Legal Assistant Certificate
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 Associate of Science or Bachelor of Science.
Students must have earned at least 30 college credits prior to enrolling in this program. Eighteen of the hours must be general education elective credits. General education is defined as post-secondary courses in the following areas:
- Written & Oral Communications
- Mathematical Sciences
- Social & Behavior Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Humanities and Fine Arts
This must include ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric and either ENG 108 College Writing and Research or ETC 200 Introduction to Technical Communication or their equivalents or other course demonstrating a proficiency in English.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | 24 | |
| 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 | 9 | |
| Select nine credit hours from the following: | ||
| 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.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.50.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn half of certificate requirements at MWSU.
- 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.