Application
This unit applies to individuals who apply a broad knowledge of administration tasks in the provision of support to legal professionals.
This unit applies to individuals who apply a broad knowledge of administration tasks in the provision of support to legal professionals.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements and Performance Criteria | |||
Element | Performance Criteria | ||
1 | Receive and process a request for information | 1.1 | Document request using appropriate recording system |
1.2 | Confirm client identity and/or other party's right to receive information | ||
1.3 | Clarify client needs and establish relevant criteria in consultation with designated person to ensure client needs are met | ||
1.4 | Research and identify appropriate response methods and format | ||
1.5 | Forward request for information to others where appropriate | ||
2 | Identify information source/s | 2.1 | Identify and research relevant sources and locations of information |
2.2 | Obtain access to identified sources | ||
2.3 | Resolve problems with accessing information promptly and efficiently | ||
3 | Organise self or other person to extract information | 3.1 | Locate and extract information relevant to the particular request |
3.2 | Discuss and implement resolutions to problems in accessing information with designated person where appropriate | ||
3.3 | Copy extracted information in accordance with firm's security and confidentiality procedures | ||
3.4 | Maintain integrity of contents/information | ||
4 | Ensure information meets request | 4.1 | Analyse, evaluate and edit extracted information to fit client needs |
4.2 | Combine different types of information, where appropriate, to provide a response to a request | ||
5 | Compose report/correspondence | 5.1 | Develop report/correspondence plan and synopsis |
5.2 | Write report/correspondence using clear and concise language | ||
5.3 | Check spelling, punctuation, grammar and amend where necessary | ||
6 | Organise self or other person to format report/ correspondence | 6.1 | Format report/correspondence according to enterprise requirements |
6.2 | Check report/correspondence for accuracy and to ensure that intended meaning is readily understood by recipient and that it conforms with firm's policies and procedures | ||
7 | Finalise report/ correspondence | 7.1 | Arrange review and sign off of report/ correspondence with designated person within designated time lines |
7.2 | Apply firm's information recording procedures | ||
7.3 | Forward report/correspondence to client |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
communication skills to follow and interpret oral instructions, and to provide clear and specific instructions about information required literacy skills to follow complex legal procedures; to consider aspects of context, purpose and audience when generating and formatting texts; to edit and proofread documents to ensure clarity of meaning, accuracy and conformity to enterprise requirements numeracy skills to collate and present data, graphs and annotated references organisational skills to select and apply the procedures and strategies needed to perform a range of tasks within designated time lines problem-solving skills to use processes flexibly and interchangeably research skills to locate specific information technology skills to use a range of software applications. |
Required knowledge |
application of firm's policies and procedures required in the full range of tasks covered legal terminology in relation to area of law and relevant legal process relevant state/territory/commonwealth legislation, rules, regulations and/or codes in relation to client and firm e.g. copyright and intellectual property, Freedom of Information, Privacy Act accepted codes of practice relevant to the workplace including those relating to: privacy and confidentiality use of company property duty of care ethical behaviour non-discriminatory practice conflict of interest compliance with reasonable direction. |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: locating and providing appropriate information, which meets client needs, in required format adhering to relevant codes of practice, in particular those relating to privacy and confidentiality providing materials which meet firm's policies and procedures knowledge of relevant legislation, rules, regulations, codes of practice and research resources. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: access to an actual workplace or simulated environment access to appropriate legislation and regulations relevant to common legal matters access to workplace manuals and reference materials such as company policy, procedural manuals and checklists access to list of relevant sources of documentation and sample forms access to background information on courts, their jurisdiction and behavioural requirements access to appropriate technology such as computers with relevant software access to appropriate texts and to people with expert knowledge such as legal practitioners access to appropriate legislation and regulations relevant to common legal matters, such as that which is accessible via: http://www.law.gov.au http://www.ag.gov.au http://www.austlii.edu.au/ http://www.australia.gov.au/states-territories http://www.act.gov.au http://www.nsw.gov.au http://www.nt.gov.au http://www.qld.gov.au http://www.sa.gov.au http://www.tas.gov.au http://www.vic.gov.au http://www.wa.gov.au. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: analysis of responses to case studies and scenarios demonstration of techniques direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate review of report/correspondence compiled in response to client request and the formatting of the report/correspondence evaluation of how firm's information recording procedures have been applied oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of accepted codes of practice relevant to the workplace. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: BSBLEG412A Interpret and apply legislation BSBRES403A Research legal processes other legal services administration units or general business units. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Request for information may come from: | barrister external clients internal staff other parties staff from another office |
Appropriate recording system may be: | electronic paper-based |
Designated person may include: | external client external official lawyer legal practice manager partner supervisor teacher/trainer |
Appropriate response methods may include: | letters reports sending copies of original information sending original information |
Appropriate format may include: | completion of proforma photocopies preparation of original documents |
Relevant sources of information may include: | agreements articles: academic journal newspaper online briefs client file closed matter file financial information: specific to firm specific to another firm state/territory commonwealth international internal correspondence letters market research information media: audio television video memorandums of law non-legal reports opinion letters original research other bodies other libraries pleadings precedents previous case histories/Common Law relevant legislation specialist texts statistics transcripts from supervisor's notes |
Firm's security and confidentiality procedures may relate to non-disclosable information and may include: | addresses court dates fees firm's other clients health status legal history personal history |
Integrity of contents may include: | completeness neatness order of pages |
Different types of information may include: | certificates correspondence entitlements legislation reports |
Enterprise requirements for document formatting may include: | appropriate use of letterhead correct line spacing correct margins correct use of reference dual column system list of enclosures paragraph numbering placing of headings presence/absence of a back sheet presence/absence of a cover sheet specific sign off clauses table of contents usage of keycaps and font features use of document footers |
Firm's policies and procedures may include: | customer service protocol document recording procedures information sources protocol for accommodating specific client needs e.g. case manager, social worker, parole officer, translator, interpreter recording information report/correspondence format security/confidentiality/privacy procedures verifying and authorising information |
Firm's information recording procedures may include: | attaching file name and matter number ensuring client file is updated maintaining time records storing and securing copy |
Sectors
empty
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Competency Field
Knowledge Management - Research
Knowledge Management - Research
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
This unit contains employability skills.