Legal Office Procedures – Introduction and Corporate Law

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
OADM 1218
Descriptive
Legal Office Procedures – Introduction and Corporate Law
Department
Office Administration
Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
201520
PLAR
Yes
Semester Length
15 Weeks X 4 Hours per Week = 60 Hours
Max Class Size
30
Contact Hours
Lecture 2 hours per week Seminar 2 hours per week
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning Activities

The emphasis throughout this course will be on active learning.  Learning activities will simulate the procedures and tasks carried on in a legal office.  Both learning activities and evaluations will be structured to stress problem solving, accuracy, and working within time constraints.  The instructor will use short lectures, learning assignments, cases, and modeling to introduce new procedures and formats.

Course Description
This course introduces students to the skills and attributes required of and the duties performed by a legal administrative assistant in British Columbia. Students are given an overview of the Canadian and British Columbia legal systems and of referencing the sources of law. Students develop skill in preparing general legal correspondence and documents, in using general legal terminology, and in handling financial and client records. Specialized terminology, procedures, and documentation related to proprietorships, partnerships, and non-reporting companies are covered.
Course Content
  1. Roles, Professional Behaviours, and Duties of Legal Administrative Assistants.
    • Know and apply the specialized skills, knowledge, and character attributes required.
    • Identify and complete general and corporate records office tasks under supervision.
    • Practice discreet and ethical behaviours.
    • Appreciate the expertise, roles, and duties of the members of the legal team within which the legal secretary works.
  2. Legal Terminology.
    • Pronounce, spell, and define.
  3. Legal Correspondence and Documents.
    • Understand content and keyboard letters, memoranda, accounts, general and corporate legal documents.
  4. Proofread and Edit Legal Correspondence and Documents.
  5. Legal Systems.
    • Understand Canada’s and British Columbia’s systems of justice.
    • Understand citing sources of law and keyboard citations.
  6. Legal Records.
    • Open, maintain, and close client files.
    • Understand and use tickler/bring forward systems.
    • Understand general and trust accounts.
    • Understand time sheets, receipts, and disbursements.
    • Calculate fees and disbursements and prepare client accounts.
  7. Corporate Law Procedures.
    • Understand proprietorships and partnerships and handle their formation and dissolution.
    • Understand non-reporting corporations and handle incorporation, post-incorporation, annual, mid-year, dissolution, and Minute Book procedures.
  8. Legal Transcription.
    • Transcribe using transcription software.
Learning Outcomes

The learner has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. transcribe using transcription software;
  2. use legal terminology appropriately;
  3. keyboard within given time limits and in correct format from instructions and/or rough draft correspondence, general legal documents, and company law documents;
  4. proofread and edit legal correspondence and documents;
  5. describe and understand the legal systems in British Columbia and Canada;
  6. describe and apply procedures and tools used in keeping legal records;
  7. describe and differentiate between types of business ownership; and
  8. follow current non-reporting corporate law procedures, guidelines, and statutes.
Means of Assessment
Legal Office Procedure Assignments  20% – 25%
Legal Office Procedure Examination(s) 25% – 30%
Corporate Assignments  20% – 25%
Corporate Examination(s)  25% – 30%
Total      100%

Corporate Assignments worth up to 20% may be assigned and due in the last 14 days of class.  Some class time is provided to work on any assignments due in the last 14 days of class.

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Introduction to Legal Office Procedures Manual. Latest ed.  Douglas College or other legal office procedures textbook as approved by the department.

Corporate Law Manual. Latest ed.  Douglas College or other corporate textbook as approved by the department.

Course packs as determined by the instructor.

Prerequisites

40 NWPM OR OADM 1103 with a grade of B or better OR OADM 1303 with a grade of C or better

Corequisites
Which Prerequisite