Administrative Assistant--Legal (590)


Department of Office Information Technology
Raymond Walters College
University of Cincinnati


About the Program
To meet rapidly changing needs of contemporary offices, the Administrative Office Assistant programs offer you three areas of study: Administrative Office Assistant-Executive; Administrative Office Assistant-Legal; and Administrative Office Assistant-Medical.

Continuing changes in the office environment, most of which are the result of computer technology, have increased the demand for adaptable and versatile office assistants. To keep pace with these changing needs, the Administrative Office Assistant programs offered at RWC include word processing and microcomputer application courses. The executive, legal, and medical options provide students with the background and terminology necessary to work in those diverse environments.

Career Opportunities
Highly qualified office assistants are in great demand, and this situation is expected to continue. Office assistants are employed in organizations of every description. A large percentage are employed by organizations which provide services: educational institutions, hospitals and other health facilities, law firms, membership organizations, and companies that provide business services. They are also employed by businesses engaged in manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, transporation, and communications. Banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and real estate firms are also important employers.

Admission Requirements
You may enroll in Raymond Walters College if you graduated from an accredited high school or preparatory school, or have a GED certificate (minimum composite score of 45). The college's enrolling admission policy allows you to start any quarter: autumn, winter, spring, or summer.

High school students who are considering RWC should take either the SAT or ACT college entrance examination foruse in guidance and counseling. All students entering a degree program must also take the ASSET Placement Test. This test is given on the RWC campus.

Prerequisites for Program
  • Keyboarding or demonstrated equivalent skills (keyboarding speed of 35 wpm) on the RWC Keyboarding Placement Test.
  • ACT or SAT examination
  • ASSET Placement Test
Freshman Year
  • Freshman English I, II, III
  • Business English
  • Document Formatting
  • Document Production
  • Word Processing I,II
  • Microcomputer Office Applications
  • Microcomputer Office Spreadsheets
  • Windows95
  • Legal Terms & Procedures
  • Legal Documents & Concepts
  • Business Math
  • Business Law I
  • Legal Transcription
Summer
  • Seminar I for Internship Program
Sophomore Year
  • Social Sciences
  • Behavior Science
  • Word Processing III
  • Microcomputer Office Databases
  • Business Communications
  • Legal Resources
  • Office Simulation
  • Management of Office Systems
  • Electives or Seminar II,III,IV
  • Electives
Internship program
An internship program, designed to provide an opportunity for on-the-job training, is available as an elective for full-time second-year students. It is highly recommended that full-time students enroll in this program after meeting criteria: 45 credit hours completed in the program; 2.0 grade point average; professional attitude; good attendance in college; recommendations from professors; and approval from the intership coordinator.

 Intern students have worked for the following law firms:
  • Dinsmore and Shohl
  • Taft, Stettinius and Hollister
  • Cohen, Todd, Kite and Stanford
  • Dressing Law Firm
  • Matthew J. Smith Co.
  • Ebner & Riker Law Firm
National Association of Legal Secretaries
Legal secretaries, like their attorney-employer, must continue their education to stay abreast of current legislation, development of new equipment, advances in office procedures and techniques, and changes in court procedures. The National Association of Legal Secretaries is a tri-level organization (local chapter, state organizations, and national association) and all levels of the organization offer a variety of continuing education seminars, courses, and programs for both the beginning and experienced legal secretary. A student membership rate is available for only $19/year.

Accredited Legal Secretaries Exam
Students in this program are eligible before graduation to sit for the Accredited Legal Secretaries exam, sponsored by the National Association of Legal Secretaries. The exam is usually administered in April by a professor in the Office Administration Department. Click the NALS graphic to learn more about this professional organization.

Professional Secretaries International
Professional Secretaries International, the Association for Office Professionals represents members from many backgrounds and in many fields. Secretaries, executive/administrative assistants, information specialists, and office managers are just a few of the types of professionals that make up our this association.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available from PSI. See your Office Information Technology advisor for details.



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Last Revised: January 12, 1999