Law Office Management & Technology

LSLW 550 / LSPR 450

  • Professor: Jack Baldwin LeClair M.A., Ed.S., J.D.
  • Office Hours: by appointment and posted on office door.
  • Office Phone: 973.655.7953
  • Email: leclairj@mail.montclair.edu (put LSLW 550 / LSPR 450 in the subject line)
  • TEXT: R = Roper, Brent D., Practical Law Office Management 2d Edition, (St. Paul: West Publishing Company).

purpose of this course:

This course is a survey course. No prior computer knowledge is necessary or expected. The purpose of the course is as follows:

  1. To explore the importance of the internet and proprietary services in the acquisition of information.
  2. To acquaint students with the intellectual property concepts including copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and anti-trust issues.
  3. To acquaint the student with the use of a variety of computer tools available to assist the legal professionals in the performance of daily tasks in managing information.
  4. To understand how a web browsers and web authoring programs can help perform specific tasks useful in a law office.
  5. To teach a basic level of Internet literacy; an understanding of the terminology used by Interent users in the legal field.
  6. To introduce global intellectual market principle.

notes:

  1. Reading assignments must be prepared in advance of the class meeting date.
  2. Not all course material is covered in the Handouts. Examinations may include material covered by lecture, class discussion, handouts, demonstrations or lab sessions in addition to assigned readings.
  3. There will be no makeup examinations.
  4. Grades will be lowered if assignments are completed late.
  5. Class attendance is mandatory and class participation will be rewarded.
  6. Recommended reference books and supplemental reading materials will be assigned.
  7. Students are encouraged to work cooperatively.

topics & assigments:

All topics will be covered on a flexible schedule depending on the needs of the class, scheduling of computer facilities and other factors. Preliminary dates are provided.

 

Midterm Examination 40%
Final Examination 40%
Classroom Participation 10%
Special Project 10%

Click here for Handout Index Webpage

DATE ASSIGNMENT NOTES
PART I -Introduction to Law Office Management
09.13.05 Introduction to Law Office Management and Technology: Organizational Culture in the Legal Environment. HANDOUTS: Law Firm Culture; High Tech Practice; & Computer Notebooks in the Courtroom
09.20.05 The Legal Team, the Traditional Structure, and Law Office Management Policies and Prodedures. R: Chapter 1,
09.27.05 The Staff Manual Approach to Managment and Avoiding the Pitfalls of Employment Law. R: Chapter 3,
10.04.05 Human Resource Management, Performance Evaluations, and Current Personnel Issues. R: Chapter 8, HANDOUT: Internet Protocol & Rules
10.11.05 Marketing, Planning, and the Various Office Structures. R: Chapter 3 HANDOUTS: Pre-planning in the Law Firm
10.18.05 MIDTERM EXAMINATION [GRAD STUDENTS ONLY] Midterm Handout Study Guide
10.25.05 Communicating with Clients and Maintaining Control of the Case and Client Process. R: Chapter 4, HANDOUTS: Internet Protocol & Rules and Strategic Planning in the Law Office
PART II - General Planning in the Legal Environment
11.01.05 Managing the Financial Environment: Timekeeping and Billing R: Chapter 5, Law Office News Letters and Timebilling Principles
11.08.05 Law Office Accounting: Managing Trust Funds and Business Accounts, and standards of the RPC R: Chapter 6, Maintaining Electronic Records and New Jersey Accounting Procedures, Timebilling & Accounting Test., Law Office Accounting Test
11.15.05 Managing the Docket, Calendar, and In-house Deadlines R: Chapter 7, . HANDOUT
11.22.05 Law Office Information Systems and People R: Chapter 9, HANDOUTS: Internet Protocol & Rules; Law Firm Information Systems; Office Administrators in the Small Firm; and Partner Compensation Plans
11.29.05 Being Ethical R: Chapter 2, New Jersey Attorney Ethics) and Avoiding Malpractice. Protecting the Firm and Yourself. Assignment: Six Million Dollar Paralegal
12.06.05 Hardware Systems  
12.13.05 Software Applications -  File and Library Management R: Chapter 10 - Final Handout
12.20.05 File and Library Management  FINAL EXAMINATION Papers due on this Date Graduate Student Examination - Due 12.20.05