Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PARAD067.
Course Title (CB02)
Law Office Management for Paralegals
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course examines the law office environment, its structure and procedural aspects, and the important role the paralegal plays within it.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course belongs on the certificate program in Paralegal Studies. This course is also CSU transferable. The course is in a CTE program and was developed in response to a recommendation of the American Bar Association Committee on Paralegal Education that Paralegal Programs incorporate a class on law office management within the curriculum.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
2.0
Maximum Credit Units
2.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours2.04.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
24.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
24.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
48.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Homework and extended projects

In-class exploration of Internet sites and legal technology

Guest speakers from the legal industry

Assignments

  1. Oral
    1. Small group discussions and analysis of law office issues
    2. Class discussion on readings from the text or other sources
  2. Written
    1. In class and take-home written assignments
    2. Written assignments using legal technology
  3. Reading
    1. Assigned readings from the text
    2. Readings from internet and other sources

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral assignments involving discussions and presentations that show students ability to recognize and explain the structure, procedures, and processes within the law office
  2. Objective midterm and final examination on class material. Evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of topics
  3. Written assignment where the student will demonstrate a knowledge of the law office and relate the paralegal's role within it

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Vietzen, Laurel A, "Law Office Management for Paralegals, Fourth Edition", Aspen Publishers, 2020

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
"McGraw-Hill's Law Office Management for Paralegals", First Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2008

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Describe the legal industry
  • Identify and explain the various roles found at a typical law firm
  • Analyze how legal administration works within a law firm
  • Develop an understanding of the importance of professionalism
  • Explain the role of the paralegal in the legal profession
  • Develop an understanding of how paralegal ethics and communication come into play in the legal environment
  • Develop an understanding of the attorney/client relationship
  • Review the importance of earning legal fees, timekeeping and billing
  • Differentiate types of legal technology
  • Practice calendaring and docketing

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate the ability to understand the legal industry and the various legal professionals within it.

  • Learn the specific duties paralegals have within the Law Office environment.

Outline

  1. Describe the legal industry
    1. Law office management
    2. Law firm sizes
    3. Types of law firms
    4. Types of legal practices
  2. Identify and explain the various roles found at a typical law firm
    1. The team
    2. Types of attorneys
    3. Outsourcing
  3. Analyze how legal administration works within a law firm
    1. Practice management
    2. Administrative management
    3. System types
    4. Development of systems
  4. Develop an understanding of the importance of professionalism
    1. What is professionalism?
    2. Taking directions
    3. Legal assistant competencies
    4. Dress for success
  5. Explain the role of the paralegal in the legal profession
    1. Definition
    2. Job duties
    3. Employment opportunities
    4. Education and specialization
  6. Develop an understanding of how paralegal ethics and communication come into play in the legal environment
    1. The implications of professional status
    2. Bar association regulation of legal assistants
    3. Ethical codes and rules
    4. Unauthorized practice of law
  7. Develop an understanding of the attorney/client relationship
    1. The relationship roles
    2. Marketing
    3. The relationship between attorney and client
    4. Ending the attorney-client relationship
    5. Discipline measures
  8. Review the importance of earning legal fees, timekeeping and billing
    1. Types of legal fees
    2. Sharing fees
    3. Timekeeping systems
    4. Billable versus non-billable fees
    5. Legal trust accounts
  9. Differentiate types of legal technology
    1. Computer software
    2. Internet
    3. Intranets and extranets
    4. Electronic mail
  10. Practice calendaring and docketing
    1. Types of deadlines and due dates
    2. Calendaring
    3. Types of items to be calendared
    4. Calculating deadlines and due dates
    5. Docketing control systems
    6. File review
Back to Top