Law - Legal Skills for Legal Secretaries

Programme overview

The course has been designed to give students a greater understanding of the key legal specialisations they are likely to encounter in legal firms. The focus of the certificate is to enhance the practical skills and knowledge of legal secretaries and others who wish to gain greater experience of the skills required to work in a legal office. The certificate will provide value for legal secretaries, but also for their employers.



Lecturers will emphasise the practical aspects of working in a legal office, highlight the key documents that legal secretaries deal with on a day-to-day basis and set out the steps involved in various common types of litigation cases and other legal transactions. The course will also look at some of the main issues which legal secretaries will encounter while working in a legal office, such as data protection issues, cyber risks and anti-money laundering. Finally, the Certificate will help students to develop their knowledge of the business of law and how to run a legal office.

Module 1: Introduction to the Irish legal system

Introduction to the Irish Legal System

Sources of Law

Irish Courts and the Court Structure

The role of solicitors and barristers

The role of the Law Society of Ireland



Module 2: Litigation

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)

Personal Injury Litigation – taking a case to court

Personal Injury Litigation – preparing for court

Preparing a brief

Dealing with Court Offices

Criminal Litigation and Practice



Module 3: Conveyancing

Introduction to conveyancing

Steps in a conveyancing transaction

Schedule of documents, title deeds

Landlord and Tenant law



Module 4: Wills and probate

Making a Will

The Probate application



Module 5: Company law

Introduction to Company structures

Documents for Company formations/charges

Mergers & Acquisitions



Module 6: Other areas of law

Employment Law

Family Law

Alternative Dispute resolution



Module 7: Legal skills

Data Protection at work

Cyber awareness – common pitfalls and tips

Anti-Money Laundering

Communication in a Legal Environment



Module 8: Running a legal office

The Business of Law and Legal Office Management Part 1 – letters of engagement, time recording, billing, accounting for law firms

The Business of Law and Legal Office Management Part 2 – social media and marketing, the role of the office manager



Workshops

Workshops are a key feature of this course. These are designed to be interactive and involve working in groups on selected case-study problems and analysis, with an emphasis on the application of the law to common scenarios encountered in practice.



Workshop Title Date Time

1 Part 1 - Litigation

Part 2 – Preparing a case for court Saturday 7 December 2024 10am - 12pm

2 Part 1 – Conveyancing

Part 2 - Probate Saturday 25 January 2025 10am - 12pm

3 Part 1 – Legal Skills

Part 2 – The Business of Law and Running a Legal Office Saturday 8 February 2025 10am - 12pm

Who should attend?

The course is ideally suited to legal secretaries seeking to expand their legal skills and obtain a legal qualification. It is also suitable for:

- Office managers,

- Personal assistants,

- Office administrators, and

- Secretaries working in non-legal offices who wish to gain the practical skills and knowledge required to work in a legal office.

Application information

The closing date for applications is 22nd October 2024. To apply, please follow the instructions below.



How to apply:

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. Your application must be approved before you can formally register on the course. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :



A completed application form (see below):

Your Curriculum Vitae

A short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

The total course fee is €850. No fees are required prior to approval.

Delivery Method:

Introductory lecture onsite and webcast online on a Tuesday evening; thereafter online lectures on Tuesdays with occasional lecture releases. Workshops onsite on Saturdays. Lectures available to view on demand.



CPD Hours:

The number of hours of CPD that you may claim in relation to this course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. For further information and the booklet, see CPD scheme.

Start Date: Tuesday 5th November 2024 at 6:00 PM.