Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

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Only the Herzing University paralegal programs at Atlanta are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The Herzing Legal Studies program offered online is not approved by the ABA.

Program Description

This program is designed to provide in-depth understanding of the legal system as it relates to the law, the courts, clients, and lawyers. The core curriculum provides a solid foundation of legal, ethical, technical, and communication skills. Students will be prepared for entry-level or management training positions in office administration or other business enterprises requiring a legal studies background.

Special Admissions

Students at the Atlanta campus must complete all paralegal courses at the campus in a traditional classroom format.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:

Describe the US legal system.
Describe the changing functions of the paralegal as the delivery of legal services evolves.
Demonstrate proficiency of standard technology and research tools used in legal environments
Evaluate ethical decision making practices in a legal environment.
Draft a variety of legal documents
Evaluate alternatives to litigation.
Formulate appropriate business solutions.

Program Content

A minimum of 125.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Required Management Core Courses

All courses, 33.00 semester credit hours, are required.

AC 107 - Accounting I Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
AC 220 - Finance Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 106 - Introduction to Business Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 204 - The Digital Firm and Business Communications Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 220 - Principles of Marketing Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 302 - Leadership and Organizational Behavior Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
or BU 600 Leadership and Organizational Behavior 3.00 semester credit hours.
BU 305 - Administrative Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 407 - Quantitative Decision-Making Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
or BU 421 Operations Management 3.00 semester credit hours or BU 550 Research Methods and Decision Making 3.00 semester credit hours
EC 111 - Principles of Microeconomics Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
EC 121 - Principles of Macroeconomics Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
EN 111 - Information Literacy Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Required Introductory Legal Studies Courses

All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.

PL 100 - Introduction to Legal Assisting Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 106 - Legal Research Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 115 - Contract Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 131 - Torts Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 132 - Family Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 140 - Ethics and Paralegal Professionalism Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 180 - Law Office Procedures Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 215 - Civil Litigation Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 250 - Legal Writing Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 298 - NALA Certification Review Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Required Advanced Legal Studies Courses

All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.

PL 300 - Legal Office Administration Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 425 - Business Organizations Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
or BU 550 Research Methods and Decision Making 3.00 semester credit hours or BU 600 Leadership and Organizational Behavior 3.00 semester credit hours
PL 450 - Advanced Legal Research Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Elective Courses

A minimum of 12.00 semester credit hours is required. At least 6.00 semester credit hours must be paralegal (PL) courses.

BU 206 - Business Law I Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 403 - Constitutional Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 530 - Business Leadership Foundations Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 550 - Research Methods and Decision Making Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
BU 600 - Leadership and Organizational Behavior Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
HR 100 - Introduction to Human Resource Management Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
HR 220 - Human Resource Information Systems Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
HR 230 - Employment Law and Labor Relations Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
HR 340 - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Essentials Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
IS 120 - Word Processing Semester Credit Hours: 4.00
IS 160 - Spreadsheets Semester Credit Hours: 4.00
PL 139 - Wills, Trusts and Estates Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 220 - Bankruptcy Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 225 - Criminal Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 235 - Property Law and Intellectual Property Law Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Required Project Management

3.00 semester credit hours are required.

BU 345 - Project Management Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
or
BU 630 Project and Operations Management

Required Capstone or Internship

3.00 semester credit hours are required.

PL 491 - Capstone Project Semester Credit Hours: 3.00
PL 494 - Legal Studies Internship Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Required Courses in General Education

Students enrolled in this bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum of 33.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline.

9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications

9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity)

6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics

3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science

6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

PD 121 - Professional Development I Semester Credit Hours: 1.00
PD 202 - Professional Development II Semester Credit Hours: 1.00