Description:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to evaluate and use legal software to perform customary law office procedures including computer litigation support, drafting and editing of specific legal documents, document and file management, time-keeping and billing, docket control, and forms generation. 3 hrs. lecture/wk. LAW 223 and CIS 223 are the same course.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Explain tasks typically performed in law firms using computers.
2. Define computer terminology.
3. Identify hardware components.
4. Differentiate operating system software.
5. Evaluate and compare application software utilized in law
6. Define and use docket control software
7. Design operating budgets.
8. Prepare damage calculations using spreadsheets.
9. Evaluate and design spreadsheets in other practice areas.
10. Compare manual litigation support systems to automated systems.
11. Design and use automated litigation support system to organize and maintain discovery documents.
12. Use automated litigation support systems to search and retrieve discovery documents.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Computer Hardware and Software
   A. Explain what read-only and random access memory are.
   B. Identify the three size classifications of computers.
   C. Explain what an auxiliary storage device is.
   D. Explain what an optical character recognition scanner does.
   E. Differentiate between various network configurations.
   F. List two ethical concerns related to computer hardware.
   G. Explain the functions of operating system software.
   H. Explain what project manager software does.
   I. Explain systems approach.

II. Word Processing Software in the Law Office
   A. Demonstrate how to edit a document.
   B. Utilize the mail merge function to produce multiple documents.
   C. Utilize the tables feature of a word processor.
   D. Discuss word processing related ethical problems.
   E. Explain how word processor software can be used by legal
assistants.

III. Database Software in the Law Office
   A. Define fields.
   B. Design and create a database.
   C. Sort and query databases.
   D. Explain how databases can be used by legal assistants.

IV. Spreadsheet Software in the Law Office
   A. Explain what a spreadsheet is.
   B. Describe how rows and columns make up the structure of a
spreadsheet.
   C. Explain what text, values, and formulas are.
   D. Prepare graphs.
   E. Copy formulas and format cells in spreadsheets.
   F. Design and create various spreadsheets, including budgets and
damage
calculations.

IV. Automated Litigation Support Systems
   A. Describe and explain litigation support software and features.
   B. Identify the three major types of litigation support systems.
   C. Review and compare applications.
   D. Compare manual litigation support systems to automated systems.
   E. Design and use automated litigation support system to organize and
maintain discovery documents.
   F. Describe the litigation support process.
   G. Differentiate between in-house litigation support vs. a service
bureau.
   H. Use automated litigation support systems to search and retrieve
discovery documents, including: single word, wild card, boolean, and
proximity searches.

V. Legal Timekeeping and Billing Software
   A  Identify why accurate billing is important to law firms.
   B. Describe the different types of legal fee agreements.
   C. Enter timeslips into timekeeping and billing software. 
   D. Generate timekeeping and billing records.
   E. Prepare reports.
   F. Print reports.
   G. Describe the factors to determine whether a fee is reasonable.

VI. Docket Control, Case Management and Calendaring Systems
   A. Define docket control systems.
   B. Explain case management.
   C. List docket cycles.
   D. Enter and view docket slips into software.
   E. Print various calendars and calendar formats.
   F. Compare and review various docket control, case management and
calendaring software.
   G. Discuss why docket control is important to legal organizations from
an ethics perspective.

VII. Specialized Legal Software
   A. Identify sources of legal technology available.
   B. Review and compare specialized legal software.
   C. Discuss and evaluate voice recognition software.
   D. Visit a legal office.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Three Tests       67% of grade   
Five Projects     33% of grade   
                 100%   

   Grade Criteria:
   90-100% = A   
   80-89% = B 
   70-79% = C
   60-69% = D
   Below 60% = F

Caveats:

1. Students are advised that some projects may require completion in an open computer lab outside regularly scheduled class time.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.