Maricopa Community Colleges  LAS239   19896-20086 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
LAS239 19896-20086 LEC 5 Credit(s) 5 Period(s)
Overview of Legal Assisting
Preparation for Certified Legal Assistant Exam. Review of principles of substantive and procedural law, basics of legal research, ethical principles, communication and interviewing techniques, and exam-taking strategies.
Prerequisites: Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved legal assistant course or a legal assistant training course at a school which is institutionally accredited; OR graduation from a legal assistant course neither approved by ABA nor at an institutionally accredited school plus two (2) years' experience as a legal assistant; OR a bachelor's degree in any field plus one (1) year's experience as a legal assistant; OR seven years' law-related experience under the supervision of a member of the bar.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LAS239   19896-20086 Overview of Legal Assisting
1. Identify effective exam taking techniques. (I)
2. Describe effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication principles. (II)
3. Describe effective interviewing techniques. (III)
4. Explain the principles contained in the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility pertinent to legal assistants. (IV)
5. Use the principles of analytical reasoning. (V)
6. Describe the development and structure of the American legal system. (VI)
7. Conduct discovery and prepare a trial notebook. (VII)
8. Apply the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that are pertinent to legal assistants. (VIII)
9. Apply the fundamental principles and terminology of contract law. (IX)
10. Apply the fundamental principles and terminology of business law. (X)
11. Apply the fundamental principles and terminology of criminal law and criminal procedure. (XI)
12. Apply the fundamental principles and terminology of probate law. (XII)
13. Apply the fundamental principles and terminology of real estate law. (XIII)
14. Apply the fundamental principles and terminology of administrative law. (XIV)
15. Perform basic research of case law and statutes. (XV)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LAS239   19896-20086 Overview of Legal Assisting
    I. Exam-Taking Techniques
        A. Study practices
        B. Physical and emotional preparation
        C. Writing skills
        D. Strategies for answering questions
      II. Communication Skills
          A. Verbal communication
          B. Non-verbal communication
          C. Written communication
        III. Interviewing Techniques
            A. Client interviews
            B. Witness interviews
            C. Use of tape recordings
          IV. Ethical Principles
              A. ABA Code of Professional Responsibility
              B. ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
              C. NALA Model Standards and Guidelines for Utilization of Legal Assistants
            V. Analytical Reasoning
                A. Analytical duties of legal assistants
                B. Logical reasoning
                C. Reading comprehension techniques
              VI. American Legal System
                  A. History of law
                  B. U.S. Constitution
                  C. American governmental system
                  D. Federal court system
                VII. Litigation Skills
                    A. Discovery
                    B. Trial Notebook
                  VIII. Federal Rules
                      A. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
                      B. Federal Rules of Evidence
                      C. Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
                    IX. Contract Law
                        A. Terminology
                        B. Formation
                        C. Defenses and defective agreements
                        D. Third party beneficiaries and assignments
                        E. Remedies
                      X. Business Law
                          A. Terminology
                          B. Sole proprietorships
                          C. Joint ventures
                          D. Partnerships
                          E. Corporations
                        XI. Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
                            A. Terminology
                            B. Classifications of crimes
                            C. Elements of crimes
                            D. Constitutional rights
                            E. Defenses
                            F. Procedural steps in criminal process
                          XII. Probate Law
                              A. Terminology
                              B. Wills
                              C. Intestate rules
                              D. Estate administration and distribution
                              E. Trusts and estate planning
                            XIII. Real Estate Law
                                A. Terminology
                                B. Rights and interests
                                C. Liens and encumbrances
                                D. Deeds and mortgages
                                E. Acquiring ownership
                                F. Land descriptions
                              XIV. Administrative Law
                                  A. Terminology
                                  B. Purpose and creation of administrative agencies
                                  C. Administrative proceedings
                                  D. Administrative Procedures Act
                                  E. Federal agencies
                                XV. Research
                                    A. Terminology
                                    B. Primary authorities
                                    C. Secondary authorities
                                    D. Finding the law
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