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BSALPL401A Provide Support in Property Law matters © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 12 1 BSB42215 Certificate IV in Legal Services Assessment Guide BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents (covering MS Word versions 2010 & 2013) ASSESSMENT GUIDE │ BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 06/16 2 Assessment Requirements On completion of this unit of competency BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents you will have the skills and knowledge required to produce complex legal documents that meet organisational and legislative requirements using advanced features of relevant software packages. It applies to individuals who use a broad knowledge base and well-developed skills to provide administrative support in a legal environment. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication. A unit of competency is an outline of the skills and knowledge expected of an individual undertaking particular tasks in a workplace situation. For example BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents is a unit of competency. This unit is 1 of 12 that individuals must successfully complete in order to obtain the BSB42215 Certificate IV in Legal Services qualification. Within each unit of competency there are elements and performance criteria. Elements describe the essential outcomes of a particular workplace task, whereas the performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. To determine if a student is competent in a unit of competency, students must provide evidence (in the form of assessments) which are assessed against the performance criteria. Elements and Performance Criteria ELEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 1. Establish document design and structure 1.1 Identify requirements of task in line with instructions 1.2 Select software appropriate to task 1.3 Determine document design and structure 1.4 Design and structure document to meet legislative requirements 1.5 Review and update existing precedent documents 2. Develop precedents for document design 2.1 Develop and use precedents to ensure consistency of design and layout 2.2 Evaluate and amend templates to ensure document requirements can be met 2.3 Recommend improvements to design and/or structure of existing documents and facilitate a review process of suggested improvements 3. Prepare to produce documents 3.1 Prepare documents using appropriate and available precedent documents according to organisation’s policies and procedures 3.2 Enter and edit relevant data ASSESSMENT GUIDE │ BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 06/16 3 ELEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 3.3 Use a range of advanced software functions to ensure accurate completion of task 3.4 Check documents for spelling, grammar, numeric data and layout 3.5 Proofread documents for accuracy of content and consistency of layout and style 3.6 Make modifications to meet required specifications 3.7 Manage any difficulties to produce completed documents within agreed timelines 4. Prepare to print documents 4.1 Print documents as required 4.2 Arrange review of documents with designated person 4.3 Undertake final printing of documents 5. Save file and exit system 5.1 Save and store document in appropriate folder 5.2 Close file and exit application programs 5.3 Make back-up copies of file according to specified procedures 5.4 File and store data according to organisation’s policies and procedures Performance Evidence Through the evidence provided, an individual must demonstrate the ability to: • demonstrate that confidentiality and security of information are maintained • design and produce accurate documents that conform to specific standards within agreed timelines • use advanced functions of at least one software package, or integrate functions of at least two software packages, in document production. Knowledge Evidence To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must: • explain the organisation’s policies and procedures in relation to precedent design • outline relevant legislation, rules, regulations, and codes of practice • explain the process for developing and testing templates. ASSESSMENT GUIDE │ BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 06/16 4 Assessment Conditions Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the legal services administration field of work and include access to: • office equipment and resources • relevant industry software packages • organisational policies and procedures • relevant legislation and regulations • appropriate sources of information. ASSESSMENT GUIDE │ BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 06/16 5 Assessment procedure To obtain a satisfactory result in all assessments your evidence must be prepared and presented to the expectations of a Certificate IV level student and adhere to the following instructions: • You are required to present the assessments in this Assessment Guide in the Alvarez & Paul Lawyers format. You should refer to the Alvarez & Paul Lawyers Style Guide in Assessment Resources. Footers All Assessment Parts, unless you are instructed otherwise, must contain a footer that includes the name of the assessment (as per the instructions in each Assessment Part) and your name. For example: Part 8 - Formatting Student Name All footers should be formatted in Arial, font size 10, with the name of the assessment Part aligned left and your name aligned right. When applicable this should appear in the line beneath the Alvarez & Paul Lawyers footer. • each assessment you submit for marking must be presented in a tidy and logical order • the evidence (answers) you provide must specifically address all parts of an assessment • your evidence must demonstrate that you have sufficient understanding of the unit of competency • your evidence must be presented in your own words forming complete sentences • you must proof your assessments for grammar, punctuation and spelling before submitting them • you must format essays with an introduction, body of essay, conclusion and references (bibliography) • you must format reports with a cover page, table of contents, executive summary, introduction, body of report, conclusion, recommendations, appendices and references (bibliography) • any independent research you undertake in order to answer a question must be recorded in a list. Place this list at the end of an assessment answer. Your sources may include Workbooks, books, websites or information you obtained from qualified legal practitioners or others • when applicable all documents and forms that you are required to prepare, you should: • use the appropriate file number • use the names of parties • insert the name and address of the firm where required • insert the name of the lawyer handling the matter where required and • insert information that we have provided that pertains to the matter. • ensure that you keep a copy of all the assessments you submit for marking ASSESSMENT GUIDE │ BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 06/16 6 Completing assessments Please take note of the following: • Each assessment that you submit for marking must be presented in a tidy and logical order • Your assessments must be typed/word processed documents • Ensure that your name, your student number and page numbers are clearly marked on each page of any assessment that you submit for marking • Ensure that you keep a copy of all the assessments you submit for marking When you are ready to submit your assessments, you can do this 3 ways: 1. Submit your assessments via the Learning Management System. Whilst logged into the LMS and the relevant module, the assessment activities are displayed to the right where you can upload your assessment/s. 2. Email your completed assessments to
[email protected]. You must ensure an Assessment Submission Form has been completed and accompanies your assessment parts. You can scan all documents together as one file or attach them as separate documents making sure they are appropriately named, Assessment 1, Part 1, etc. 3. Print and collate a hard coy of all assessment parts attached to a completed Assessment Submission Form and mail the assessment set to: Melissa Mahoney Legal College PO Box 3160 Hendra Qld 4011 Results of assessments Processing of assessments can take up to 2 weeks. Please do not delay your study whilst you are waiting for your results! If you receive a Not Yet Competent result, your Assessor will provide you with instructions on what you need to do next in order to re-submit the assessment and receive a Competent result. It’s important to understand that you may not necessarily have to repeat the entire assessment if you are found Not Yet Competent. It may be that a specific section of your assessment will need to be re-submitted in order for you to demonstrate your competency. You can resubmit Not Yet Competent assessments up to three times. mailto:
[email protected] ASSESSMENT GUIDE │ BSBLEG418 Produce complex legal documents © Melissa Mahoney Legal College │ Ver 06/16 7 Case study You are a senior secretary working for a Partner at a mid tier law firm in Brisbane, Alvarez & Paul Lawyers. Your firm employees approximately 65 people spread amongst the Brisbane and Gold Coast Office. This second office on the Gold Coast is known as Alvarez & Associates. The firm has: 2 Managing Partners (Vincent Alvarez and the newly appointed Jake Paul); 4 Partners; 3 Senior Associates; 14 Lawyers; 4 Articled Clerks; and approximately 35-40 legal support staff in the areas of human resources, office management, training, precedents, secretarial/paralegal support