1. Which of the following best describes your law office?
Sole practitioner Law firm: 2-9 attorneys Law firm: 10-19 attorneys Law firm: 20-49 attorneys Law firm: 50 or more attorneys Company in-house law department Prosecuting attorney Public defender Nonprofit or public interest firm Other public or government agency None of the above
2. Which of the following best describes your law practice?
Bankruptcy Business, corporate, or commercial Estate planning and probate Employment Environmental Family law General practice Health care Immigration and naturalization Intellectual property Litigation - civil Litigation - criminal Real estate Securities Social Security Tax Technology or technology transfer Workers' compensation
3. Does your firm typically employ one or more legal assistants?
Yes [Go to question 4] No [Go to question 65]
4. How many legal assistants are currently employed by your firm?
1-3 4-7 8-10 11-20 21-30 More than 30 None
5. What are the minimum qualifications for an entry-level legal assistant at your firm?
High school diploma High school diploma plus ____ years' experience High school diploma plus paralegal certificate High school diploma plus paralegal certificate plus ____ years' experience Two-year college degree, any major Two-year college degree, any major, plus ____ years' experience Two-year college degree, any major, plus paralegal certificate Two-year college degree, any major, plus paralegal certificate, plus ____ years' experience Two-year college degree, paralegal or legal assisting major Two-year college degree, paralegal or legal assisting major, plus ____ years' experience Four-year college degree, any major Four-year college degree, any major, plus ____ years' experience Four-year college degree, any major, plus paralegal certificate Four-year college degree, any major, plus paralegal certificate, plus ____ years' experience Four-year college degree, paralegal or legal assisting major Four-year college degree, paralegal or legal assisting major, plus ____ years' experience Other (please describe)
6. If your firm requires formal legal assistant education as an entry-level qualification, must that education come from an ABA-approved education program?
Yes No Not applicable
7. What is the starting salary range for an entry-level legal assistant at your firm?
Under $20,000 per year $20,000-$24,999 per year $25,000-$29,999 per year $30,000-$34,999 per year $35,000-$39,999 per year $40,000-$44,999 per year $45,000 or more per year
8. Which of the following benefits does your firm offer to legal assistants the firm employs?
401k plan Child-care facilities or reimbursement Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Profit-sharing plan Retirement plan Tuition payment or reimbursement Vision care insurance Other (please describe) No benefits offered
9. Which of the following scheduling alternatives does your firm offer to legal assistants the firm employs?
Full-time employment Part-time employment Flexible scheduling Job-splitting or job sharing Telecommuting Other (please describe)
10. Word processing
Extremely Important Somewhat Important Neutral Not Very Important Not At All Important
11. Computerized Spreadsheets
12. Computerized Databases
13. Basic Manual Legal Research
14. Intermediate Manual Legal Research
15. Advanced Manual Legal Research
16. Basic Computer-Assisted Legal Research
17. Intermediate Computer-Assisted Legal Research
18. Advanced Computer-Assisted Legal Research
19. Basic Legal Writing
20. Intermediate Legal Writing
21. Advanced Legal Writing
22. Client Interaction
23. Communication
24. Mathematics
25. Organization
26. Problem Solving
27. Knowledge of Substantive Law
28. Knowledge of Court Procedures
29. Knowledge of Rules of Evidence
30. Drafting Legal Documents
31. Drafting Pleadings
32. Drafting and Answering Discovery
33. Interviewing and Investigations
34. Personnel Supervision and Management
35. Law Office Management
36. Please describe any skills or competencies that you find legal assistants generally lacking and that you feel would make them more useful or valuable to your firm:
37. Has your firm employed Eastern Michigan University graduates as legal assistants?
Yes [Go to question 38] No [Go to question 65] Unsure [Go to question 65]
38. Are or were those legal assistants graduates of EMU's Legal Assistant Studies Program?
Yes [Go to question 39] No [Go to question 65] Unsure [Go to question 65]
Please rate the proficiency of EMU Legal Assistant Studies Program graduates employed by your firm as to each of the following skills and competencies:
39. Word processing
Excellent Good Average Fair Poor No basis for rating
40. Computerized Spreadsheets
41. Computerized Databases
42. Basic Manual Legal Research
43. Intermediate Manual Legal Research
44. Advanced Manual Legal Research
45. Basic Computer-Assisted Legal Research
46. Intermediate Computer-Assisted Legal Research
47. Advanced Computer-Assisted Legal Research
48. Basic Legal Writing
49. Intermediate Legal Writing
50. Advanced Legal Writing
51. Client Interaction
52. Communication
53. Mathematics
54. Organization
55. Problem Solving
56. Knowledge of Substantive Law
57. Knowledge of Court Procedures
58. Knowledge of Rules of Evidence
59. Drafting Legal Documents
60. Drafting Pleadings
61. Drafting and Answering Discovery
62. Interviewing and Investigations
63. Personnel Supervision and Management
64. Law Office Management
65. Would your firm consider hiring EMU Legal Assistant Studies Program graduates in the future?
Yes [Go to question 67] No [Go to question 66] Unsure [Go to question 66]
66. Please explain your answer to Question 65.
67. Does your firm pay for continuing education for legal assistants?
68. Would your firm be interested in providing in-house continuing education for legal assistants, if suitable courses were designed and taught by EMU Legal Assistant Studies faculty members?
Yes No Unsure Not applicable
The information in this Section is not required to complete this survey. You may complete this Section, or any part of it you wish to complete, or skip to the bottom of the survey form and click "Submit Survey".
69. Please offer any suggestions you have to improve EMU's Legal Assistant Studies Program.
Yes (please provide email): No
71. Would you consider allowing Seniors in EMU's Legal Assistant Studies Program do their required Legal Assistant Internship at your firm?
Yes (please provide contact information): No Unsure
72. Contact information:
Your Name: Firm Name: Address: Phone/FAX: Email:
B. Employment of Legal Assistants
C. Legal Assistant Skills and Duties
D. Eastern Michigan University Graduates
E. Skills of EMU Legal Assistant Studies Graduates
F. Future Hiring of EMU Legal Assistant Studies Graduates
G. Legal Assistant Training and Education
H. Optional Information
