Legal Studies: Paralegal Studies

Program Overview

The ABA-approved Bachelor's Degree in Legal Studies: Paralegal Studies prepares students to assist attorneys in law office operations, legal document drafting, and administrative duties. Graduates are also skilled in legal research, procedure development, and document analysis. The program includes a specialization in Paralegal Studies with internships available and a Paralegal Advisory Board of legal professionals.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• The Bachelor's Degree program in Legal Studies: Paralegal Studies is approved by the American Bar Association.
• Graduates are trained specialists who can:*
• Manage law office operations
• Assist attorneys in drafting legal documents
• Assume administrative duties routinely performed by attorneys
• Graduates are also capable of:*
• Conducting legal research
• Designing and developing new procedures
• Analyzing and reviewing legal documents
• Paralegals are not licensed to practice law.
Paralegals work under the direct supervision of an attorney who is responsible for the work product of the paralegal.
• Our program is structured to give you a real world, legally-oriented education which leads to the attainment of marketable skills.

Outline:

Curriculum Overview:

• General Liberal Arts and Sciences*
• General Education Requirements: 60 Credits*
• Major Concentration*
• Paralegal Studies: 36 Credits*
• Open Electives: 24 Credits*
• Total: 120 Credits*

Specialization

• Students who choose the major concentration in Legal Studies with a specialization in Paralegal Studies must complete:*
• LAWS 130 Intro Legal Studies*
• LAWS/ SOCL/ POLS/ PSYN 255 Managing Human Conflict I*
• LAWS/ POL 361 Constitutional Law & Policy*
• PARA 260 Legal Research/Writing I*
• PARA 300 Legal Research/Writing II*
• PARA 206 Substantive Law/Document Draft*
• PARA 302 Litigation*
• PARA 410 Advanced Seminar Paralegal Studies*
• and*
• two courses in Paralegal Studies numbered PARA 201 through PARA 303 and two additional courses from Paralegal Studies numbered 201 or above, LAWS numbered 203 or above.

Teaching:

• Our Paralegal Advisory Board consists of judges, lawyers, paralegals and community leaders.
• Internships are available.

Careers:

• Employment includes: law offices, government positions, corporations, financial or insurance firms, real estate firms and in health care organizations.
• Career opportunities include paralegals, legal assistants, and law office managers.