NCJ Number
56324
Date Published
1978
Length
176 pages
Annotation
TO ASCERTAIN WHAT SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND SKILLS LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS NEED TO ACQUIRE AT THE 4-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY LEVEL, QUESTIONNAIRES FROM 147 LAW FIRMS WITH MORE THAN 15 EMPLOYEES WERE ANALYZED.
Abstract
A 2-PART QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO A TOTAL OF 229 LAW FIRMS WITH MORE THAN 15 EMPLOYEES EACH WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS. THE STATES COVERED ARE ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND TEXAS. IT WAS FOUND THAT 76 PERCENT OF THE 147 FIRMS WHICH RETURNED USABLE QUESTIONNAIRES EMPLOYED LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS OTHER THAN SECRETARIES. THESE ASSISTANTS RECEIVED TRAINING FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES: 44 PERCENT FROM PRIVATE PARALEGAL SCHOOLS, 43 PERCENT ON-THE-JOB AS SECRETARIES, 41 PERCENT FROM 4-YEAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES, 18 PERCENT FROM JUNIOR OR COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND 14 PERCENT FROM SUCH DIVERSE SOURCES AS A LAW STUDENT SERVING AS A CLERK AND FROM ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AS A PARALEGAL ASSISTANT. (MULTIPLE ANSWERS WERE GIVEN SO THESE RESPONSES EXCEED 100 PERCENT). THESE ASSISTANTS WERE ASKED TO DO A VARIETY OF CHORES INCLUDING MAINTENANCE OF THE OFFICE 'TICKLER' SYSTEM, THE FILES, AND THE LAW LIBRARY. THEY ASSISTED IN RESEARCH AND CASE PREPARATION, CONTACTED CLIENTS, COLLECTED LEGAL DATA AND EVIDENCE, INDEXED DOCUMENTS, AND PREPARED DIGESTS. TABLES PRESENT DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTIONS. A TOTAL OF 30 COURSES WERE SUGGESTED FOR JOB PREPARATION, BUT THE 10 MOST RECOMMENDED WERE LEGAL RESEARCH, ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION, LEGAL WRITING, LEGAL PROCEDURES, TAX LAW, ACCOUNTING, BASIC LAW, LEGAL BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND PROBATE AND REAL ESTATE LAW. TABLES ANALYZE STUDY DATA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, THE FINAL QUESTIONNAIRE, AND A LIST OF PARTICIPATING FIRMS ARE APPENDED. (GLR)