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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Legal Services: Office Essential Skills
Course: PAD102

First Term: 2016 Fall
 Lecture   2.0 Credit(s)   2.0 Period(s)   2.0 Load  
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load


Description: Overview of essential workplace skills for legal services. Includes fundamental knowledge of office etiquette, systems, and procedures. Also covers oral and written presentations, office confidentiality, and conflict management.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Compare and contrast skills and strategies for efficient office overflow. (I)
2. Explain the importance of taking accurate and complete notes. (II)
3. Take accurate short messages and meeting minutes. (II, III)
4. Write appropriate and effective business communications. (III)
5. Describe the importance of confidentiality regarding all office communication in a legal services setting. (III)
6. Use the office telephone system to transfer calls, set up conference calls, and screen incoming calls. (III)
7. Demonstrate professional and assertive legal office communications. (III)
8. Determine the most appropriate delivery method for various types of mail. (III)
9. Plan and develop effective oral and written presentations for the legal services office. (IV, V)
10. Describe effective interpersonal office communication techniques. (VI)
11. Use appropriate office terminology in verbal communication. (VI)
12. Describe the components of conflict. (VII)
13. Explain strategies for demonstrating active listening skills in the office. (VII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Office Workflow
   A. Skills
      1. Workload Management
      2. Scheduling
      3. Establishing Deadlines
      4. Assertiveness
   B. Strategies
      1. Dealing with Demands
      2. Interruptions
      3. Workload Management
      4. Time Management
      5. Stress Management
II. Note Taking
   A. Techniques
      1. Rapid Writing
      2. Simplified Writing
      3. Abbreviations
      4. Shortcuts
   B. Minutes
      1. Major Points
      2. Practice
III. Office Communications
   A. Types
      1. Email
      2. Telephone
      3. Mail
      4. Written
   B. Equipment
      1. Types
      2. Usage
   C. Procedures
      1. Calls
      2. Messages
   D. Behaviors
      1. Professional
      2. Assertive
   E. Confidentiality
   F. Ethics
IV. Oral Presentations
   A. Types
   B. Procedures
      1. Audience
      2. Planning
      3. Content Selection
      4. Organization
      5. Presentation Medium
   C. Delivery
V. Written Presentations
   A. Types
   B. Parts
   C. Procedures
      1. Audience Identification
      2. Planning
      3. Content Selection
      4. Organization
VI. Communication
   A. Goals
   B. Importance
   C. Model
   D. Interpersonal Skills
      1. Relationships
      2. Conflict
      3. Respect
      4. Nonverbal
   E. Verbal
      1. Terminology
      2. Language
      3. Tone
VII. Conflict
   A. Definition
   B. Components
      1. Expressed Struggle
      2. Interdependence
      3. Incompatible Goals
      4. Scarce Resource
      5. Interference
   C. Active Listening
      1. Verbal
      2. Non-Verbal
   D. Management
   E. Collaboration

 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 28, 2016

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.