Legal Studies, CERT

Location(s): Online

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The Legal Studies Certificate of Completion is designed for students who wish to prepare for a career as a paralegal or various other careers in the legal field. Legal Studies graduates can work in a variety of areas including but not limited to: government services, government or private law firms, financial institutions, etc. This program offers coursework intended to prepare students for immediate employment, however, coursework may transfer to a four-year university or BAS program.

The Legal Studies Certificate of Completion is available only to students who have completed a bachelor’s degree.

Contact Information

Contact information is available on the Legal Studies programs website.

Map your individual academic plan of courses with your Student Success Coach.

If students choose to transition to another program within the Human & Public Services pathway, they should be particularly aware of the choice points that indicate when a decision to branch off into another program must be made to ensure credits and time are not lost.

Coursework common to all degrees within this pathway is indicated by CAC, Common Academic Coursework, in the program map.

Competencies

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

Effectively draft a variety of legal documents.
Conduct legal research.
Apply legal research to legal writing.
Demonstrate organizational skills.
Demonstrate effective interviewing skills.
Recognize the ethical rules governing the practice of law.
Apply legal concepts to factual scenarios.

First Semester

Choice Points

See listing of approved program LEGL electives and offering rotation in the Approved Electives section below.
Students may choose to complete a LEGL elective during the summer semester.

Course Requirements

LEGL 1500 - Intro to Paralegal Studies Credits: 3
LEGL 1710 - Legal Research and Writing I Credits: 3
BADM 2010 - Legal Environment of Business Credits: 3
OR
Choose an approved LEGL elective Credits: 3
Choose an approved LEGL elective Credits: 3

Milestones

Completion of LEGL 1500 as a pre or co-requisite of all other LEGL courses.

Semester Total: 12 Credits

Second Semester

Choice Points

See listing of approved program LEGL electives and offering rotation in the Approved Electives section below.
Students may choose to complete a LEGL elective during the summer semester.

Course Requirements

LEGL 1720 - Legal Research and Writing II Credits: 3
LEGL 2550 - Evidence and Investigation Credits: 3
Choose an approved LEGL elective Credits: 3
Choose an approved LEGL elective Credits: 3

Semester Total: 12 Credits

Third Semester

Choice Points

See listing of approved program LEGL electives and offering rotation in the Approved Electives* section below.

Course Requirements

LEGL 2500 - Civil Procedure Credits: 3
Choose an approved LEGL elective Credits: 3

Semester Total: 6 Credits

Program Credit Hour Total: 30 Credits

Approved Program Electives

The Paralegal certificate program requires faculty approved LEGL electives. Below is a listing of LEGL electives and the scheduled rotations in which the courses are offered. Students should be prepared to take the LEGL elective(s) scheduled in that particular semester.

LEGL Courses

BADM 2010 (fall, spring, summer - online only in summer)
LEGL 1800 (summer only, odd years)
LEGL 2560 (fall only, every three years)
LEGL 2570 (spring only, even years)
LEGL 2610 (fall only, every three years)
LEGL 2630 (spring only, odd years)
LEGL 2650 (spring only, odd years)
LEGL 2670 (spring only, even years)
LEGL 2680 (fall only, every three years)
LEGL 2830 (summer only, even years)
LEGL 2990 (fall, spring)

Program Comments

The information below is intended to be a guide, and does not guarantee regional job placement, job availability, or a specific wage after completion of the program. The Legal Studies program is intended for students to enter the workforce after graduation. Graduates may work in law firms, state or federal government offices, financial institutions, or title companies.

Additional information on careers in the Paralegal field available through Career Coach.

Transfer Information

The Legal Studies program offers coursework intended to prepare students for immediate employment; however, coursework may transfer to a four-year university or BAS program.

LCCC courses may transfer to institutions in addition to those with formal articulation agreements. Students are strongly encouraged to determine the degree requirements and transfer policy of the specific college/ university and program to which they plan to transfer.