Final Flashcards
What is a Law Firm?
Entity carrying on the practice of law
Types of Law Firms?
- *Sole Practitioner
* *Informal Association /Group Practice
Purpose of Mail Room
Receive and sort mail
Photocopy Documents
Send/Receive Faxes
How is mail handled properly
Before opening stamp every envelope or fax with date stamp
Organize by priority and lawyer
Do not open letters affixed with “PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL”
Two types of filing:
Centralized: Files for entire office stored in one place
Decentralized: Each Lawyer stores his files in his office
Tasks of Legal Secretary/Admin
Draft Documents
Legal Research
Interviewing clients and witnesses
Searching and collecting client information
Attributes of a successful legal admin:
Proficient in technology Knowledge of correct English use for proofing letters Know and understand legal terminology Clarify uncertainties Know how to ALPHANUMERICALLY file Make correct number of copies of documents Know PRECEDENTS Opening and closing sheets
First Time vs. Originating Documents
FIRST TIME: First document typed to use as precedents.
ORIGINATING DOCUMENT: The N.C.C. (Notice of Civil Claim) or application filed to start an action
Client File Number made up of:
- A number that refers to the client file.
2. A number that refers to the file matter (murder/sexual assault/etc.)
Other Names For A Lawyer:
Barrister: Goes to court
Solicitor: Contract Lawyer
Crown Council: Lawyer representing the Queen/People
Notary: Hears swearing of Affidavits & authenticates documents
Commissioner: Person who affirms the swearing of an affidavit
Case Law: Two places that case law can be found
- Online
2. Library
Memorandum to file:
Notes that a Lawyer takes based on recordings of a client and places it on the clients file for us to put in the file
Diary:
Lawyers court dates and appointments are kept in his desk diary. Legal admins keep their own and must cross reference at least q’week.
Dockets:
Daily time sheet calculating time spent on a file
Retainer Agreement
Written agreement between firm and client stipulating work to be done, the cost of service, and the amount of retainer fee given to the firm.
Written agreement between firm and client stipulating work to be done, the cost of service, and the amount of retainer fee given to the firm.
Retainer Agreement
Purpose of Retainer Agreement:
To determine if a client is serious about hiring the Law firm.
To determine if a client is serious about hiring the Law firm.
Purpose of Retainer Agreement:
Trust Accounts
Accounts to hold clients money, such as retainer fees. Not for a Lawyers personal use.
Accounts to hold clients money, such as retainer fees. Not for a Lawyers personal use
Trust Accounts
General Account
Accounts holding the firms money
Accounts holding the firms money
General Accounts
Justified
Tab set to Right/Centre/Left Margin
Tab set to Right/Centre/Left Margin
Justified
No indentation of paragraphs
Full Block
Full Block
No indentation of paragraphs
Commercial Documents OR Legal Instruments
Documents used by Lawyers for purposes other than court proceedings.
Documents used by Lawyers for purposes other than court proceedings
Commercial Documents OR Legal Instruments
Jurat:
Ending of an Affidavit that contains “SWORN BEFORE ME”
Ending of an Affidavit that contains “SWORN BEFORE ME”
Jurat
Testimonium Clause
Clause following the last paragraph in the body of a doc. Begins with “Witness Whereof”
Clause following the last paragraph in the body of a doc. Begins with “Witness Whereof”
Testimonium Clause
Statutory Declaration
Document containing evidence and is declared rather than sworn
Document containing evidence and is declared rather than sworn
Statutory Declaration
Executing
Signing of a document
Signing of a document
Executing
Limitation Date
The last date in which action can be taken
The last date in which action can be taken
Limitation Date
Affidavit of Service
An affidavit that swears that the party to a action was properly served.
An affidavit that swears that the party to a action was properly served.
Affidavit of Service
