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Legal Studies

Legal Studies2022-11-15T13:36:38-06:00

Promote civic engagement. Advocate for justice. Uphold the Constitution.

The Legal Studies Program offers five degree options: B.S. Criminal Justice – Legal Studies Concentration, B.S. Law, A.S. Legal Assistant, Legal Assistant Certificate,and a minor in Legal Studies.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Legal Studies prepares students to work as a paralegal, a legal professional or to go onto 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 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:

  1. Demonstrate effective legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform substantive legal work under the direction of an attorney.
  2. Demonstrate appropriate paralegal skill development and professionalism through practical experiences.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of their ethical responsibilities in the legal profession.
  4. Articulate the paralegal’s role in the delivery of legal services to the public.
  5. Write clearly and think analytically.
  6. Read, analyze, and synthesize complex information in an organized and logical manner.
  7. Utilize technology necessary to meet employer needs.
  8. Manage multiple projects and tasks.

The A.S. 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.

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.

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.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, the median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $51,740 in May 2019. Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 10% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average. Formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills should have the best job prospects. Employment in legal occupations is projected to grow 5 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, and will result in about 67,600 new jobs. As law firms try to increase the efficiency of legal services and reduce their costs, there is expected to be strong demand to hire many more paralegals and legal assistants. Additionally, the demand for lawyers is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and governments require legal services in many areas.

The median annual wage for legal occupations was $81,820 in May 2019, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $39,810.

All Missouri Western Legal Studies programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). We have the only ABA approved program at a public institution in Missouri. Our Legal Assistant program is also a charter member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.

The time it takes to complete the paralegal degree depends upon which paralegal degree you decide to complete. There are four paralegal degree options: a minor in Legal Studies, a Certificate in Legal Assistant, an Associate Degree in Legal Studies, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Legal Studies.  The Bachelor’s degree requires 120 hours of credits. The Associate’s degree is completed in 62 credit hours. The certificate requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. Classes are typically three (3) credit hours each and can be completed according to schedule permitted and preference of each student.
The cost of completing the paralegal program is determined by which degree you decide to complete. Please refer to the Missouri Western admissions website to determine the cost per credit hour:  https://www.missouriwestern.edu/admissions/

No, the paralegal degree may not be completed online only.   As a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), all paralegal students are required to complete a minimum of nine (9) credit hours in a synchronous or traditional classroom environment.

Yes, the Legal Studies (paralegal) program has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1986.
Legal assistant doing research

Students who choose this associate degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.

The Associate of Science degree with a major in Legal Assistant is designed to provide those individuals who have little or no background or training in law with the skills necessary to work in a law office as an assistant to an attorney.

General Studies
15-19
Major Requirements
ENG 108College Writing and Research3
LAT 101Introduction to Law3
LAT 115Paralegal Studies3
LAT 220Legal Research3
LAT 225Litigation3
LAT 250Legal Computer Applications3
LAT 310Legal Drafting3
LAT 400Advanced Legal Research3
CRJ 365Practicum I3
or CRJ 465 Internship
MAT 110Contemporary Problem Solving3-4
or MAT 110E Contemporary Problem Solving
or MAT 112 Finite Mathematics
or MAT 116 College Algebra
PSC 101American National Government3
Restricted Legal Studies Electives
Select twelve credit hours from the following:12
Criminal Evidence
Practicum I
Internship
Business Law I
Business Law II
Real Property
Tort Law
Interpersonal Conflict Resolution
Study Away in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
Probate Law
Domestic Relations
Civil Rights Law
Conflict Management
Selected Legal Topics
Substance Use and Disorders
Death And Dying
Family and Child Welfare

NOTE: Students must complete a Contact Information form prior to graduation. Per ABA program approval guidelines, students must also complete an exit interview with selected department faculty. 

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. No more than 2 courses with a grade of D permitted in major coursework.
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.

University Graduation Requirements

  1. Earn a minimum of 62 credit hours (100 level and above, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn 20 of the last 30 credit hours at MWSU in institutional course work (exclusive of credit by examination).
  3. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  4. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  5. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.

Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.

General Studies
42
Core Requirements
CRJ 100Introduction to Criminal Justice3
CRJ 110Introduction to Juvenile Justice3
CRJ 190Criminal Investigation3
CRJ 260Criminal Law3
CRJ 305Introduction to Theories of Crime3
CRJ 325Understanding Research in Criminal Justice3
CRJ 410Criminal Procedure3
LAT 101Introduction to Law3
LAT 335Interpersonal Conflict Resolution3
Concentration
Select one of the following concentrations:28-31
General
Legal Studies

Concentrations:
General
Legal Studies

 General Concentration

Applied Learning Track
CRJ 465Internship3
CRJ 470Senior Seminar3
Concentration Requirements
CRJ 130Introduction to Policing3
CRJ 200Introduction to Corrections3
CRJ 300Criminal Justice Communications3
CRJ 460Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership3
LAT 420Civil Rights Law3
Choice of a second major, minor, approved certificate or twelve credit hours of restricted electives from the following:12
Any CRJ, LAT, or POL undergraduate course not already used in the Core or Concentration
Any CRJ course numbered 500-599 1
Psychology of Communication
Abnormal Psychology
Criminology
Mental Health and Social Work
Substance Use and Disorders
Death And Dying
Family and Child Welfare
Total Credit Hours33
1

Students desiring to take 500 level courses to satisfy the criminalistics elective must meet the criteria required for undergraduates to enroll in graduate level courses.

Legal Studies Concentration 

Applied Learning Track
Select one of the following options:6
Track 1
Practicum I
Internship
Senior Seminar
OR
Track 2
Research Methods
Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice
Concentration Requirements
LAT 115Paralegal Studies3
LAT 220Legal Research3
LAT 225Litigation3
LAT 250Legal Computer Applications3
LAT 310Legal Drafting3
LAT 400Advanced Legal Research3
Choice of a second major, minor, approved certificate or twelve credit hours of restricted electives from the following:
Any CRJ, LAT, or POL undergraduate course not already used in the Core or Concentration
Any CRJ course numbered 500-599 1
Business Law I
Business Law II
Psychology of Communication
Abnormal Psychology
Criminology
Mental Health and Social Work
Substance Use and Disorders
Death And Dying
Family and Child Welfare
Total Credit Hours24
1

Students desiring to take 500 level courses to satisfy the criminalistics elective must meet the criteria required for undergraduates to enroll in graduate level courses.

NOTE: Students must complete a Pre-Post test and a Contact Information form prior to graduation. Per ABA program approval guidelines, students with a concentration in legal studies must also complete an exit interview with the Legal Studies Program Director.

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. No more than 2 courses with a grade of D permitted in major and concentration coursework. 
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. 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.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 

Students who choose this certificate program will have no more than 3 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence. 

Core Requirements
LAT 101Introduction to Law3
LAT 115Paralegal Studies3
LAT 220Legal Research3
LAT 225Litigation3
LAT 250Legal Computer Applications3
LAT 310Legal Drafting3
LAT 400Advanced Legal Research3
CRJ 365Practicum I3
or CRJ 465 Internship
Restricted Electives
Select nine credit hours from the following:9
Criminal Evidence
Business Law I
Business Law II
Real Property
Tort Law
Interpersonal Conflict Resolution
Study Away in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
Probate Law
Domestic Relations
Civil Rights Law
Conflict Management
Selected Legal Topics
Substance Use and Disorders
Death And Dying
Family and Child Welfare

 NOTE: Students must complete a Contact Information form prior to graduation. Per ABA program approval guidelines, students must also complete an exit interview with selected department faculty.

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. No more than 2 courses with a final grade of D in major coursework.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn 9 of the last 15 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  3. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  4. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.5.

Legal Studies Minor

This is a draft edition of the 2023-2024 catalog. Information contained within is subject to change.

Minor Requirements
LAT 101Introduction to Law3
Select six (6) courses from the following:18
Paralegal Studies
Legal Research
Litigation
Legal Computer Applications
Legal Drafting
Interpersonal Conflict Resolution
Domestic Relations
Advanced Legal Research
Total Credit Hours21

 NOTE: Students must complete a Contact Information form prior to graduation. Per ABA program approval guidelines, students must also complete an exit interview with selected department faculty.

University Graduation Requirements

  1. Have a valid and declared major on file (minors cannot be awarded in the same areas as the major, emphasis or concentration).
  2. Earn a minimum of 3 credit hours beyond the major, emphasis, concentration and/or general studies requirements.
  3. Earn a minor GPA of at least 2.0.

Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form to the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department.

Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.

Program Name: Legal Assistant Certificate

This program is designed to be completed in 1 Year (33 Credit Hours).

This program will cost $9,903.16 if completed within normal time for in-state students and $17,537.05 for out-of-state students. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed. 

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with NA of debt.  Fewer than 10 students completed this program within normal time. Average debt has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of these students.

The following States do not have licensure requirements for this profession: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Last Updated June 20, 2019

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.