Vatterott College reinstates legal assistant program

There’s now another option available for people who might be pondering what do after high school, or who want to make a career move.
Vatterott College, recently moved to a larger location at 3850 S. Campbell Ave., is bringing back its legal assistant training program, with classes to begin in March. Already, there are 10 students enrolled in the program, said Cheryl Tilley, co-director of Vatterott College’s Springfield campus.
“We’ve received many inquiries by phone about legal programs,” Tilley said. “After looking into the need of the program and how we could make it work, we are going forward with the program.”
Vatterott College provides specialized fields of learning for people who might not want to go to a four-year university, but still wish to receive adequate knowledge and training for fast-growing job markets.
“There are over 700 different law firms and attorneys here in the Springfield area,” Tilley said.
“That shows there would definitely be a need for paralegals or legal secretaries in the community,” she added.
Tilley said that she believes the school’s enrollment will increase because of the new program and the school’s coming move. Vatterott’s current overall enrollment is 180, Tilley said.

Program specifics
Melissa Barker, a legal secretary for more than 15 years, will be moving here from Kansas City to teach the curriculum at Vatterott.
“She will help us begin the program,” Tilley said, “but if all goes well and the amount of students increase steadily, we’ll add at least one or two more staff members in the future.”
Tilley anticipates that there will be 15 to 20 graduates of the legal assistant program in the spring of 2006.
The cost of the 60-week program is $17,000, plus the price of books. Students may also choose to complete 30-week internships in order to get hands-on experience.
Program curriculum includes business law and ethics, family law, estate law, bankruptcy law, office administration and trial preparation.
Another integral part of the legal program at Vatterott College is its advisory board, which comprises members of the southwest Missouri legal community.
Yvonne Erwin, a legal assistant at the law offices of Pratt, Fossard, Jensen & Masters LLC, is one of the 12 members of the advisory board.
“I help oversee the curriculum,” Erwin said. “I helped pick out study guides, books and other materials needed for the legal program. I will help make sure that the courses stay current and up-to-date.”
Erwin said that she expects the legal program to be a boost to the community should help people to find future employment.
“Many law offices and firms want legal assistants that are at the top of their game,” Erwin said.
“I feel that this program will help provide very accurate training, knowledge, and skills that are needed to be a successful paralegal,” Erwin added.

Legal assistant tasks
A majority of legal assistants’ work deals with Internet research, but legal assistants still need to be good at dealing with clients.
“I think working with the clients and helping build a good relationship is very important to be a successful legal aid,” Erwin said.
Other responsibilities of a legal assistant include drafting letters and documents and filing depositions and motions.
Lonnie Davenport, a placement counselor at Mers-Goodwill, also is on Vatterott’s legal program advisory board.
“My job is to help modify the program by keeping up with new technology and the types of law being practiced,” Davenport said.
Davenport, who has an associate’s degree in pre-law and a bachelor’s degree in business, has worked as a military police officer and as a security officer at an NBC studio in the San Jose, Calif., area.
Davenport said that Vatterott’s program is aimed at giving students both practical knowledge and adequate training.
“Since legal aids have to prepare various different types of documents and letters, knowing how to be grammatically correct and having good spelling are also helpful,” Davenport said, “but the interaction with the clients is important in helping the recipient of the services have a good relationship and positive experience with that legal firm.”
Registration for the legal assistant program is available until classes begin March 14. [[In-content Ad]]