Certified Legal Secretary
The legal profession has a range of career opportunities available with over 300,000 positions today and is projected to grow to 325,000 by 2026. Suppose you're ready to enter the legal profession and develop a great career that will be in demand long into the future. In that case, this Certified Legal Secretary course can help by providing foundational knowledge over a broad range of legal topics to help prepare you for the NALS Accredited Legal Professional exam.
The Certified Legal Secretary course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the legal profession regardless of the type of law that interests you. Lawyers rely on these legal professionals to coordinate the daily functions of their law practice by maintaining schedules, managing clients, filing documents, drafting paperwork, and more. You will learn basic legal terminology, office procedures and management advice, accounting, and QuickBooks. Throughout the course, you will discover what it is like to work in this fast-paced, exciting, and in-demand field.
What you will learn
- Learn useful and practical office and administrative skills.
- Gain legal research and writing skills.
- Gain exposure to a broad range of law topics and fields.
How you will benefit
- Gain the foundational knowledge required to enter the legal profession.
- Prepare for the NALS Accredited Legal Professional exam.
Prerequisites
While there are no prerequisites to complete this course, it is designed to prepare you to pass the ALP exam. To sit for the exam, students need to meet the exam eligibility requirements independent of this course. To sit for the ALP exam, you must have completed one of the following:
- Completion of an accredited business/legal course
- Completion of a NALS Legal Training Course
- One year of general office experience
Requirements
- Hardware Requirements: This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
- Software Requirements:
– PC: Windows 7 or later.
– Mac: macOS 10.6 or later. - Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible. Microsoft Office or equivalent (not included in enrollment). Adobe Acrobat Reader. Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
- Other: Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
- Instructional Material Requirements: The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7–10 business days after enrollment:
- Accounting for Managers
- Bookkeeping Made Simple
*Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does this course prepare me for a certification?
Yes. You will be prepared for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) Exam offered by NALS, The Association for Legal Professionals. In order to sit for the exam, participants must meet the exam eligibility requirements independently of our online program.
To sit for the ALP exam, you must have completed one of the following:
- Completion of an accredited business/legal course
- Completion of a NALS Legal Training Course
- One year of general office experience
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When can I start the course?
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24–48 business hours.
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How long does it take to complete this course?
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive twelve (12) months to complete the course.
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What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
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What kind of support will I receive?
Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.
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What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a UNF Certificate of Completion.
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Am I guaranteed a job?
This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential participants should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
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Can I get financial assistance?
This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.
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How can I get more information about this course?
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, you can contact our office at unfpll@unf.edu or call us at 904-620-4200.