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MODULE 1JONELL SEGADOR GREGORIO
INSTRUCTOR
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A special kind of person who provides
very important office administrative
assistance to the lawyer for whomhe/she works.
One who works for one or more lawyers
or legal counsel An important member in the law office
team
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Lawyers, associate lawyers, law clerks
Receptionists, calendar clerks, fileclerks, account clerks, stenographers,
librarians, legal researchers, legalsecretaries, and LEGAL OFFICEASSISTANT
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As a member of the law office team, alegal assistant is expected to assumeresponsibility in assisting the lawyers for
the office management of the legaloffice
There is a challenging opportunity for
you as legal assistant to advance to aposition of considerable responsibility ifyou are willing to continue learning.
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A small office is composed of one lawyer, theatmosphere is less formal, with greater clientcontact
Opportunity to do some legal office assistant workor act as a legal office manager
Work in courts and conduct legal researcher inlibraries
Must be proficient in typing, computer operation,dictation, transcription, and knowledge of legaloffice procedure
Must be well-rounded; can function as accounting
clerk, file clerk, clerk of court, legal researcher, etc.
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Composed of 2 or more lawyers whose
work may be highly specialized
Spend most of the time assisting thelawyers in preparing legal documents
Opportunity for advancement to
positions of greater responsibility Chance to pursue law studies at night,
while working during the day
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You may work in the Legal Dept. Of a large
corporation
Y
ou will have benefits like insurance coverage,health plans
You will be assigned to assist one or two attorneys,where you can learn their areas of specialization
Opportunity to develop friendships with fellowworkers from other dept.
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Understand the background and training of your
boss so you can serve him effectively
Know the nature of the legal profession so you will
perform better
Before a person becomes a lawyer, he should finisha 4-year pre-law course
He then proceeds to a specialized law school toprepare him to take the bar examination
When he receives a license, he is admitted to the
bar
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The term bar is synonymous with lawyers
Lawyers must keep abreast of changes in the law; alegal assistant is expected to do various legal
research
A lawyer serves different clients; he must beknowledgeable in many fields
Lawyers takes their responsibilities seriously; theyare responsible for decision-making regarding the
application of the law
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The law profession is demanding;lawyers need better assistance from
their staff Not all lawyers are men; many are
women lawyers Not all legal secretaries are women;
many men enter this position
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1. CIVIL matters - involve with protecting
the legal rights of individuals
CIVIL LAW deals with protecting therights of a person such as wills, estate
mngt, corporate law, personal injury,
domestic relations law, taxation law,patent law, maritime law, labor and intllaw
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2. CRIMINAL LEGAL matters- concern the
protection of society from harmful acts
The practice of criminal law is more dramaticthan civil law and seems more exciting
because of TV, newspapers, and other media.Some lawyers gain success as trial counsel or
trial lawyer