Legal Assistant Program

Business Advisory Meeting

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Marie Callender’s Restaurant, Temecula

Minutes

Presentations

Career Advisory Committees

Richard Collins, Dean of Instruction, Career Education

Advisory Committees are a very important component in planning and implementing a successful legal assistant training program that stays current in meeting the needs of the law office environment.

Update on Legal Advisory Program

Carolyn Hays, Department Chair for Business and Legal Studies

We offer and teach four classes in the certificate program each semester. Classes are taught in Temecula and on Menifee campus. Average class size is 22-30 students. All classes are taught by practicing attorneys; we do not have a full-time instructor in the program.

What other colleges are doing

Vicki Swan, Consultant for Legal Asst. Program

Of the 108 community colleges, four offer paralegal programsthat offer authorized ABA training. Community colleges in Southern California that have ABA authorized programs include PasadenaCityCollege,CoastlineCommunity College, Santa AnaCommunity Collegeand CuyamacaCommunity College. Majorities of programs are offered through four-year colleges and require students to earn a bachelor’s degree. Training programs should emphasize substantive law, legal procedures, writing and research, communication, and computer skills.

Other Recommendations

Vicki Swan, Consultant for Legal Asst. Program

  • Take progressive steps toward meeting ABA standards. A full-time instructor will be neededto coordinate and monitor the program.
  • Worker’s Compensation, unemployment compensation and related labor issues are specialized areas of training that would be beneficial to the program.
  • Law office internships are beneficial; however, few firms have the ability or inclination to implement and monitor such activity. Attorney Richard Swan suggested that an internship program might be more successful if targeted toward public sector office environments.

Developing Web Presence

Vicki Swan, Consultant for Legal Asst. Program

Ms. Swan will be developing a web site for the legal assistant program at MSJC. She will emphasize visibility and accessibility for students. She will include outside resources for students such as links to the virtual Law Library. She asked for suggestions on other resources that would be useful information for students.

ABA Certification programs, and recommendations for MSJC

Attorney Robert Trujillo, Instructor for MSJC in Legal Assistant Program

Mr. Trujillo distributed copies and discussed the document, Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs, and discussed the stringent requirements the college must meet to become an authorized provider of training. He recommended the college move forward with plans to become an authorized provider of ABA training. He emphasized that current training will have to be expanded, and that more rigor will be needed in the level of accomplishment required of students in the program. Mr. Trujillo also recommended the three-unit course in Foundations of the Law now offered at MSJC be expanded to six units.

Group Discussion and Recommendations

ABA Approval for providing ABA certified training

Recognizingthat an ABA certification program is a long-term goal for the college, and considering the stringent requirements that must be met, afull-time instructor in the Legal Assistant Program will be needed. Population growth expected in the Temecula/Menifee/Lake Elsinore area should lead to a significant increase in the demand for legal assistant services in the workplace. The college will monitor population growth, and the demand for legal assistants as preliminary steps in the planning an ABA certification program. In the interim, courses will be added to the legal advisory program designed to broaden and strengthen the training available to students preparing for legal careers.

Proposed New courses to be developed for the program

  • Legal Writing, 3 units, will include basic grammar, spelling, punctuation, and specialized writing styles as used in the legal profession. This course will be preliminary to Research and Writing, LEG106. The first two courses students will take as an introduction to the program will the Legal Writing, and Foundations of the Legal System, LEG100. Students may be allowed to test out of Legal Writing if they have successfully completed ENG 098, or equivalent. Ms. Vicki Swan will collaborate with AttorneyCarey Pickford in developing this course.
  • Employment Law, Labor Relations, Worker’s Compensation, and Related Issues, 3 units. Attorney Keri Discenza will serve as an advisor to Ms. Swan in the development of this new course.
  • Workplace Skills, 1-2 units, to include topics such as what to expect in a law office environment and appropriate office behavior. Specific topics will include interview techniques, developing a document-sample portfolio, proper attire, how to work successfully with superiors and co-workers, the importance of following instructions, and adhering to ethical standards.
  • Computer skills for the legal office, 1-2 units, to include word processing skills, especially for the preparation of specialized legal documents. The use of WordPerfect software is used in legal offices. It was recommended that a question about software use be included in the survey document that will be prepared by the college.

Survey Questionnaire

A survey questionnaire will be developed and sent to businesses within the college service area. A draft survey will be mailed to members of the legal advisory counsel for review and recommendations(see attachment). The completed questionnaire will be mailed to legal offices in the Temecula, Murrieta, LakeElsinore, and surrounding areas within the college service area. Data received in response to the questionnairewill be used to assist with planning, developing, and improving the legal assistant program at MSJC.

Attendees

Mr. Carey Pickford

Ms. Carolyn Hays

Mr. Ed Parish

Mr. Keri Discenza

Ms. Kym Adams

Ms. Nancy Johnson

Mr. Richard Swan

Mr. Rick Collins

Mr. Robert Trujillo

Ms. Trudy Polsky

Mrs. Vicki Swan

Ms. Victoria McDonald

Legal AssistantsSurvey Questionnaire

First Draft

  • Do you employ legal assistants? If so, how many?
  • Do you prefer the legal assistants you hire to be certified by the American Bar Association?
  • Do you require the legal assistants you hire to be certified by the American Bar Association?
  • Essential skills you would expect of a legal assistant you might hire. Please rank the skills below in order of importance(1= required, 2=important but not an essential requirement, or 3= desirable but not required).
  • Complete legal forms with minimal direction
  • Complete research projects as directed
  • Use correct English, grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • Compose and properly format letters and reports
  • Greet clients, answer telephones courteously
  • Adhere to a professional dress code
  • Maintain strict ethical conduct
  • Skills most often lacking in legal assistants you employ
  • What specific computer software programs do you use in your office with which you would expect the legal assistant to be proficient?
  • Would you be interested in providing an internship opportunity in your office for a student in the legal assistant program at MSJC?
  • Do you have a specialty in your legal practice? In what area?
  • Additional Comments

Please return in envelope provided to:Carolyn Hays

Mt. San Jacinto College

28237 La Piedra Rd.

Menifee, CA 92584