Promote civic engagement. Advocate for justice. Uphold the Constitution.
Creating empowered and engaged citizens one student at a time.
“The Declaration of Independence was always our vision of who we wanted to be, our ideal of freedom and justice, how we were going to be different, and what the American experiment was going to be about.” – Marian Wright Edelman, Co-founder & Exec. Director of the Children’s Defense Fund
The Bachelor of Science in Law prepares students to work as a paralegal, a legal professional or to go on to law school. The program offers students the opportunity to explore the various roles, functions, and responsibilities of the numerous positions in the American legal system. You’ll come away with an understanding of the history, principles, and purpose of legal institutions and their operation.
All students complete an applied learning requirement. In most cases, students choose an internship and a senior capstone course. Students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in this or any discipline may also choose to apply for admission to law school, which is a very competitive process based primarily on grades and scores on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform substantive legal work under the direction of an attorney.
- Demonstrate appropriate paralegal skill development and professionalism through practical experiences.
- Demonstrate an understanding of their ethical responsibilities in the legal profession.
- Articulate the paralegal’s role in the delivery of legal services to the public.
- Write clearly and think analytically.
- Read, analyze, and synthesize complex information in an organized and logical manner.
- Utilize technology necessary to meet employer needs.
- Manage multiple projects and tasks.
The Certificate in Legal Assistant (paralegal) offers courses that are designed to prepare students to work as a paralegal or to go on to law school. The skills the student will learn include legal research, interviewing, investigation, legal drafting, preparation of evidence and witnesses for trial, and assisting in the trial of a lawsuit. Students who qualify may earn a Legal Assistant Certificate while also earning an A.S. or B.S.
Graduates from either degree option will fulfill the following program objectives:
- Satisfactorily complete all courses, exit exams and other requirements of the program;
- Perform legal research and analysis by using legal research material;
- Draft and prepare legal documents;
- Identify and explain the various functions performed by a legal assistant;
- Explain the role of the legal assistant working in a law office;
- Identify ethical issues, rules and standards that a legal assistant must follow; and
- Perform the functions of a legal assistant under the supervision of a practicing attorney
Students who are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in another discipline should consider a minor in Legal Studies. A minor in Legal Studies prepares students who are interested in attending law school and allows for more job opportunities.
In 2021, the Legal Studies Program began offering students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Law degree. The B.S. Law degree is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). This is a unique opportunity for students to complete an undergraduate education focused on law and the American legal system. It is a perfect degree for those who wish to master the skills of analytical reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and legal research. Students who wish to go to law school or pursue a career as a paralegal, lawyer, judge, or litigation support specialist, should consider a B.S. in Law. Our graduates hold positions in law firms, legal departments of banks, insurance companies, land title insurance companies, corporations, legal aid offices, public defender offices, the office of the prosecuting attorney, municipal legal departments and more.
The Legal Studies Program is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE). Students take classes in Legal Research, Litigation, Legal Computer Applications, Legal Drafting, Advanced Legal Research, and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform substantive
legal work under the direction of an attorney. - Demonstrate appropriate paralegal skill development and professionalism through practical
experiences. - Demonstrate an understanding of their ethical responsibilities in the legal profession.
- Articulate the paralegal’s role in the delivery of legal services to the public.
- Write clearly and think analytically.
- Read, analyze, and synthesize complex information in an organized and logical manner.
- Utilize technology necessary to meet employer needs.
- Manage multiple projects and tasks.
According to the 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, overall employment in legal occupations is projected to grow 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to result in about 131,000 new jobs over the decade. The national median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants in 2021 was $56,230 per year or $27.03. The job outlook for paralegals is expected to grow at the rate of 14%, a rate must faster than average. Lawyers are also going to be in demand in the next decade. The profession is expected to grow at the rate of 10% and will add an estimated 80,200 jobs to the workforce from 2021-31.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | ||
| 42-47 | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| CRJ 260 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 410 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| GBA 211 | Business Law I | 3 |
| GBA 311 | Business Law II | 3 |
| LAT 101 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| LAT 115 | Paralegal Studies | 3 |
| LAT 220 | Legal Research | 3 |
| LAT 225 | Litigation | 3 |
| LAT 250 | Legal Computer Applications | 3 |
| LAT 310 | Legal Drafting | 3 |
| LAT 335 | Interpersonal Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| LAT 400 | Advanced Legal Research | 3 |
| LAT 420 | Civil Rights Law | 3 |
| PHL 230 | Ethics | 3 |
| or PHL 232 | Business Ethics | |
| PSC 110 | American State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSC 210 | Comparative Political Systems | 3 |
| Applied Learning Experience Requirement (3 credit hours from one of the following. Additional hours may be used as Restricted Electives) | ||
| Practicum I | ||
| Internship | ||
| Independent Research/Project | ||
| Independent Research/Project | ||
| Independent Research/Project | ||
| Choice of a second major, minor, approved certification or twelve (12) credit hours of restricted electives from the following: | 12 | |
| U.S. Constitutional History | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
or PHL 316 | Philosophy of Law | |
| Study Away in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies | ||
| Domestic Relations | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Reasoning and Argumentation | ||
| Selected Topics in Philosophy | ||
| Selected Topics in Peace & Conflict Studies | ||
| Interest Group Politics | ||
| International Organizations | ||
| American Political Controversies | ||
| Law and Politics | ||
| Peace and Justice in Post-Conflict Societies | ||
| Restricted electives may also be met with credit from an approved 3+3 law school program or with approved undergraduate credit from a foreign university. | ||
Program Graduation Requirements
- No more than 2 courses with a grade of D permitted in major and concentration coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at lease 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form to the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department.
- Major: A.S. Legal Assistant
- Major: A.S. Criminal Justice
- Major: B.S. Criminal Justice/Legal Studies Concentration
- Major: B.S. Law
Unauthorized Practice Of Law
The Legal Assistant Program is a charter member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. Paralegals cannot practice law. Only attorneys, who are licensed in the state by the Supreme Court, can practice law.
Transfer Statement
No more than 9 credit hours of legal specialty courses may be transferred to Missouri Western and they must be from a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.