Legal Studies Program

At Maryville University you can earn a Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies. Our program is a four year program for those students interested in becoming paralegals or continuing their education in the field of law. By studying in our program you will work hands on to gain a working knowledge of the intricacies of legal research, writing, and civil and criminal law and legal theory, making Maryville's Legal Studies Degree an excellent program of study for law school preparation. Our program is approved by the American Bar Association. 

Graduates of Maryville's Legal Studies Program should be able to:

1.  Enter the legal profession as a paralegal;

2.  Prepare appropriate legal documentation;

3.  Perform legal research in the library and via a computer;

4.  Practice and apply principles of ethics, and

5.  Utilize appropriate technology.

Please note that paralegals may neither provide legal services nor give legal advice to the public, except as permitted by law.

Many of our students are accepted to prestigious law schools throughout the country. Some of our graduates have gone on to law school at Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago, Washington University and St. Louis University School of Law.

The Legal Studies program also supports student groups, such as the LEX Honor Society and the Maryville University Legal Association (MULA).

There ARE jobs available for our graduates. We have over 90% placement of our graduates upon graduation. All of our graduates who sought entry into law school were accepted.

According to salary records as of October 2009, the average yearly salary for first year paralegals in Missouri is $47,224.00. According to the United States Department of Labor Statistics, paralegal employment is expected to rise much faster than average. By the year 2016 there will be approximately 22% more paralegals employed. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.

Now is the time for you to start planning for your future. Now is the time for you to start your degree at Maryville University.

Degree Offerings and Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies

Minor in Legal Studies

 

Admission Requirements
If you're interested in joining our Legal Studies program, you need to meet the general admissions requirements for the University. We recommend that you complete a variety of high school or college prep courses in English, science, math, social studies and foreign language before applying.