Legal Studies

 

This approval signifies a high degree of quality in our curriculum and in our student resources.  Please note that paralegals and other non-lawyers may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Our full-time instructors are all attorneys with combined teaching experience of over 50 years. Our curriculum has been carefully developed to provide students with the hands-on training they will need to be successful in the legal field.

Students have a variety of options from which to choose:

1. B.S. degree in Legal Studies, for students who want to pursue a degree that emphasizes practical skills plus analytical and conceptual thinking, legal research & writing, a study of the evolution of various legal theories, a solid understanding of substantive areas of law, and the role of law in society. It also allows students to take courses in a variety of departments throughout the university. The B.S. degree is a good option for students who plan to work in fields impacted by law and legal regulation or who are considering law school or other fields of graduate studies.
2. A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies, with the same focus as the paralegal certificate, and an additional emphasis on general education, for students who do not already possess a degree and who do not want to seek a four-year degree at this time.
3. Paralegal Certificate, with a focus on practical paralegal skills, legal terminology, legal research and writing, and substantive law courses. The Paralegal Certificate is open to students who already possess a bachelor's degree or a qualifying A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree.                 

Any of the program options above may be completed fully online.  Each PARA- and LGST-coded course is offered either synchronously online (with a class meeting one evening per week on Microsoft Teams) or asynchronously online (with no required class meetings). General education courses are offered in the day, evenings, and online. All Legal Studies/Paralegal Studies students are required to take at least nine semester credits or equivalent of legal specialty courses through face-to-face or online synchronous instruction.  Transfer students must provide proof of such credits taken elsewhere.

Please refer to our Admissions page for important information regarding entrance requirements for our programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

The purpose of the Legal Studies Program is to provide students with the skills necessary to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. 

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• Perform legal research and analysis
• Compose legal documents
• Examine areas of civil and criminal law
• Identify relevant rules of legal ethics
• Apply course content to an occupational learning experience (B.S. degree)

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