedures
  • Maintaining Confidentiality
  • Data Back-up
  • Closing a File

Financial Documents

  • Management of Financial Documents
  • Audits

Recycling and Conservation

  • Hazardous Substances
  • Paper Wastage
  • Energy-efficient Features

Legal Secretary Getting Started

  • Getting Started
  • The Work Environment
  • Starting Employment
  • Skills to Develop
  • Career Issues
  • Career Prospects
  • Salaries
  • Qualifications

Who’s who, in the legal world? – Some Definitions

  • Separation of Powers
  • What is an Inquest?

Criminal and Civil Cases

  • Criminal Cases
  • Civil Cases
  • Appeals

The Court System

  • Introduction
  • Courts in Detail

Court Procedures and Etiquette

  • Role of the Judge or Magistrate
  • How are facts established in a Courtroom?
  • Witnesses
  • Etiquette Basics
  • Settlement

How Legal Firms Function

  • What is a Partnership?
  • Are all Partners Equal?
  • Partnership Agreements
  • Dissolving Partnerships

Contributing to Workplace relationships

  • Gathering Information
  • Gathering Information from Media Sources
  • Other Internal Organisational Information
  • Organising Information
  • Communicating Information Effectively
  • Providing Information Orally
  • Procedure Manuals and Correspondence
  • Communicating Messages
  • Body Language (Formally Termed Kinesis)
  • Personal Space (Formally Termed Proxemis)
  • Channels of  Communication
  • Choosing the Right Communication Channel
  • Communication Flows
  • Formal and Informal Networks of Communication
  • Understanding Difference
  • Overt and Covert Cultural Differences
  • Thinking about our values our behaviours
  • Respect
  • Empathy in the workplace
  • Organisations and Standards
  • Developing Trust and Confidence
  • Positive Communication
  • Interpersonal Styles
  • Personality Type in the Workplace
  • Understanding Networks
  • Using Networks
  • Managing Difficulties and Resolving Conflict
  • Recognising Problems
  • Giving Guidance and Support
  • Poor Work Performance
  • Conflict