Legal Assistant (Associate of Science, A.S.)
The Associate of Science degree 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.
Graduates with an Associate of Science degree in Legal Assistant 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.
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 | ||
| Students must complete General Studies courses | 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.