Access org-tag-alist from #+FILETAGS

[Charles <millarc@verizon.net>]

I use a few tags and usually two or three will apply to all entries in a 
particular file, e.g. :work:Client:OpenFile: or :Personal:Home:

All my tags are in my .emacs using the org-tag-alist and I want to use 
these consistently.

Is there a way to access org-tag-alist from the in-buffer settings 
#+FILETAGS or #+TAGS? C-c C-c, of course, refreshes the local setting; 
C-c C-q gives an error(?) message "Before first headline at position 1 
in buffer . . ."

At the moment my work around is: start the file's first line with  
*<spc>#+FILETAGS, then C-c C-c, and after setting tags delete the *<spc>.

My system is Windows 7 (home Premium), emacs 24.0.93.1, org 7.8.03

If I have overlooked something obvious or easily researched, just say so 
and I'll continue looking for the answer.

BTW, I'm a freelance paralegal.  Amongst other uses, a few months ago I 
used org to draft a contract (from my notes kept in the org file), then 
exported to LaTeX, then to pdf to print the final draft.

Charlie Millar