Ch 1: Lawyer's Assistant Flashcards
ALS (Accredited Legal Secretary
The basic certification for legal professionals from NALS.
American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE)
A national organization of paralegal educators and institutions offering paralegal education programs.
American Bar Association (ABA)
The largest professional legal organization in the United States.
Certificate
A recognition of the completion of a program of study that requires less than that needed for a degree.
Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)
A designation by the Nation Association of Legal Assistants for those who take a pass NALA’s two-day comprehensive examination.
International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA)
A North American association for legal assistant managers.
Legal assistant
A person qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible; the equivalent term is Paralegal.
PLS ( Professional Legal Secretary)
The advanced certification for legal professionals from NALS.
Paralegal
A person qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible; the equivalent term is legal assistant.
PP (Professional Paralegal)
Certification from NALS for those performing paralegal duties.
A private, as opposed to public, institution, generally for profit, offering training and education.
Proprietary school
How many canons are there?
10 Canons
Rules that define standards of professionalism required for Legal Assistants
Canons
What is the purpose of NALS?
To encourage and promote personal and professional growth through education and the promotion of professional standards and ethics
Legal Assistants must abide by the…
Professional responsibilities of the American Bar Association (ABA) as well as the NALS Code of Ethics
What does NALS stand for?
National Association of Legal Secretaries
ALS Certification
Basic certification for the legal professional; A four hour exam that covers: Written Communication, Office Procedures and Legal Knowledge, and Ethics, Human Relations, and Judgment
PLS Certification
Advanced certification for the legal professional; A full-day exam that covers: Written Communication, Legal Knowledge and Skills, Ethics and Judgment Skills, and Substantive Law
PP Certification
Professional Paralegal certification that identifies Paralegals or Legal Assistants as exceptional in all areas of law
Pro Bono
When the lawyer donates time and service to benefit the public (AKA Free work, Community Service, or Charity
T/F: Lawyer’s assistants should address the lawyer or clients by their first name
False
T/F: Lawyer’s assistance should neither criticize or condone criticism of the lawyer or the firm
True
T/F: Lawyer’s assistance should never give legal advice
True
T/F: Lawyer’s assistants shouldn’t request additional assignments after completing his or her work
False
Lawyers Assistants who work in small firms
Have multiple duties and responsibilities, but don’t usually get specialized expericence; May have to take the role of the receptionist, file clerk, mail clerk, word processor, etc.
Lawyers Assistants who work in large firms
Focus almost exclusively on specific job responsibilities
Bookkeeper
Handles billing and requests checks (AKA the Accountant)
Clerk of the Court
Make sure the courts run smoothly, and that the documents created in law firms are submitted on the correct forms (Secretary for the judge in the courtroom)
