Maricopa Community Colleges  LAS229   19932-19965 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 10/27/92
LAS229 19932-19965 L+L 1 Credit(s) 2 Period(s)
Computerized Litigation Support
Litigation skills for legal assistants to computerize cases using both database management and full-text retrieval systems; concepts of case computerization; basic use of DOS (Disk Operating System); hands-on experience with a sample computerized case. Prerequisites: Advanced word processing skills or a grade of "C" or better in a word processing course and completion of 13 required LAS credits, or permission of department chairperson or program director/coordinator.
Go to Competencies    Go to Outline
 
MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LAS229   19932-19965 Computerized Litigation Support
1. Compare and contrast the benefits of manual versus computerized document control. (I)
2. Describe the types of computer equipment used in the legal field, including basic and peripheral hardware and types of software. (II, III, VII)
3. Apply commonly used DOS functions, including organizing the hard disk, backing up data, and security measures. (III, IV, V)
4. Demonstrate electronic database management skills needed to handle documents in a computerized system, in designing and building the database, in retrieving documents, in preparing reports from the database, and in varying the basic document database.(IV)
5. Organize and set-up a full-text database retrieval program. (IV, VI)
6. Examine assessment methods for selection of software for litigation support. (VII)
Go to Description    Go to top of Competencies
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LAS229   19932-19965 Computerized Litigation Support
    I. Manual vs. Computerized Document Control
        A. When to computerize
        B. Benefits of computerization over manual systems
        C. Translating manual control systems to computerized systems
      II. Familiarization With the Computer
          A. Hardware
            1. Terms
            2. Basic equipment
            3. Peripheral equipment
          B. Software
            1. Terms
            2. Types of software - general overview
        III. The Operating System
            A. Specific, common DOS commands
            B. Organizing files in the hard disk
          IV. Protecting Data
              A. Backing up
              B. Security measures
            V. Database Management Systems
                A. Handling documents in a computerized system
                  1. Numbering
                  2. Organizing
                  3. Analyzing
                  4. Categorizing
                B. Designing the database
                  1. Fields
                  2. Design testing
                C. Building the database
                  1. Labor assignments
                  2. Accuracy checking
                D. Searching/retrieving information from the database
                E. Generating reports using the database
                F. Varying the basic document database
                  1. Chronologies
                  2. Calendaring
                  3. Data analysis
                  4. Repetitive documents handling
                  5. Witness information
                  6. File organization
              VI. Full-Text Retrieval Systems
                  A. Determining when to use full-text retrieval programs
                  B. Organizing and setting-up the full-text database
                  C. Searching for terms within transcripts
                  D. Notating and Issue-coding
                  E. Generating reports
                VII. Other Types of Software for Litigation Support
                    A. Outliners
                    B. Word processing systems
                    C. Spreadsheets
                    D. Docketing
                    E. Information and disk managers
                Go to Description    Go to top of Competencies    Go to top of Outline