The Lawyer's Assistant Curriculum & Guide for Study

The Lawyer’s Assistant Curriculum and Guide for Study (the “Guide”) was designed primarily to assist colleges and schools establish a lawyer’s assistant program in a formal classroom environment. It presents curriculum objectives and recommended activities for an educational program covering the fundamental skills necessary to enter and perform satisfactorily as an entry-level lawyer’s assistant. This Guide may also be used by individuals studying outside of a formal classroom setting. Though it is NOT a primary reference for those taking the ALS examination, it contains all of the elements relating to the examination and also may be used as a curriculum guide for those running a Basic Legal Training Course.

The Lawyer’s Assistant Curriculum Guide has nine major sections that deal with the various areas relating to the career of a lawyer’s assistant. Each section has several subparts that contain an introduction, purpose, objectives, and activities developed to assist in the learning of each area. Each section has additional instructor notes to assist an instructor in developing a lesson plan.

Suggested resources that can be used with this curriculum guide are The Basic Manual for Lawyer’s Assistant by NALS and The Gregg Reference Manual by William A. Saban. The NALS Code of Ethics is included in Appendix A. Appendix A to the ALS Resource Manual is available through the NALS website or from the NALS Resource Center.

NOTE: The ALS examination may NOT be in the same order as the subjects in this curriculum guide. NALS reserves the right to change the order or content of the examination at any time. The test arrangement is normally as follows:

PART I Written Communications
PART II Office Procedures and Legal Knowledge
PART III Ethics, Human Relations, and Judgment

CONTENTS

Written Communications

• Grammar and Word Usage
• Punctuation
• Number Usage
• Capitalization
• Spelling, Word Division, and Vocabulary Improvement
• Composition and Expression
• Correspondence and Memoranda

Survey of Accounting

• Banking and General Financial Activities

Introduction/Orientation to the Legal Profession

• The Lawyer’s Assistant
• Legal Terminology

Basic Legal Ethics

• Ethics
• Introduction to the American Legal System
• The Court System
• Basic Law
• The Law Library and Law Office References
• Citations

Areas of Law

• Business Organizations
• Contracts
• Estate Planning
• Estates and Guardianships
• Real Estate
• Civil Litigation and Torts
• Criminal Law
• Bankruptcy
• Family Law

Preparation of Legal Documents

• Court Documents

Computer Concepts

• Introduction to Computers
• Word Processing
• Advanced Computer ApplicationsOffice Administration
• Managing Files
• Office Equipment and Supplies
• Mailing and Shipping Services
• Telephone Etiquette, Equipment, and Services
• Serving as a Notary
• Arranging Travel
• Human Relations

Appendix A

• NALS Code of Ethics