Business Division

The Legal Secretary Certificate Program is designed to provide students who already possess advanced secretarial skills with the competencies necessary to obtain employment as legal secretaries or legal word processing specialists. All coursework may later be applied to an Associate in Applied Science degree if the student desires. Prior secretarial experience is required for entry to this program.

Program Competencies

Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate effective communication skills in writing and speaking in a business environment.
• Apply math operations to solve fundamental business problems.
• Utilize legal terminology, rules and procedures to recognize legal implications of business and personal transactions and occurrences.
• Apply basic language skills associated with the parts of speech, sentence formations, numerical expression, capitalization, punctuation and word division rules to business correspondence.
• Proofread and edit typed/keyed copy, including transcription of machine dictation, with a high degree of accuracy and correctness.
• Work independently, with others, or in self-directed work teams to demonstrate effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills, attitudes and work habits that contribute to organizational goals.
• Use appropriate office procedures in the areas of records information management, telephone communications, incoming and outgoing mail, meetings and conferences, travel arrangements and simulated projects.
• Recognize the changing nature of technology and adapt to new equipment and procedures while retaining the most appropriate traditional office practices.
• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy in applying correct grammar, usage and style when transcribing legal documents from dictated audio tapes.
• Use word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and Internet skills to complete office tasks.
• Utilize effective human relations skills in business situations.