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:
- 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 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.
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.
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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | ||
| 15-19 | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| ENG 108 | College Writing and Research | 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 400 | Advanced Legal Research | 3 |
| CRJ 365 | Practicum I | 3 |
| or CRJ 465 | Internship | |
| MAT 110 | Contemporary Problem Solving | 3-4 |
| or MAT 110E | Contemporary Problem Solving | |
| or MAT 112 | Finite Mathematics | |
| or MAT 116 | College Algebra | |
| PSC 101 | American National Government | 3 |
| 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
- No more than 2 courses with a grade of D permitted in major coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 62 credit hours (100 level and above, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn 20 of the last 30 credit hours at MWSU in institutional course work (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.
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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | ||
| 42 | ||
| Core Requirements | ||
| CRJ 100 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 110 | Introduction to Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 190 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| CRJ 260 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 305 | Introduction to Theories of Crime | 3 |
| CRJ 325 | Understanding Research in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 410 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| LAT 101 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| LAT 335 | Interpersonal Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| Concentration | ||
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 28-31 | |
General | ||
Legal Studies | ||
Concentrations:
General
Legal Studies
General Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Learning Track | ||
| CRJ 465 | Internship | 3 |
| CRJ 470 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| CRJ 130 | Introduction to Policing | 3 |
| CRJ 200 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CRJ 300 | Criminal Justice Communications | 3 |
| CRJ 460 | Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership | 3 |
| LAT 420 | Civil Rights Law | 3 |
| 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 Hours | 33 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Learning Track | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 6 | |
| Track 1 | ||
| Practicum I | ||
or CRJ 465 | Internship | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| OR | ||
| Track 2 | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice | ||
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| 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 400 | Advanced Legal Research | 3 |
| 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 Hours | 24 | |
- 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
- No more than 2 courses with a grade of D permitted in major and concentration coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 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.
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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| 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 400 | Advanced Legal Research | 3 |
| CRJ 365 | Practicum I | 3 |
| 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
- No more than 2 courses with a final grade of D in major coursework.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn 9 of the last 15 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.5.
Legal Studies Minor
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Requirements | ||
| LAT 101 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| 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 Hours | 21 | |
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
- Have a valid and declared major on file (minors cannot be awarded in the same areas as the major, emphasis or concentration).
- Earn a minimum of 3 credit hours beyond the major, emphasis, concentration and/or general studies requirements.
- 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.
- Major: A.S. Legal Assistant
- Major: B.S. Criminal Justice/Legal Studies Concentration
- Major: B.S. Law
- Major: Certificate Legal Assistant
- Minor: Legal Studies
Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.
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.