LAW 5 Law Office Technology, Computer Use, and Legal Document Production

Units: 3
Prerequisites: LAW 2 Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Assisting, and Law Office Administration with a grade of “C” or better.
Corequisites: LAW 2.
This course is the study of how paralegal/legal assistants use computer systems, software applications, the Internet, and other law office technology to find legal resources, conduct legal investigation, and produce legal documents. Emphasis will be on database, spreadsheet, word processing and other applications as they are used to support paralegal functions. Topics will include discussions of technological developments in the legal industry, such as an introduction to current fee-based legal resources; word processing, spreadsheets, and databases for the law office; timekeeping and billing; case management/calendaring/docket control; litigation support; computer-assisted legal research; electronic court filing and service of process; courtroom presentation graphics; use of online California Judicial Council forms; and/or other specialized legal software and online resources to provide hands-on experience with essential litigation and practice management software applications in the areas of document creation, database management, litigation support and Internet research. (CSU)