I. What is the difference between paralegals and legal assistants?

A legal assistant, or litigation assistant, usually performs administrative duties as well as legal
tasks while a paralegal focuses more on legal duties and research to assist lawyers. Both positions
require an understanding of legal terminology and procedures.

II.

LEGAL OFFICE ASSISTANT 1. Handles the day to day administrative tasks that are necessary in a law
office.

ACTIVELY LISTEN 2.

AND TAKE NOTES 3. Speaking of paying attention to your customers, it’s essential that you’re actively
listening to them throughout the conversation.

RESEARCH SKILLS 4. Proficiency in conducting legal research using online databases, library resources,
and other tools is necessary for gathering relevant information to support attorneys in their work.

CLIENT COMMUNICATION 5.Legal office assistants may communicate with clients, both in person and
over the phone, to schedule appointments, relay messages, and provide general information about the
firm's services.

ANSWER PROMPTLY 6. Answer the phone within the first few rings to demonstrate attentiveness.

PROTECTING CLIENTS’ RIGHTS 7. Lawyers play a critical role in protecting their clients’ legal rights. They
must be familiar with the laws that govern their clients’ rights and must work to ensure that their client’s
rights are not violated. This may involve advocating for changes to laws and regulations that unfairly
impact their clients.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT 8. Legal office assistants often perform various administrative tasks such as
answering phones, managing emails, scheduling appointments, and maintaining office files and records.

MULTITASKING 9. In a small office, receptionists often have to juggle multiple responsibilities, including
answering phones, managing appointments, handling administrative tasks, and even assisting with basic
IT support or accounting duties.

FILING AND ORGANIZATION 10.Legal office assistants are typically responsible for organizing and
maintaining physical and electronic files, ensuring that documents are filed accurately and are easily
accessible when needed.

GREET PROFESSIONALLY 11. Provide a professional and friendly greeting, stating the name of the
organization or your name.

ADVISING CLIENTS 12. Lawyers are responsible for providing legal advice to their clients. This involves
reviewing their clients’ cases, explaining the relevant laws, and offering guidance on what actions they
should take to protect their legal rights.

ETHICAL CONDUCT 13. A strict code of ethics and professional conduct must be adhered to by lawyers.
They must always act in the best interests of their clients and never engage in unethical or illegal
activities. Professional conduct rules can lead to disciplinary action, including disbarment, for lawyers
who violate them.
Basic Skills and Specialized knowledge required
to function effectively as Legal Office Assistant

1. Organizational Skills 6. Human Resource Manager

2. Writing Skills 7. Associate Attorney

3. Technical Skills 8. Information Technology Manager

4. Detail Oriented 9. Senior Associate Attorney

5. Interpersonal Skills 10. Litigation Attorney

6. Understanding Legal Terminology and Personal Qualities to Develop as Legal Office

Documentation Assistant

7. Multi-Tasking 1. Legal Knowledge

8. Adaptability 2. Organizational Skills

9. Critical Thinking 3. Communication and interpersonal Skills

Telephone Techniques and Etiquette on the 4. Problem-Solving Skills

Phone
5. Team Work
1. Answer Quickly
6. Professionalism
2. Introduce Yourself
7. Attention to Detail
3. Set out the Purpose of the Call Early on
5 Small things you can do to make your visitors
4. Speak Clearly feel comfortable

5. Master Brand Tone of Voice 1. Make Preparations for Visitors.

6. Give Your Full Attention 2. Smile and Greet Visitors Warmly.

7. Ask Before Putting Someone on Hold or 3. Anticipate Common Needs.

Transferrin
4. Make visitors feel safe.
8. Stay Positive
5. Make Your Lobby Open and Inviting
9. Remain Polite

12. Don’t Be Afraid to Switch Medium

Work Performed in a Law Office

1. Records Clerk

2. Legal Secretary

3. Paralegal

4. Accountant

5. Staff Attorney

MEDICAL ETHICS AND TERMINOLOGIES

THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT CODE OF ETHICS

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) has established the Medical Assisting Code of
Ethics.

Medical ethics guide your decision-making and your interactions and conduct with patients. It is an
integral part of medical professionalism, which is always expected. Violations of medical ethics can
threaten your job, your medical license or even constitute a crime.

Ethics provide us with a moral compass to use in situations that may not be straightforward.

Patient autonomy refers to the patient’s right to make decisions for themselves according to their
system of morals and beliefs.

Incompetence – Patients are legally deemed unable to make rational decisions for themselves. Often
due to permanent conditions such as dementia. Assigned a surrogate by the court.

·Incapacity – Patient is clinically determined to be unable to make a rational decision for themselves. It
may be due to transient conditions such as lack of consciousness, delirium, psychosis, etc.

·Threat to Self or Others – Usually in psychiatric settings.

Beneficence is a value in which the provider takes actions or recommends courses in the patient’s best
interest.

Nonmaleficence is closely related to beneficence. It is abstaining from any action that may bring harm to
the patient. “Do no harm.”

Veracity is honesty. The most essential part of truth-telling is revealing all pertinent details of a patient’s
medical condition(s) to them, as well as the risk(s) and benefit(s) of a procedure and their prognosis (if
known). It also includes informing a patient of any mistakes that have been made in their care.

Distributive justice is the proper allocation of resources in a fair and just manner.

Triage is a typical example of distributive justice.

Proportionality is a principle that ensures a medical treatment or plan is commensurate with the illness
and the treatment goals.