Law Office Management Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

LGLA-2307-001 Law Office Management

Prerequisites

LGLA 1307 and POFI 2301 or Department Chair consent

Course Description

This course presents the fundamentals of law office management and organization including basic principles and structure of management, administrative and substantive systems in the law office and law practice technology.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Practical Law Office Management, 3rd edition, by Brent Roper; West Legal Studies;
\ ISBN 1-4180-2970-X and Using Computers in the Law Office, 5th edition by Brent Roper; Thomson Delmar Learning; ISBN 1-4180-3312-X

\ Optional:  The Bluebook:  A Uniform System of Citation; current edition; published and distributed by The Harvard Law Review Association, Gannett House, 1511 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Supplies

Required textbooks;external storage device (the best is a USB/jump drive).

Student Performance

\ LEARNING OUTCOMES:
\ The student will develop an overall idea of law office management as it relates to a paralegal.

\ After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the Paralegal Studies program:

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1. \
   \ Understand the general composition of the law office (SCANS* Information, Systems);
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2. \
   \ Understand what constitutes professional ethics and malpractice in the paralegal field (SCANS* Information, Basic Skills);
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3. \
   \ Compile a law office procedures manual (SCANS* Resources, Information);
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4. \
   \ Apply positive communication skills and interviewing techniques (SCANS* Interpersonal);
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5. \
   \ Utilize specialized legal office timekeeping and billing software (SCANS* Information, Technology);
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6. \
   \ Account for law office client trust funds (SCANS* Resources and Basic Skills);
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7. \
   \ Practice calendaring, docket control, and case management (SCANS* Information, Technology);
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8. \
   \ Apply positive human resource management skills (SCANS* Interpersonal);
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9. \
   \ Apply proper file and law library management methods (SCANS* Information and Systems);
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10. \
    \ Study and use law office equipment, technology, space management, security, and leases (SCANS* Technology, Systems, Information, Resources);
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\ Systems:          Understands complex interrelationships. (Evaluates, monitors, improves social, organizations, and  technological systems)

\ Information:       Acquires and uses information.

\ Interpersonal:    Works with others, serves clients, exercises leadership.

\ Resources:       Identifies, organizes, plans, and allocates resources (time, money, material and facilities, human resources)

\ AAfPE Core Competencies:  IA1, IA2, IA7, IB1, IB2, IB3, IB4, IC3, IC6, ID1, ID2, ID3, ID4, ID5, ID6, IF3, IF4, IG2, IH2, IH4, IIB2, IIB2, IIB3, IIC1, IIC2, IIC3, IIC4, IIC5, IIG3, IIG4

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Plagiarism, Cheating and Individual Work Ethic: The Amarillo College policies and Code of Student Conduct is strictly adhered to when dealing with plagiarism, cheating and duplication of work product. Any evidence of plagiarism, cheating or duplication of work product (whether from this semester’s students or a prior semester’s students) will result in a zero on the entire project or test in question.
Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct. “Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work. All assignments presented in this class must be the work of the student submitting the assignment. No form of scholastic dishonesty will be tolerated. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
“Cheating on a test” shall include:

• Copying from another student’s test paper.
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.
• Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test.

“Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.
A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at
          http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=10&navoid=407 

Grading Criteria

Attendance

Scheduled Class Meetings:  None

Calendar

Additional Information

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