COUNCIL FOR LEGAL EDUCATION

EXAMINATION PAST PAPER QUESTIONS 2008-2017

LEGAL PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT

THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ARRANGED BY THE TOPIC TO ASSIST THE STUDENT GET A FEEL OF THE
TYPE OF QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ASKED AFTER EVERY TOPIC

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 A) HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

a) HUMAN RESOURCE FUNCTION AND ITS IMPORTANCE

1. Explain the meaning of the term management.

2. Define Human Resource Management
3. Managing a law firm entails effective utilization of certain resources.
Highlight and Discuss FOUR (4) main categories of such resources in an
organization
4. Discuss five (5) Human Resource functions to be undertaken by a law firm
manager for effective and efficient utilization of employees.
5. Like all businesses, Hatari, Msamaria and Mzalendo law firm is concerned
about profits for the directors. In business circles profits are sometimes
referred to as the "Bottom Line". Hatari, Msamaria and Mzalendo
Advocates is considering establishing a Human Resource Department but is
not fully convinced that the department is necessary. The firm has three
partners and 15 employees. Using the functions of Human Resource
Management convince the firm that the department will contribute
significantly to their "Bottom Line"
6. You are a management consultant who has been contracted to advise
Nzombe, Mbabaji & Co. Advocates. The Law firm has been in existence for
10 years within which time its workforce has increased from 5 to its
current employee strength of 63.The firm is considering setting up a
Human Resource Department but two of its partners are not fully
convinced that the department is necessary. You are required to give a
brief convincing presentation to the partners. The presentation should
explain how the HR Department will add value to the firm.

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 b) MANAGEMENT

8. Competency in management is essential in an enterprise. Assuming that

you are the Managing Partner in a successful law firm put your managerial
role with particular emphasis on the functions to be undertaken.

c) STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

9. Briefly discuss the role of Strategic Human Resource Management in an

organization.
10. You are the human resource manager of a modern law firm. During the last
two years, the firm's profits have been on a downward trend and this has
resulted in rumour through a grapevine that the organization is planning
to reduce its manpower. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has summoned
you to his office to discuss the general performance of the employees of
the organization, which seems to have slackened over the last few months
leading to decline in profits. The CEO started by saying that the first
department to be scrapped was the Human Resource Department because
according to him what the department does is clerical work, which could as
well be handled by another person. In addition, getting rid of the Human
Resource Department the CEO was of the view that employees were also
enjoying too many welfare benefits which he felt were reducing the profits of
the organization. In order to cut costs, the CEO directed that all employees'
welfare benefits be scaled down.
a) Demonstrate five (5) ways to the CEO how Human Resource Department ensures
superior performance of an organization.
b) Evaluate five (5) benefits of employee welfare services to an organization

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 11. Using examples of approaches used during recruitment and selection
distinguish between Human Resource Management and Strategic Human
Resource Management. You may tabulate your response to improve clarity.

c) HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING

12. A sound and comprehensive Human Resource Plan is essential for effective
management of human resources in an organization
a) What is a Human Resource Plan?
b) Explain any THREE benefits of Human Resource Planning.
c) Explain any THREE challenges to effective Human Resource Plan.

13. Define Human Resource Planning and discuss the importance of this
process in any organization.
14. Identify and discuss any four critical components of Human Resource
Planning in any business enterprise.
15. You have been recently hired to develop and install a new Human Resource
Plan system at XYZ which is a large legal firm located in Nairobi with
branches in major Kenyan towns. Over the past several years, XYZ has
experienced a significant expansion in size and operations and rapid influx
of new employees at all levels of the firm. As it is expected, the firm
recognized the need for talented, knowledgeable personnel. Much talent
has been hired from outside the firm over the several years but the
managing partners became convinced that the long going concern property
of the firm depends on being able to develop talent internally. Discuss the
process you will undertake to develop a Human Resource plan for XYZ firm.

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 d) HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES

16. While developing sound human resource policies, management should

ensure that the policy will service the immediate purpose and be
sustainable in the future. Imagine you are a human resource manager of a
modern law firm. Highlight six (6) characteristics of a sound human
resource policy.
17. Employee policies are key drivers of effective operations and efficiency in
Human Resources Management. Explain why this is the case and also
describe five specific critical areas which require policies, taking a case of a
Human Resource Management Department in a large progressive law firm.
18. Imagine you are one of the partners in a start-up firm. Being competent in
human resource management, you have been given the responsibility of
drafting a recruitment and selection policy to be used in ensuring effective
hiring, engagement and deployment of new staff. Explain five (5) key
considerations you would incorporate in the policy.
19. Trade credit is a service that allows customers to obtain goods and services
from a business. The customers pay for the goods and services at a
specified date in the future.
a) Discuss three merits and two demerits of having a trade credit policy in
your law firm.
b) Discuss five other policies that can be used to guide the behaviors and
decision making of employees in a law firm.

e) HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER

20. The functions of a human resource manager may be divided into two
namely:
a) Managerial functions; and
b) Operational functions

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 Using common examples distinguish between managerial functions and the
operational functions of the human resource manager.
21. In the context of the new constitution explain the main legal challenges
likely to face Human Resource Managers in the new constitutional set up.
22. To get the best out of employees, every manager in an organization should
be a competent Human Resource Manager. Assuming that you are the
Managing Director at A & B Associates Ltd. And you are seeking to engage a
Human Resource Manager, highlight the ideal characteristics, skills and
attitudes you would put forward in the person’s specification.
23. Modern law firms are experiencing a myriad of challenges, ranging from
more demanding but less loyal clients, more demanding but less committed
partners/associates, staggering advances in technology, disruptive law,
skyrocketing operating expenses among others. Supposing you are the
Managing Partner in a modern fairly successful law firm whose operations
are however being compromised by the above challenges among others.
24. With basic managerial functions in mind, suggest and discover 5 concrete
solutions towards coping with the five challenges mentioned above.

f) JOB DESIGN
25. Suggest five (5) job characteristics that can be integrated in a job design to
enhance employee motivation, satisfaction and performance.

g) JOB ANALYSIS
26. Define the term job analysis and explain its benefits.

h) RECRUITMENT/SELECTION
27. Define the terms recruitment and selection
28. Briefly explain the difference between recruitment and selection and
indicate the primary objective of each process in ensuring the success of
the staff procurement functions

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 29. Recruitment of employees in an organization can be done internally or
externally. Discuss two advantages and two disadvantages of each
approach.
30. Distinguish the major selection methods highlighting the most legally
defensible of them.
31. Recruitment and selection is appreciated as the first implementation stage
in the Human Resource Process. Discuss both the scientific and legal issues
from a managerial perspective.
32. Imagine you are one of the partners in a start-up law firm and competent
in human resource management. You have been tasked with the
responsibility of hiring five sales representatives to your law firm.Describe
three (3) appropriate recruitment methods you would use.
33. Discuss the main methods of selection available to the Human Resource
Management of a large organization. For each method highlight the
following:
i. The process involved
ii. Advantages of using the method compared to other methods
iii. The demerits of the method compared to other methods
iv. Explain the circumstances in which it may be preferable to use the method
compared to other methods
34. The Panel Interview is the most widespread, simplest, and objective
selection method in use today.
i. Describe this method of selection;
ii. Explain the strengths of this method;
iii. Discuss the challenges associated with this method.
iv. Discuss this statement using three other selection methods known to you for
comparison purposes.

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 35. Using examples of approaches used during recruitment and selection
distinguish between Human Resource Management and Strategic Human
Resource Management. You may tabulate your response to improve clarity.
36. List and explain the steps taken between receiving applications and
offering jobs to the successful applicants.
37. Imagine you are one of the partners in a start-up firm. Being competent in
human resource management, you have been given the responsibility of
drafting a recruitment and selection policy to be used in ensuring effective
hiring, engagement and deployment of new staff. Explain five (5) key
considerations you would incorporate in the policy.

i) INDUCTION & PLACEMENT

38. To perform competently at their jobs, new employees should be thoroughly
inducted. Highlight five (5) benefits of induction in a law firm
39. Briefly discuss the steps involved in conducting an induction programme in
a systematic way.
40. Discuss the advantages of having a formal induction programme?
41. Introducing the new employee who is designated as a probationer to job,
job-location, surroundings, organization doctrines and various employees is
the final step of employment process. Some organizations do not lay
emphasis on this vital function as they view that this function will be
automatically performed by the colleagues of the new employees.
42. Discuss four (4) objectives of an effective orientation/induction programme
in a progressive law firm.
43. Define the term placement?

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 j) STAFF INTEGRATION
44. Integration of employees is one of the essential functions of Human
Resource Management.
a) Discuss five strategies you may use to integrate your fifty employees as
the managing Partner of your law firm.
b) Highlight five (5) other operative functions you would undertake in
endeavoring to utilize people optimally.

k) STAFF MOTIVATION
45. The purpose of employee motivation is to create conditions in which
employees are willing to work with initiative, interest and enthusiasm with
a sense of responsibility in a most cohesive manner so that goals of an
organization can be achieved effectively.
46. The Managing Director of your company has indicated that due to financial
constraints, there will be no salary increase this year.
a) Suggest five (5) non-financial alternatives of motivating employees to the
Managing Director. (5 marks)
b) Suggest five (5) guidelines for motivating employees and managers in any
law firm.

l) PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL
47. Performance appraisal is a method of evaluating the behavior of
employees in the Work-place normally including both quantitative and
qualitative aspects of job performance. Discuss five (5) reasons to justify
why it is necessary for a progressive law firm to conduct a performance
appraisal exercise.
48. Ngora works as a Research and Development Manager in a law firm in
Nairobi. He joined the firm five years ago. The organization for which
Ngora works has a policy whereby vacant positions are filled from within
the organization. Management relies on the outcome of performance

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 appraisals to identify employees for promotion as well as identifying
issues of demotivation. The firm has been operating fairly well except that
in a recent external audit, the auditor identified Misappropriation of cash
in the cash office in the last two months. The cashier has not been doing
bank reconciliations for: the last six months and therefore the fraud went
undetected. A recent survey in the organization has also shown that 70%
of the employees are unhappy with the location and the ambience in the
firm. They have raised concern of insecurity in the area where the firm is
Located, with five employees citing incidences of being mugged in the
morning while coming to work. A few have also expressed concern about
the congestion in the office. The appraisal exercise has also been criticized
as not being objective and superiors have been accused of awarding
grades arbitrarily. Many of the employees have been awarded high grades
even when their performance does not deserve such high grades. Early in
the year, the position of Director of Research and Development fell vacant
and employees were encouraged to apply for the job Ngora felt capable of
performing the job, applied and was invited for an interview.
Consequently he was awarded promotion and took, up the position. It has
become apparent that Ngora is not very cooperative with staff from other
departments. In his own department) he over delegates to his
subordinates because he is incapable of handling tasks involved in the
higher job. There have been occasions when assistants have not completed
work to the satisfaction of management but when asked to explain, Ngora
retorts that employees know what is expected of them and they should
therefore take responsibility for their work as that is what they are paid
for.On the basis of the above facts
a) Explain the barriers to performance appraisals that the firm could be
experiencing.

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 b) Explain the benefits which would accrue to the firm for doing bank
reconciliation.
c) Identify the weakness of Ngora’s Management Style and suggest measures
that would be taken to address these weaknesses.

m) TRANSFERS & PROMOTION

49. "A transfer refers to a lateral movement of employees within the same
grade, from one job to another." Justify the need for this."An organization
should promote from within because these individuals already know the
organization”. Discuss the advantages of this statement.

n) TRAINING & TRAINING EVALUATION

50. Every enterprise must continually train and develop employees. With
regard to a law firm, explain why this is so, giving at least five (5) reasons.
51. Assume you are the Human Resource Manager of the law firm. Provide five
(5) justifications for higher financial allocation to t raining and
development. (5 marks)
52. Discuss five (5) reasons why it is imperative for an organization to
evaluate its training and development initiatives.
53. You are a senior partner in your firm with the responsibility of
coordinating staff training. Explain the steps you would take to implement
a training programme in your firm.
54. At the end of a training programme it is advisable to conduct a summative
evaluation of the exercise. Using 4 examples justify the importance of such
an evaluation.
55. Organization and individuals should develop and progress simultaneously
for their survival and attainment of mutual goals.
i. Explain any five (5) methods you may use to train employees in a law firm.(5
marks)

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 ii. Suggest five (5) levels which a manager may use to evaluate training that
has already been conducted.

o) DELEGATION
56. Mr. Kamau is one of the partners in Kamau &t Otieno Associates a law firm
based in Nairobi. Currently the firm has eight partners. Kamau is not only
a lawyer but is also a certified public accountant with many years'
experience. For this reason he works full time in the firm and is in charge
of finance and administration. The partners have summoned Kamau for
the second time in two weeks. The deadline for preparing the budget was
two weeks ago and to date Kamau has not produced the budget. This is
slowing down allocation of funds to various functions of the firm and
straining the cost leadership strategy of the firm. What is perplexing the
partners is that Mr. Kamau is hardworking, comes to work early and leaves
very late and works on most weekends. In an attempt to gather more
information one of the partners inquired from an accountant in the
Finance Department what the problem was. The accountant promptly
replied "Mr. Kamau does not believe in delegation"
i. Explain to Kamau the importance of delegation. (3 marks)
ii. Why do you think most managers fear delegation?

p) CAREER CHOICE & DEVELOPMENT

57. Discuss any 3 factors that influence ones choice of career.
58. List five career stages in an employee's work life and in each stage
indicate one significant aspect of the employee's work life that occurs
giving reasons for this occurrence.
59. Imagine you are one of the partners in a start-up firm, and competent in
human resource management. You have been charged with the
responsibility of drafting strategies for career development to be applied

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 in ensuring effective career development of the firm's employees. Suggest
five (5) ways of effective career development.

q) RENUMERATION
60. Differentiate between a salary, benefit and an incentive as forms of
rewards that an organization can give employees.
61. Explain FIVE factors that an organization can take in consideration in
determining pay between different jobs.

r) RETAINING TALENT
62. Retaining talent is a strategic objective of any business today
a) Explain FIVE factors that influence a company's potential to retain talented
employees.
b) Explain FIVE measures not related to remuneration that a company can take
to enhance its potential to retain talent.

s) SEPARATION AND DISMISSAL

63. There are two types of separations (a) voluntary and (b) involuntary.
a) Explain the differences between voluntary and involuntary separations.
b) For each type of separation outline three possible causes giving possible
management response to mitigate negative effects on the employees.
64. Explain the meaning of dismissal as a disciplinary method and discuss the
circumstances in which dismissal is justifiable in the context of the
Employment Act, 2007.
65. Highlight five (5) reasons that may constitute justifiable or lawful grounds
for summary dismissal from employment.

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 t) HUMAN RESOURCES INFORMATION SYSTEMS
66. There is increasing awareness and practice of information convergence in
organizations. For example many organizations are adopting the use of
integrated information systems to guide their operations. A Human
Resource Information System is in many organizations, part of their
integrated information system. Briefly outline the advantages and
disadvantages of using a Human Resource Information System.

B) OFFICE PRACTICE

i) THE OFFICE (DEFINITION,PURPOSE,LOCATION,DESIGN AND PLANNING)

67. Define the term "Office" as used in firms/industries, and explain the
factors considered when designing an ideal office layout.
68. No business firm or industry can exist effectively without an office. Discuss the
importance of an office (give five points).
69. An office is aptly defined or conceptualized as “the heart of an enterprise”;
explain the relevance of this statement in a law firm.
70. List and explain the purposes of an office in a well established office in the
context of a well-established law firm.
71. Your CEO has invited you to his office, where he has been discussing some
matters with the General Manager. Then, he asks you, "What is the purpose of
a large office for the organization?" (Give him TEN factors).
72. What factors would you consider when deciding on the location of an office?
73. Identify and explain ten important factors which you would consider in the
process of choosing a new office site.
74. Explain FIVE characteristics of a well laid out office.
75. Briefly discuss the various office layouts in the office environment.
76. You attended a training on "organizing for success" to help you start and
manage your law firm. The facilitator emphasized particularly on the following
paragraph:

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 "When planning to establish a law-firm, plans for the office partition, accessibility
and adequacy of space must be given due consideration. Often the lawyer continues
with the initial layout even when the business grows large enough resulting into a
cramped up office. Such a work station might curtail the growth of the law firm and
might not be a conducive working environment for the employees"

a) Discuss five symptoms that would indicate that you have outgrown your
business space.(5 marks)
b) Discuss five health and safety measures that are important to a law firm. (5
marks)
77. The company for which you are the Company Secretary is looking for a new
office block in Rwanda following a decision to expand operations throughout
East Africa.
a) Explain any FIVE important considerations in selecting an office location for a
law firm.
b) Explain how an open office layout influences positively or otherwise operational
efficiency in an organization.
78. Setting up an office should be a matter of meticulous design and strategy.
a) Explain any five key considerations which the partners of a start-up law firm
should look into as they plan about the location and eventual layout of their
future office.
b) The role of an office in an organization is aptly summed up in the following
statement “An office is to an organization what the heart is to the human
body.”
79. Give five points to justify this statement, with reference to a law firm.

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 ii) EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
80. "It is essential for a legal practitioner to have good if not excellent
communication skills" Discuss the seven Cs (7Cs) of effective communication.
81. Shadrack Otieno has recently been appointed as the Finance Manager at
Nyaga & Associates a law firm based in Mbita County in the country of Isidor.
The finance department is headed by a finance director and consists of finance
manager and eleven accountants. The eleven accountants have been working
for Nyaga & Associates for several years but because they did not have the
needed qualification, they were not considered for the vacant position of a
finance manager. Though a good accountant, Shadrack has challenges
interacting with his team of accountants and many complain that they have had
little social contact with him. For official communication he hardly relies oral
communication but instead sends memoranda and places instructions on the
notice board as his main method of conveying information to his team.These new
ways of conveying information have not been received well by the members
of the department and have resulted in numerous complaints channeled
to the Finance Director regarding Shadrack's inability to communicate
effectively. After discussion with Shadrack, the Finance Director has
ascertained two reasons for Shadrack's reliance on written communication:
a) Every time he attempts to use meetings as a means of communication, he
feels intimidated by the many employees with more experience in the
system of financial operations used by Nyaga & Associates and the meeting
ends up in chaos without accomplishing their stated objectives.
b) He uses written word to avoid confusion of his instructions since the employees
can refer back to the instructions any time.
As an experienced manager in a law firm, you have been consulted by Nyaga &
Associates Ltd to help Shadrack improve his communication skills to the
finance team.

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 i. Explain to Shadrack why he should use different styles of communication to
improve the working relations in his department.
ii. Discuss with Shadrack the guidelines he could use to conduct effective
meetings with members of his team. -

iii) MAIL
82. Name three categories of mails which may be found in a well established
office, and explain the procedure of processing each category.
83. Discuss the formal procedure of receiving in-coming mail in an office.
84. Write and explain briefly the formal procedure of preparing mail for dispatch
through the post office (give 10 points)
85. Define and explain the importance of the folio numbers.
86. Your busy firm has employed five clerks who will manage the mailing for the
firm. The five clerks need induction, which includes management of the
incoming mail and dealing with urgent incoming letters. Prepare briefing notes
for the clerks, noting to indicate the reasons for folio numbering of incoming
mail.

iv) MEMO’S AND BUSINESS LETTERS

87. Communication is an essential component in an enterprise, including a law
firm. Hence all instruments and methods of communication used must meet
the highest standards of quality. Discuss five qualities of a satisfactory good
business letter. You are serving pupilage with K&A Associates, a fairly large
and successful law firm. The firm has recently re-designed all its stationery
(writing paper, memo pads, invoices, company cards, envelopes, etc.) and
these are to be issued to all staff next week. The firm's manager Mr. Zarina
says to you:
"Send a memo to all staff. Let them know that we will be sending each
department a supply of new stationery later this week. If any department

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 doesn't get it by Friday afternoon, they should let me know. Please •

remind everyone that they have to use the new materials immediately,
even if they still have a lot of old stationery. I know this means we might
have to waste some of the old materials but we could always use them as
scrap paper. The new material is very well designed and am sure all our
customers will like it. You had better send the memo in my name."

On the basis of Zarina’s instructions above

a) Explain the use of Memo’s in an organization.

b) Write a Memo to all staff as instructed
c) Discuss 4 qualities of a satisfactory business letter.

v) PRESENTATIONS
88. Amina Mohamed has been requested by one of the Partners in Kamau &
Kinyanjui Associates to make an oral presentation on "the impact of good
governance on business performance" during the firm's general meeting.
Summarize the factors which Amina Mohammed should consider in each of the
following stages:
a) Preparation stage.
b) Delivery stage
c) Follow-up stage

vi) OFFICE AUTOMATION & EQUIPMENTS

89. List and explain five basic or routine functions of an office organization
regarding information.
90. Name and explain ten important pieces of equipment found in an effective
registry office.
91. You have been invited by your CEO to an Executive Managers' planning
meeting to discuss the purchase of necessary equipment for the firm's very

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 busy registry office. During the meeting the CEO has asked you to list and
explain the uses and advantages of a Franking Machine.
92. In addition to your regular duties, you have also been assigned the duties of
Office Manager, a job you have done for the last eight months. During that
period, the work has grown so much that outgoing mail management requires
a franking machine. When you requested for one to be purchased, your
Finance Manager asked you to justify the importance of a franking machine in
a busy office.
93. You recently attended a business management seminar during which a
renowned Japanese scholar made a presentation on automation in the office.
In his presentation the scholar defined office automation as "the varied
computer machinery and software used to digitally create, collect, store,
manipulate and relay office information needed to accomplish basic tasks and
goals."
After the training, your functional manager has asked you to write a report
about the seminar explaining the areas of automation in an office, highlighting
a section on recommendation for the organization. —
Write a report to the manager whose body contains notes on:
a) Tele-conferencing (2 marks)
b) E l e ct r on i c m a i l (2 marks)
c) Word processing (2 marks)

vii) REGISTRY,RECORD KEEPING,FILING AND FILING SYSTEMS

94. Discuss the importance of efficient and effective management of records for a
firm
95. Outline any FIVE filing classifications which may be used for the records of a
large law firm.
96. Imagine that you have been attached to a fairly large and successful law firm
for your pupilage. You have however been experiencing a real challenge as you

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 held with documentation and filing. There is no elaborate filing system to
speak of, the non-descript room they call the registry has nothing but a
disarray of tattered folders and files with no labels on the folders nor on the
cabinets, making it very stressful locating and retrieving documents. The
Managing Partner has requested you to compile a brief report, including
specific recommendations towards addressing and improving the situation.
97. Highlight five practical recommendations you would include in the report.
98. Anton has just started his internship in a law firm located in Bonyoto 'County.
On the first day at work, he is tasked with looking for a lost invoice so that a
supplier could be paid. His first observation is that there is no proper filing
system in the firm. The firm is a busy one but the registry is full of tattered
documents and papers all over the place. The files have no labels and this
makes it very difficult to retrieve any document. He suggests to the partner in
charge that he comes up with a filing system for the firm as a first step. The
partner however does not see the heed for this and suggests that he gets busy
with more important work.On the basis of the narrative above:
a) Explain the importance of maintaining good records for your law firm.
b) Explain 3 factors that may influence the choice of a filing system.
c) Explain 2 advantages of each of the filing system /classifications
i. Alphabetical
ii. Numerical
iii. Geographical
99. Using alphabetical classification system indexes the following items as they
would appear for filing and list them alphabetically in each case:

Case 1

Magdale J. Waluvengo

Augustin Muteti Mulembo

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 Case 2

The Law Society of Kenya

The Bible Society of Kenya

Case 3

ABC Enterprises

123 Enterprises

Case 4

Naikuni Olepolos

Kinamasy Mcgregory

Case 5

Mr. Dickson Kiwaru

Mrs. Dickson Kwara

viii) OFFICE MANAGER/ORGANIZATION/MANAGEMENT

100. It is critical that an advocate understands and appreciates the diversity
of Legal Practice Management. Briefly discuss the features of an organization
that aids legal administration.
101. Identify and explain FIVE administrative functions of an office manager
in any organization. (Give TWO points for each of the functions identified
above).
102. A key element in the design and implementation of an organization's
strategies is the formulation of an organizational chart.
a) Discuss the importance of having an organizational chart for your law firm. (3
marks)
b) Explain the meaning and merits of having a centralized authority system. (3
marks)

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 c) Explain the main functions of management.
103. Define the following terms as used in management:

i. Office

ii. Delegation

iii. Staff empowerment

iv. Staff motivation

v. Customer.

ix) RECEPTION OFFICE/RECEPTIONIST

104. The Reception function is arguably the most critical in an organization.
With this in mind;
a) Explain the impact of an effective reception function on a law firm.
b) Highlight the factors you would consider in creating an effective reception
system.
105. One of the hallmarks of a competitive enterprise is effective reception
of clients. With a law firm in mind, outline five (5) characteristics of an ideal
reception office.
106. Briefly discuss FIVE qualities of a competent receptionist.

x) OFFICE FORMS
107. One of the functions of an Office Manager is to design forms for use in
the same office or others. List and explain the purpose and advantages of use
of forms in an office, (give 5 points).

xi) INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

108. Highlight the measures to be taken to ensure effective and efficient
provision of office supplies.

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 109. You have been tasked with the responsibility for developing an
inventory management system of your law firm.
a) Explain the benefits of a sound inventory management system.
b) Explain the following terms as they will apply to your ideal inventory
management system
i. Re-order level
ii. Economic order quantity
iii. Minimum stock level
iv. Just-in-time delivery systems.

xii) PROCUREMENT
110. Modern organizations require managers who are well grounded in
theory and best practices in management as a discipline. With this in mind
briefly discuss the procurement process.
111. Procurement should not be down played as a clerical function of a
process to be implemented by individuals lacking the basic procurement
qualifications. Discuss at least five (5) smart buying principles that aid in the
procurement process.
112. For every organization, materials and supplies have to be strategically
procured, stored and utilized effectively. With reference to storage and usage,
discuss five procedures you would utilize to ensure effective and efficient
storage and usage of supplies in a law firm.

xiii) OFFICE ETIQUETTE & MANAGEMENT ETHICS

113. Office etiquette is an essential component in enabling a positive work

environment in an office. Advise new legal assistant inductees on five (5) basic
principles of etiquette, highlighting the common areas/situations to be given
attention.

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 114. Answer the following
a) Explain the meaning of the term management ethics.
b) Citing examples where appropriate, describe five indicators that may show
that a manager in a law firm is being unethical.
c) Describe three measures that management may take to address unethical
behavior in a law firm.

xiv) CUSTOMER AND CUSTOMER CARE

115. Define the following terms as used in office practice
i. Customer care
ii. Internal customer
116. Explain why the customer is important to any organization. (Give ten
points)

HEALTH SAFETY & HAZARDS

117. One of the social-legal responsibilities of an employer is to ensure a

healthy and safe work environment. Assuming that you are the office manager
in a medium sized law firm with about 50 employees. Discuss five typical
health and safety hazards and outline a strategy to mitigate against or avoid
them.

C) ACCOUNTING FOR LAWYERS

ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS, THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES

118. Highlight the following concepts and for each explain their implication
in the preparation of financial statements.
i. The going concern concept
ii. Business entity concept
iii. Materiality
iv. Realization

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 119. Expound on each of the following accounting concepts and principles:
i. Historical cost concept
ii. Going concern
iii. Matching
iv. Revenue recognition
v. Periodicity

BOOK KEEPING ISSUES

120. Explain FIVE uses of book-keeping to practicing lawyers.

121. Clearly explain why practicing lawyers need to keep proper books of
accounts
122. Describe any FIVE users of such accounts.
123. Clearly explain the usefulness of accounting to practicing advocates.
124. Citing relevant examples, distinguish between capital expenditure and
revenue expenditure.
125. Explain what is and the importance of qualitative characteristics in the
financial accounting reports.
126. Briefly describe the following books of original entry:
i. Sales day book
ii. Sales return day book
iii. Purchases day book
iv. Purchases return day book
v. Cashbook
vi. Petty cash book
vii. Journal
127. Explain the following concepts in connection with partnership accounts
i. Partnership salaries
ii. Current accounts
iii. Loans and advances

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iv. Profit and loss sharing ratio
v. Appropriation accounts
128. The bank reconciliation process is a critical part of the accounting
function and internal controls. Briefly describe the steps involved in the bank
reconciliation process.
129. Explain clearly at least FIVE causes of differences between the cash
balance in the cashbook and balances as per the bank statement. Give relevant
examples.
130. The profit in the income statement rarely agrees with the cash and cash
equivalent balance. Explain the main reasons for such disparity.
131. What are the benefits of an Advocate formulating a cash flow
statement?
132. Explain why a credit balance on a bank statement represents an asset to
the entity concerned.

TRUST ACCOUNTS

133. You are the administrator of the Estate of Michael Unoka (Deceased).
Prior to confirmation of the grant, one of the beneficiaries of the estate
approaches you with a request to loan him a sum of Kshs.200, 000/- from the
estate to enable him set up a business.
a) How would you deal with the request and why?
b) Show how you would treat the issue in the Memorandum, Schedule of Assets
and Cash Account.
c) Would your response to the request be different if Michael had died testate?
134. As the personal representative of the Estate of John Kamau, which
estate has one tenant for life and two remaindermen, explain how you would
apportion the funds described below:
a) A sum of Kshs.50, 000/- received by John from one of his tenants on the eve of
John’s demise.

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 b) A sum of Kshs.500, 000/- being proceeds of a life insurance policy paid out
upon John's death.
c) A sum of Kshs.100, 000/- being rent arrears paid by one of John's tenants a
day after John's death.
d) A sum of Kshs.200,000 being proceeds of coffee sales from John's farm in
respect of deliveries made both prior to and after John's death.
e) A sum of Kshs.150,000/- received 3 months after John's death being rental
income in respect of a lease period after John's death.

You are an executor of a will in which the testator has made the following bequests:

a) To my dear wife, all the income accruing from my rental property at Karen
being Ksh. 50,000/= per month to be paid to her during her lifetime.
b) To my faithful servant and driver John Msafiri, a monthly sum of Ksh.10, 000/=
for as long as he shall live.

Draw up the Cash Account, Income Account and Special Income Account showing
your treatment of the above clauses.

135. As an administrator of the estate of David (deceased) you have reached

the stage of distribution. The estate now comprises the following:
a) House on LR. No 209/ 12345 Nairobi valued at Ksh.5 million;
b) Freehold land in Nanyuki valued at Ksh.10 million,
c) Farm machinery & equipment valued at Ksh.2 million;
d) Equity shares in various companies valued at Ksh.500,000/=;
e) Personal effects of the deceased worth Ksh.500,000/=;
f) Cash in bank Ksh 500,000/=;
g) Two motor vehicles valued at Ksh.800,000/= each.

In the course of administering the estate you had exercised your powers under
section 34 of the Trustee Act in favour of Peter , one of the beneficiaries, to the tune

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of Ksh.400,000/=. The estate owes Ksh.50, 000/= in legal fees and there is an
outstanding mortgage debt of Ksh.1 million,

Taking into account the intestacy provisions of the Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160,
Laws of Kenya), draw up the distribution account. Peter has three siblings and David
was a widower at the time of his death. No property is to be taken in specie.

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