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Legal Studies - 2+2 Pathway

The Legal Studies program at Northwest is ideal for students who plan to obtain a bachelor’s degree or aspire to one day attend law school. All hours transfer to the University of Mississippi or another four-year university and fit directly into their pre-law and paralegal programs. See the course description here.

What Will I Learn?

The Legal Studies curriculum provides a solid foundation for you to successfully transition into a four-year university program with a broad understanding of basic principles of law and the role and function of the legal system. Our classes are designed to provide you with critical thinking, analysis, and research and writing skills, as well as an in-depth understanding of the entire legal system, including the court system, clients, and lawyers. You will receive the benefit of small class sizes and faculty who are attorneys with real-world experience in law practice.

Online Flexibility

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Legal Studies students have the option of obtaining their degree by attending all of their classes entirely online without having to step foot on campus. This online option gives you the opportunity gain professional skills and knowledge from any location. As many of our online students work full-time and attend school part-time, our online classes are designed to be flexible to work with different schedules.

Paralegal Technology Option

Northwest also offers the paralegal technology path which is specifically designed to prepare students for entry into the job market immediately upon graduation with an exciting career in a variety of legal fields. Click here for the Paralegal Technology Program page.

What Is the Job Outlook?

A legal studies major provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter a variety of professions in the legal field, as well as pursue future undergraduate or graduate study. An associate’s degree will not be sufficient for students planning to attend law school. However, the legal studies degree may serve as a good stepping-stone toward advanced law studies and can also provide access to immediate employment. Students with this degree can find positions with law firms, law enforcement, the government, and corporations. You can also find corporate jobs associated with a legal studies degree, such as human resources assistant, customer service representative, analyst, and consultant.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (link: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Legal/Paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm) projects employment opportunities of paralegals and legal assistants will increase 12% percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for other occupations. The salary for paralegals and legal assistants was $51,740 in May 2019, and paralegals who worked for the federal government and in the finance and insurance industries made over $60,000 on average.

CONTACT:
InstructorStephan McDavid |  Phone: (662) 236-7205 | Office location at Oxford LYTC: Room 159

 

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