About the Program
The Legal Office Administration (LOA) program is a two-tiered, structured career pathway for students who are interested in entering into the challenging and highly specialized field of legal office support. Employers in the law field are looking for support personnel who have knowledge in the area of legal office procedures, processes, and research, as well as general knowledge of office administration. The LOA program is designed to meet the demands of employers and the needs of an increasingly global and technologically advancing legal industry.
As a career, the highly specialized legal field offers employment in areas such as criminal, family, probate, civil, real estate, environmental, corporate, public interest, and intellectual property law. The legal office professional's job duties may include preparing legal forms such as complaints, motions, subpoenas, affidavits, and briefs; processing legal documents; assisting with legal research; filing court papers; preparing legal communications; utilizing various office technologies; auditing financial records; scheduling meetings and calendaring court dates; handling confidential information; and taking notes on proceedings. Students graduating from the LOA program gain proficiency in beginning and advanced legal office procedures, legal research, the legal environment of business, business communication, professional development, records management, and the technology tools used to support businesses to achieve goals, such as Microsoft Office applications, collaboration tools, and adobe acrobat. Throughout the program, students are exposed to a wide variety of hands-on practical applications with an emphasis on organizational, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Career related fields for the LOA include Legal Administrative Assistant, Legal Assistant, Legal Staff Assistant, and Legal Office Assistant.
Students interested in earning an AS degree in LOA will have successfully completed the LOA Certificate and the LOA Certificate of Achievement along with general education requirements and any electives required. Taken full-time, this program can be completed in two years.
Program Requirements
For current program requirements -> 2023-2024Program Code: 01314.01AS
Type: Career
General Education: Butte Local
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
Identify and explain the difference among the six areas law.
Demonstrate workflow processes of a legal environment.
Analyze and assess legal clients' needs to determine appropriate solutions.
Apply computer skills to legal office activities.
Utilize proper legal writing skills in all client and colleague communication.
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
17.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 17.00
This course introduces students to identifying essential external and internal communication skills, managing conflict, developing a positive attitude, and creating the professional image for the workplace.
Unit(s): 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 17.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
In this course, students use the features of an electronic calculator to solve business math problems including retail calculations, payroll, and installment buying. Students will develop Ten-Key speed and accuracy using the touch method.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course introduces students to the increasingly complex field of records management. The class emphasizes the importance of effective records management for all types of documents from their creation or receipt, through their processing, distribution, organization, storage, and retrieval, to their ultimate disposition. Students will investigate the management functions necessary to operate a records management program effectively.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: BCIS 84, ability to key 25 wpm, Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
42.50 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 68.00
This course is an examination of information and communication technologies used in today's businesses and the impact these technologies are having on today's workplaces. The course will include examination and application of a wide range of information and communication technology tools used to support and enhance business functions and processes. Focus will be placed on solving a variety of business problems, improving organizational productivity, and achieving the goals of business.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level IV
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course applies the principles of creating ethical and effective business communication to letters, memos, emails, and written and oral reports. The course emphasizes planning, organizing, composing, and revising business documents utilizing appropriate software to prepare and deliver written documents and professional-level oral reports.
Unit(s): 1.00
Recommended Prep: BCIS 28
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
12.75 hours Lecture
/ 12.75 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 25.50
This course introduces students to Adobe Acrobat software. The course includes an overview of all Adobe Acrobat products and their functionality. It offers instruction and application of Portable Document Format (PDF) creation from multiple sources, modifying existing PDF documents, and creating forms. Students will need access to Adobe Acrobat to successfully complete this course.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course covers fundamental legal principles pertaining to business transactions and affecting managerial decisions. It introduces the law as an instrument of social and political control in society. Topics include sources of law and ethics, contracts, torts, agency, judicial and administrative processes, employment law, forms of business organizations, and domestic and international governmental regulations. (C-ID BUS 120).
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III and Keyboarding Skill of 35 wpm
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course introduces legal terminology, preparation of legal documents and correspondence, and court scheduling. Emphasis is placed on developing legal vocabulary, enhancing legal communication skills, building strong problem-solving techniques, and utilizing technical abilities in a legal office setting.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: BCIS 59 or Knowledge of legal terminology and legal forms
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course prepares the student for employment as an administrative assistant in a law office. Students are given specialized training to assist lawyers in litigation involving family, civil, personal injury, property damage, probate, and corporate law.
Unit(s): 2.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level III; English Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 34.00
This course is an introduction to legal research. Students will become familiar with and learn how to use materials commonly found in law libraries via a web-based legal resource.
Unit(s): 1.50
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
10.50 hours Lecture
/ 40.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course is designed for the student who has had little or no previous training in the operation of a keyboard. Students learn to type by touch, to use appropriate keyboarding techniques, and to develop speed and accuracy.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course covers a recent version of Microsoft Word for Windows for students who have an understanding of computers and desire comprehensive knowledge of word processing. Course content includes creating and formatting documents; creating and modifying headers and footers; inserting objects such as clipart and images; creating and modifying tables; merging documents to create letters, envelopes and labels; creating charts; proofing documents; and automating formatting.
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Contacts
Sandy Sloan, Chair
(530) 895-2385
Department Office: BE 116
(530) 895-2371
Counseling and Advising:
(530) 895-2378
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