Maricopa Community Colleges  OAS220AB   20046-20086 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
OAS220AB 20046-20086 LEC 2 Credit(s) 2 Period(s)
Professional Legal Secretary II
Study of entry-level legal secretarial duties, including the state and federal court systems; civil and criminal procedures; preparing and processing litigation pleadings, including service of process; using proper captions and citation format; domestic relations; bankruptcy; and notary public responsibilities.
Prerequisites: OAS220AA.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
OAS220AB   20046-20086 Professional Legal Secretary II
1. Describe and differentiate among the various court systems. (I)
2. Perform classroom assignments simulating the duties of an entry-level legal secretary in a law office setting, involving litigation, domestic relations, and bankruptcy. (II-IV)
3. Use appropriate paper stock and forms for various documents. (II-IV)
4. Prepare in proper format and process the various pleadings and documents involved in litigation. (II)
5. Use fee schedules to determine fees for various courts. (II- IV)
6. Instruct process server regarding service of process. (II)
7. Cause summonses and subpoenas/subpoenas duces tecum to be issued. (II)
8. Organize a litigation file. (II)
9. Compute and calendar dates in a litigation practice. (II)
10. Notice a deposition. (II)
11. Prepare citations and quotations in the form of the Uniform System of Citations. (II)
12. Obtain hearing dates. (II)
13. Proofread work. (II-IV)
14. Describe the responsibilities of a Notary Public. (V)
15. Explain the components of criminal procedures. (VI)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
OAS220AB   20046-20086 Professional Legal Secretary II
    I. Courts
        A. History of the law
        B. American judicial system
        C. Categorizing the law
        D. Sources of the law
        E. Federal courts
        F. State courts
        G. Court terminology
        H. Court officers
      II. Litigation
          A. Definition
          B. Flow of a court action
          C. Types of litigation
          D. Parties to the action
          E. Jurisdiction and venue
          F. Court fees
          G. Uniform System of Citations
          H. The complaint
            1. Parts
            2. Preparation and filing
          I. Summons
            1. Preparing
            2. Issuing
          J. Service of process
          K. Calendaring for default/responses due
          L. Answer
            1. Preparation
            2. Filing
            3. Parts
          M. Third-party complaint
          N. Counterclaim
          O. Cross-claim
          P. Amended and supplemental pleadings
          Q. Discovery process
            1. Requests for admissions
            2. Responses to requests for admissions
            3. Interrogatories
              a. Uniform
              b. Non-uniform
            4. Requests for production
            5. Subpoena duces tecum
            6. Depositions
          R. Motions prior to trial
          S. Pretrial hearings
          T. Pretrial orders
          U. Trial preparation
        III. Domestic Relations
            A. Overview
            B. Pleadings and procedures
          IV. Bankruptcy
              A. Bankruptcy court
              B. Types
              C. Chronology of events
              D. Document preparation
                1. Petitions
                2. Schedules
                3. Supporting documents
            V. Notary Public Responsibilities
              VI. Criminal Procedures
                  A. Overview
                  B. Terminology
                  C. Misdemeanor
                  D. Felony
                  E. Sentencing
                  F. Appeal
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