Legal Assistant
Karin Kelley
Instructor
253.680.7375
Bob Traufler
Career Advisor
253.680.7412
Location Downtown Campus
Hours Mon-Fri, 7:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
The Legal Assistant program is not currently accepting new students for admission.
Students in this program prepare for administrative support careers in the legal environment serving law firms, corporations and government agencies, as well as municipal, state and federal courts. The curriculum offers extensive hands-on training in the preparation of legal documents. Students are introduced to different areas of legal specialization through preparation of legal documents for mock cases, which provides exposure to many areas of the law. To enhance skills, students often participate in work-based learning opportunities with local law firms, government legal offices, and corporations. Students are prepared for the Accredited Legal Secretary certification (ALS) and are encouraged become members of NALS...the association for legal professionals.
Prerequisite: Minimum typing ability of 25 words per minute on keyboard.
Students scoring below these levels often have difficulty successfully completing the program. Please consult with instructor.
Individuals with a criminal charge or any type of criminal background may find it exceeding difficult to find employment in the legal profession.
Program Length: Six quarters (approximate)
Associate of Applied Science-Transfer Degree: 111 Credits
Recommended COMPASS Scores
Read: 85 and above
Write: 77 and above
College Algebra: 35 and above
Differential Aptitude Test - Clerical Speed: 45
Differential Aptitude Test - Spelling: 44
Differential Aptitude Test - Language Usage: 19
Students scoring below these levels often have difficulty successfully completing the program. Please consult with instructor.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | CREDITS |
| 100&+ Level Humanities/Social Science electives (See list.) MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics ENGL& 101 English Composition |
15 5 5 |
| REQUIRED COURSEWORK | CREDITS |
|
LEGAL 103 Legal Office Procedures |
5 |
Depending upon availability, students may choose work-based learning experiences/seminars or LEGAL 281,282, and 283 or any combination of the courses listed below. (12 total credits)
| REQUIRED COURSEWORK | CREDITS |
| LEGAL 281 Independent Project I LEGAL 282 Independent Project II LEGAL 283 Independent Project III or LEGAL 291 Work-based Learning Experience I and LEGAL 294 Work-based Learning Seminar LEGAL 292 Work-based Learning Experience II and LEGAL 295 Work-based Learning Seminar LEGAL 293 Work-based Learning Experience III and LEGAL 296 Work-based Learning Seminar |
4 4 4 3 1 3 1 3 1 |
| Humanities/Social Sciences Electives List | CREDITS |
| ENG& 235 Technical Writing CMST& 220 Public Speaking CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communications PSYC& 100 General Psychology SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology |
5 5 5 5 5 |
Associate of Technology Degree: 101 Credits
Recommended COMPASS Scores
Read: 80 and above
Write: 40 and above
Pre-Algebra: 55 and above
Students scoring below these levels often have difficulty successfully completing the program. Please consult with instructor.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | CREDITS |
| 100+ Level Human Relations 100+ Level Mathematics ENGL& 101 English Composition I |
5 5 5 |
| REQUIRED COURSEWORK | CREDITS |
| LEGAL 103 Legal Office Procedures LEGAL 104 MS Outlook LEGAL 105 Records Management LEGAL 108 Legal Terminology LEGAL 109 Legal Research LEGAL 111 Introduction to MS Word LEGAL 112 MS Word Applications LEGAL 113 Criminal Law LEGAL 201 Beginning Accounting LEGAL 202 Legal Office Projects LEGAL 203 Legal Billing Software LEGAL 205 MS PowerPoint for Legal Assistants LEGAL 206 MS Excel LEGAL 208 Ethics LEGAL 209 Civil Litigation LEGAL 211 ALS Preparation I LEGAL 212 ALS Preparation II LEGAL 213 ALS Certification Exam LEGAL 215 Keyboarding LEGAL 216 Business Grammar |
5 2 4 5 2 5 5 5 5 5 1 3 3 2 5 4 2 1 5 5 |
Depending upon availability, students may choose work-based learning experiences/seminars or LEGAL 281,282, and 283 or any combination of the courses listed below. (12 total credits).
| REQUIRED COURSEWORK | CREDITS |
| LEGAL 281 Independent Project I LEGAL 282 Independent Project II LEGAL 283 Independent Project III or LEGAL 291 Work-based Learning Experience I and LEGAL 294 Work-based Learning Seminar LEGAL 292 Work-based Learning Experience II and LEGAL 295 Work-based Learning Seminar LEGAL 293 Work-based Learning Experience III and LEGAL 296 Work-based Learning Seminar |
4 4 4 3 1 3 1 3 1 |
Certificate of Competency: 59 Credits
Recommended COMPASS Scores
Read: 80 and above
Write: 40 and above
Pre-Algebra: 35 and above
Students scoring below these levels often have difficulty successfully completing the program. Please consult with instructor.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | CREDITS |
| 90+ Level Human Relations 90+ Level Mathematics 90+ Level Communications |
5 5 5 |
| REQUIRED COURSEWORK | CREDITS |
| LEGAL 103 Legal Office Procedures LEGAL 104 MS Outlook LEGAL 105 Records Management LEGAL 108 Legal Terminology LEGAL 109 Legal Research LEGAL 111 Introduction to MS Word LEGAL 113 Criminal Law LEGAL 203 Legal Billing Software LEGAL 206 MS Excel LEGAL 208 Ethics LEGAL 209 Civil Litigation LEGAL 216 Business Grammar |
5 2 4 5 2 5 5 1 3 2 5 5 |
