Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course focuses on law office procedures and systems, and the individual's role in the effective functioning of the law office.  Students will learn practical skills necessary to support legal work, and how to manage themselves to maximize the value of their work in helping the attorney provide more efficient, more economical, and better service to the public.  

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the organization of legal workplaces, including the roles and responsibilities of legal team members, types of law practices, practice structures, organization and governance schemes, and the administrative tasks necessary for successful law office operations. 
2. Perform common legal administrative tasks, including fostering client relationships, communicating with clients, timekeeping, billing, safeguarding client property, calendaring, and docket control.
3. Understand and apply time management, prioritization, organization, and file management techniques for the law office. 
4. Identify how to interact effectively within the law office by applying tact, diplomacy, and assertive behavior techniques.
5. Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities. 

Flexible dependent on needs of student population and preferred teaching style of instructor, but may include reading assignments; videos; lectures; guest speakers; small group projects and discussions; and preparation of work product.

Assessment strategies may include: written assignments; objective assessment; individual and small group projects; and other projects.

This class will focus on developing effective organizational and general communication skills to help students build confidence and essential skills for success at the entry level in the law office. Students will be engaged in a study of the law office as a particular type of organization and entity with both unique ethical and regulatory requirements and long-standing customs and usage. Specific concepts and issues include:

• roles, communication and conflict among law office professionals;
• operating structure of various law offices;
• the essential  administrative tasks in a law office;
• the role of the law office staff in fostering client relationships;
• timekeeping;
• billing;
• trust accounting;
• docket control and calendaring;
• matter management;
• file management;
• law office intellectual property management;
• multi-tasking and prioritization;
• personal time management; and
• aspects of effective interpersonal communication in the law office.