Dunne, Mary

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University of Kentucky

Kentucky Law JournalVolume 42 | Issue 3 Article 161954Legal Secretary's Complete Handbook by BessieMay MillerMary DunneUniversity of KentuckyFollow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/kljRight click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefitsyou.This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kentucky LawJournal by an authorized editor of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu.Recommended CitationDunne, Mary (1954) "Legal Secretary's Complete Handbook by Bessie May Miller," Kentucky Law Journal: Vol. 42 : Iss. 3 , Article 16.Available at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/klj/vol42/iss3/16BOOK REVIEWS - Continuedremind one of the course given in one of the leading law schoolswhich students used to refer to as the "Case-A-Month Club"; or tothe course in another of our larger law schools where the instructorwas reported by a student to have given a whole semester to the con-sideration of a single case. The report stated that by the middle ofthe semester none of the students knew just what the case stood forand by the end of the semester the instructor admitted that he himselfdid not know. If, as is sometimes said, the real aim of teaching is tomake the student think, it may be possible for the conscientious stu-dent, who is anxious to master the art of legal thinking and who doesnot resort to "canned" notes, to get as much training from this typeof treatise as he could get from one of the conventional casebooks.He will at least get much better physical training lugging a tome ofthis size and weight to and from classes than he would from thesmaller volume. After all, a student's time in the law school is limited.Professor Beale once said that in the three years the law school candevelop a student to the point where the student can make a noiselike a lawyer.W. LEwis ROBerTSUniversity of KentuckyLEGAL SEc=Arfiy's CouyLrE IANMBooE. By Bessie May Miller. NewYork, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1953. Pp. xxii, 662, incl. index.This handbook is an invaluable addition to the desk of a legal secre-tary, and particularly is this true in the case of beginners. The authorhas succeeded in her intention of compiling a work which will be asafe guide in matters of attitude, scope and limitation of duties, andabove all in the efficient performance of the diverse tasks assigned inher day-to-day work, tasks of a specialized sort not encountered inother secretarial work.The book has been divided into five parts, under these headings:"Usual Duties in a Law Office," "Preparing Legal Instruments," "Courtsand Litigation," "Assisting in Specialized Practice," and "ReferenceMaterial." It is in the second part, "Preparing Legal Instruments," inthe third, "Courts and Litigation," and in the fifth, "Reference Ma-terial," that the usual worker will find the greatest aid. Specific ques-tions are answered specifically and the reader, however exacting, iscertain to gain the information (or an avenue to it) which is sought.The subheadings in Part II of "Distinctive Features of Dictation andTyping," "Basic Information about Legal Instruments," and "SpecificInstruments; Affidavits; Powers of Attorney; Wills" indicate what aBOOK REVIEWS - Continuedpresent help this handbook can be, as does the fact that the writerhas availed herself of the experience and counsel of an Advisory Com-mittee of eleven and of a Legal Committee of forty-eight (one fromeach state), all of whom are outstanding legal secretaries. MissBeatrice S. McDonald of Frankfort is Kentucky's representative.On second thought, it is a mistake to suggest that one division ofthis excellent work is more helpful than another. Indeed, its usefulnessis limited only by the researcher's need. Whatever information thesecretary may be seeking, whether it be a matter of office department,punctuation, form, filing, bibliographical research, terminology or ac-counts-keeping, she is assured of finding it authoritatively and under-standably stated in "The Legal Secretary's Complete Handbook."The beginner, however, should be cautioned against expecting toencompass within her own experience (in anything less than say, thirtyyears) the wealth of advice, encouragement and information available.Like certain other handbooks, this one occasionally seems to have beenwritten for an unknown race; it presupposes secretaries, as well asemployers, of only ideal proportions and possibilities. The reviewerregards the statements quoted below with awe and respectfully sug-gests that the beginner not regard them with unmodified credence:"The lawyer likes to look upon his secretary as hispartner.""On a new job the lawyer ... will expect you to observethe following precepts without instruction from him........ ....... ....... .............. ,................ ..... ............ ...... ...... ...... .,...,."6. Judge which clients the employer will welcome,which he wants to avoid, which should be seen by another lawyer inthe firm, and which you should take care of yourself."7. Make explanations to those callers whom the lawyerwill not see, without antagonizing the caller.""It can be taken for granted that anyone who has aspiredto be a secretary to a lawyer has learned good manners and thatpoliteness, friendliness, graciousness, and consideration for others arewell-established habits.""There are innumerable situations, but by exercising dis-cretion and diplomacy you will soon be able to handle them all."None of this, however, should be construed as detracting from thegreat practical value of this handbook, designed as it is to furnish com-plete information about requirements of each of the forty-eight states.A perusal of the careful, comprehensive index indicates the wealth ofdetailed data available, with examples, illustrations and tables to clarifydifficult points. "The Legal Secretary's Handbook" should be wel-comed by every secretary in a law office who wishes to improve herwork.University of Kentucky MARY DuNNE

Legal Secretary\u27s Complete Handbook by Bessie May Miller

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Legal Secretary\u27s Complete Handbook by Bessie May Miller

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