The Legal Secretary Professional

Why Attend

The role of legal secretaries, also known as attorney administrative assistants or legal assistants, has evolved in the past two decades. As with everything else, technology continues to transform the traditional law office. Legal secretaries must transcend conventional roles of typing and answering phones to overseeing high-value activities between attorneys and clients and with regards to legal proceedings. Legal secretaries do what any administrative assistant might do, except that the legal world is a bit more convoluted. All deadlines are a priority, and a minor detail overlooked could jeopardize the case of a client or merit legal action from opposing attorneys. This course has been developed specifically to benefit legal secretary professionals and covers key topics to enable secretaries to thrive in their organizations.

Course Methodology

This course uses a combination of interactive activities, group, and individual exercises, role plays and discussions. It also uses tools to assess personal talents and areas of improvement and will help participants devise improvement plans accordingly. Participants will come up with their own strategies to overcome real-life scenarios and will be given the chance to challenge and defend findings.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • List the secretarial challenges in the 21st century to be proactively ready for them
  • Combine the efficiency and effectiveness concepts for higher productivity
  • Develop technical competencies to enable professional advancement
  • Apply administrator’s soft skills to stand out of the crowd
  • Use professional business writing techniques in internal and external communication

Target Audience

Legal Secretaries, Court clerks, personal assistants and any member of the general staff in the court set up wishing to improve their personal skills and challenge themselves to excel in their mission at the office.

Target Competencies

  • Self-management
  • Effective communication
  • Time management
  • Problem-solving
  • Teamwork
  • Organizing
  • Planning
  • Information Management

 


Location:

South Africa

Training Dates:

Each course starts every Monday of each week. Please book your training on a date that is a Monday.

Course Duration:

Unit Standard:

NQF Level:

Number of Credits:


Course Fees

Note: Please fill in the online application form on the left or bottom if this page to receive a quotation with detailed pricing from AATICD.

How to Apply:

To Apply Simply Fill in the Online Enquiries / Applications form on the Right Sidebar or Bottom of this website https://www.aaticd.co.za

NB:

When filling the online application form; please take note of your desired Training Month, Duration in Weeks and Training Session. This will give us the exact dates you will be attending your classes.

Also note that Tuition Fees must be paid upfront on or before training start date. This is to ensure that all resources are made availabe for you before you start. You will not be allowed into training if fees are not paid and verified.

Also note that Tuition Fees Cancellations must be made 14 business working days before the starting date of training. This will allow us to do a 50% refund of the total amount paid. If cancellations are made thereafter note that no refund will be made to delegates.

Tuition Fees include teas and lunch as well as either a laptop or tablet which a delegate will take home free of charge.

Tuition Fee DOES NOT include Accommodation, Dinners and other Extra Curricular Activities or Incidentals. Delegates are expected to fund this on their own. AATICD will not be held accountable for any incidents to delegates.

In-House Trainings are also available for 3 or more delegates for any duration. Please consult with our Administration for such In-House training bookings.


Course Outline

  • Word Processing Software
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Information Management
  • Digital File Organization
  • Data Backup Software
  • Billing
  • Invoicing
  • Transcription
  • Desktop Publishing
  • Videoconferencing
  • Email Management

Interpersonal Skills

  • Reception
  • Phone Etiquette
  • Oral Communication
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Initiative
  • Formality
  • Bearing

Written Communication

  • Email Composition
  • Following Strict Document Formats
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cover Letters
  • Strong Grammar Skills
  • Transcription

 Organizational Skills

  • Attention to Detail
  • Calendar Management
  • File Management
  • Confidential Information Management
  • Transcription
  • Process of Packaging and Sending Legal Documents
  • Receiving and Organizing Affidavits
  • Note Taking

Transcription Skills

  • Active listening
  • Typing
  • Word Processing Software
  • Audio Recording Devices
  • Memory
  • Written Communication

Attention to Detail

  • Note Taking
  • Attentive
  • Auditing
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Deductive reasoning
  • Data Entry
  • Accuracy
  • Proactive

Familiarity With Legal Documents and Terminology

  • Trial Brief
  • Amicus Brief
  • Appellate Brief
  • Reply Brief
  • Interrogatories
  • Appeals Process
  • Wills & Testaments
  • Legal Complaints, Appeals, & Answers
  • Quitclaim Deed
  • Warranty Deed
  • Requesting Subpoenas

Teamwork

  • Active Listening
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Collaboration

Multitasking Skills

  • Attention to Detail
  • Time Management
  • Prioritization
  • Delegation
  • Scheduling
  • Stress Tolerance

Research Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Interviewing
  • Note Taking
  • Noticing Trends
  • Data Analysis
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Research Law Software

Necessary Competencies

  • Troubleshooting
  • Social Media Management
  • Proofreading
  • Revising
  • Drafting
  • Spelling
  • Proper Use of Search Engines
  • Report Writing
  • Final Manuscript Production
  • Mark-ups
  • Develop and Maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Deadlines
  • Multilingual
  • Friendliness
  • Adaptability
  • Efficiency
  • Critical Thinking
  • Compliance
  • Bookkeeping
  • Professionalism
  • Customer Service
  • Resilience
  • Pretrial Agreements
  • Fax Machines
  • Maintain Law Libraries
  • Manage Case Files
  • LexisNexis
  • PACER