Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/662314
April, 2016 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com 11 JOB OPPORTUNITIES certification, considered to be an advanced certification for legal support professionals. The Certified Legal Secretary Specialist (CLSS) certification is conferred by Legal Secretaries International in areas such as intellectual property, criminal law, civil litigation, probate, and business law. Candidates typically need to have 5 years of legal experience and pass an examination to become certified. ADVANCEMENT Secretaries and administrative assistants generally advance to other administrative positions with more responsibilities, such as office supervisor, office manager, or executive secretary. With additional training, many legal secretaries become paralegals or legal assistants. IMPORTANT QUALITIES Integrity. Many secretaries and administrative assistants are trusted to handle sensitive information. For example, medical secretaries collect patient data that is required, by law, to be kept confidential in order to protect patient privacy. Interpersonal skills. Secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff. They should communicate effectively and be courteous when interacting with others to create a positive work environment and client experience. Organizational skills. Secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in proper order so an office can run efficiently. Writing skills. Secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers. Therefore, they must have good grammar, ensure accuracy, and maintain a professional tone. LEGAL SECRETARY PROGRAMS American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Programs in Southern California • California State University, Los Angeles • Cerritos Community College (Norwalk) • Coastline Community College (Fountain Valley) • College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita) • El Camino College (Torrance) • Fremont College (Cerritos) • Fullerton College (Fullerton) • Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles) • Mount San Antonio College (Walnut) • National University (Los Angeles and Sherman Oaks) • Pasadena City College (Pasadena) • Santa Ana College (Santa Ana) • University of California (Irvine) • University of California, Los Angeles • University of La Verne (La Verne) • West Los Angeles College (Culver City)