Legal Secretary
College Credit Certificate
The Legal Secretary Certificate program is designed to provide students who already possess advanced secretarial skills with the competencies necessary to obtain employment as legal secretaries or legal work processing specialists. All course work may later be applied to an Associate in Applied Science degree if the student desires. Prior secretarial experience is required for entry to this program.
Required Program of Study
| Course Number | Semester | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUS105 | Fall | Business English | 3 |
| OFT212 | Office Procedures | 3 | |
| OFT213 | Word Processing I | 3 | |
| COM121 | English Composition | 3 | |
| OFT230 | Legal Terminology & Transcription | 3 | |
| ORI102 | College Success Strategies | 2 | |
| 17 | |||
| BUS110 | Spring | Business Mathematics | 3 |
| OFT214 | Word Processing II | 3 | |
| MGT215 | Human Relations in Business | 3 | |
| BUS230 | Business Law | 3 | |
| OFT231 | Advanced Legal Transcription | 3 | |
| BUS106 | Business Communications | 3 | |
| 18 | |||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate | 35 | ||
Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication skills in writing and speaking in a business environment.
- Apply math operations to solve fundamental business problems.
- Utilize legal terminology, rules and procedures to recognize legal implications of business and personal transactions and occurrences.
- Apply basic language skills associated with the parts of speech, sentence formations, numerical expression, capitalization, punctuation, and word division rules to business correspondence.
- Proofread and edit typed/keyed copy, including transcription of machine dictation, with a high degree of accuracy and correctness.
- Work independently, with others, or in self-directed work teams to demonstrate effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills, attitudes, and work habits that contribute to organizational goals.
- Use appropriate office procedures in the areas of records information management, calculator, telephone communications, incoming and outgoing mail, meetings and conferences, travel arrangements, and simulated projects.
- Recognize the changing nature of technology and adapt to new equipment and procedures while retaining the most appropriate traditional office practices.
- Demonstrate a high level of accuracy in applying correct grammar, usage, and style when transcribing legal documents from dictated audio tapes.
- Use word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and Internet skills to complete office tasks.
Please note: These programs can be pursued on a part-time basis.
Appropriate placement test scores, or the completion of certain developmental courses, are required for all programs of study. Additional prerequisites may be necessary for some courses and can be found in the course descriptions section of the catalog.
It is recommended that students confer with their advisor when selecting electives.