Legal Office Assisting (261)

PROGRAM OF STUDY
FIRST YEAR FALL

Course #

Course Title

Credit

AST

101

Keyboarding I

Teaches the alpha/numeric keyboard with emphasis on correct techniques, speed, and accuracy. Teaches formatting of basic personal and business correspondence, reports and tabulation

2

ITE

175

Email Essentials

Focuses on providing the student with a working knowledge of introductory email function. Includes the basic concepts of customizing email and using all the email capabilities for reading, creating, sending emails, managing calendar functions and managing contacts, tasks, and notes.

1

BUS

241

Business Law I

Develops a basic understanding of the US business legal environment. Introduces property and contract law, agency and partnership liability, and government regulatory law. Students will be able to apply these legal principles to landlord/tenant disputes, consumer rights issues, employment relationships, and other business transactions.

3

ENG

111

College Composition

Introduces and prepares students to the critical processes and fundamentals of writing in academic and professional contexts. Teaches the use of print and digital technologies to promote inquiry. Requires the production of a variety of academic texts, totaling at least 4500 words (15 pages typed) of polished writing. This course requires proficiency in using word processing and learning management software. This is a Passport and UCGS transfer course.

3

Readiness for ENG 111. 

LGL

120

 Legal Terminology

Provides an understanding of legal terminology with emphasis on developing an understanding of legal terminology in different ways rather than relying solely on learning through rote memorization. Designed to aid students preparing for certification.

3

LGL

110

Law & the Legal Assistant

Introduces various areas of law in which a paralegal may be employed. Includes study of the court system (Virginia and federal); a brief overview of criminal law, torts, family law, evidence, the U.C.C., contracts, and ethics; the role of the paralegal; and other areas of interest.

3

LGL

200

Ethics for the Paralegal

Examines general principles of ethical conduct applicable to paralegals. Includes the application of rules of ethics to the practicing paralegal. 

1

SDV

100

College Success Skills

Assists students in transition to colleges. Provides overviews of college policies, procedures, curricular offerings. Encourages contacts with other students and staff. Assists students toward college success through information regarding effective study habits, career and academic planning, and other college resources available to students. May include English and Math placement testing. Strongly recommended for beginning students. Required for graduation.

1

FIRST YEAR SPRING

MKT

170

Customer Service

Introduces students to the concepts of marketing as they relate to customer service. Teaches development of customer service training and implementation of strategies to improve customer relations and service. Includes lecture, role-playing, and case studies.

1

AST

141

Word Processing I

Teaches creating and editing documents, including line and page layouts, columns, fonts, search/replace, cut/paste, spell/thesaurus, and advanced editing and formatting features of word processing software.

3

AST 101 or equivalent

LGL

115

Real Estate Law

Studies law of real property, and gives in-depth survey of more common types of real estate transactions and conveyances such as deeds, contracts, leases, and deeds of trust. Focuses on drafting problems involving these various instruments. Includes research projects, and studies the system of recording and search of public documents.

3

LGL

117

Family Law

Studies elements of a valid marriage, grounds for divorce and annulment, separation, defense, custody, support, adoptions, and applicable tax consequences. Includes property settlement, pre- and antenuptial agreements, pleadings, and rules of procedure. May include specific federal and Virginia consumer laws.

3

MTH

132

Business Mathematics

Provides instruction, review, and drill in percentage, cash and trade discounts, mark-up, payroll, sales, property and other taxes, simple and compound interest, bank discounts, loans, investments, and annuities. This course is intended for occupational/technical programs.

3

See Table M for placement information

Total Program Credits

30

Beth Snodgrass

Wes Mullins, Assistant Dean of Business & Information Technology