Legal Assistant Skills Guide
Recommended High School Level Background Courses
- *General Math
- Speech
- General Business
- Business Math
- *Psychology
- Business Law
- *Algebra I
- *Sociology
- Office Practices
- *Composition
- *Economics
- Keyboarding
- Creative Writing
- Accounting
* Courses available in the Academic Achievement Center or High School Completion Center
Basic Skills in the Program and on the Job
Reading
Very strong reading skills are essential to success in this program, which prepares students to handle complex, technical legal materials. Textbooks are written at a college level, and tests are based on a combination of text and lectures.
In addition to their texts, students will read case law, statutory law, legal encyclopedias, legal references, and legal dictionaries. These materials are used on the job for legal research. For work on specific cases, legal assistants might need to use informational materials in their research such as medical records or real estate documents.
View more information about reading skills in the Legal Assistant program.
Language
Although first-term speaking activities are limited, in subsequent terms students may give oral case briefs, conduct mock trials, and present oral arguments. On-the-job speaking activities consist mainly of one-to-one interactions: interviewing clients and conversing with lawyers, judges, and other court personnel. One speech course is required as part of the Associate of Science degree.
Strong writing skills are crucial to success in the program. In addition to the two required composition courses for the AS degree—Composition I (ENG 105) and either Composition II (ENG 106) or Composition II: Technical Writing (ENG 108)—students take Legal Research and Writing I and II (PRL 112 and 113) as part of the program. They are taught to write a persuasive response to legal questions and later to draft legal documents. Other coursework involves business letters, short research papers, and essay tests. On the job, writing assignments range from business correspondence to the preparation of trial and appellate briefs.
View more information about language skills in the Legal Assistant program.
Math
To complete their AS degree, students must take a college-level math course, typically Finite Math (MAT 141), which has introductory algebra as a prerequisite. In their program coursework and on the job, they will use general math skills to calculate damages, compute child support, and prepare a financial statement.
View more information about math skills in the Legal Assistant program.
Learning
Students must enter the program with strong general thinking skills, which are then refined and applied in a legal setting. They must be able to take instructions from a supervising attorney and prepare documents in proper sequential order. They must select pertinent information from an interview to include in a legal document. Most important, they must learn analyze prior case law and apply the law to an analogous set of circumstances, noting similarities and differences. This process requires strong analytical reasoning skills.
View more information about learning skills in the Legal Assistant program.
Computer
Although computer skills are not required by the program, they would be helpful. Students are expected to submit typed papers, and they will use word processing programs on the job. They may select Computerized Legal Research (PRL 118) as one of their course options.
View more information about computer skills in the Legal Assistant program.
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