The Professional Legal Studies program is a practice-oriented course of study designed to prepare students as paralegals. As the legal industry experiences transformation due to economic and technological changes, opportunities for accomplished and technically-savvy paralegals have increased significantly. Professional Legal Studies students receive education in many different facets of substantive law, including litigation, criminal law, legal databases and alternative dispute resolution. The Professional Legal Studies Program combines academic rigor with legal and technical competencies to develop well-rounded legal professionals. Our graduates pursue successful careers as paralegals in legal, corporate, non-profit, or government organizations, and many continue to law school.
This program is approved by the American Bar Association. In accordance with ABA requirements, minimum of 9 semester credits of legal specialty courses must be taken in a traditional classroom setting or online through synchronous learning. Paralegals are prohibited from the practice of law except when allowed by law or court rule.
None of the Professional Legal Studies offerings are affiliated with the Legal Studies Program offered by the University’s day division. These include the bachelor and associate degree programs as well as the certificate programs. University College students in the Professional Legal Studies programs will not satisfy degree or certificate requirements by taking Legal Studies Program courses. Only the Professional Legal Studies degree and certificate programs are ABA approved.
