About the Program

Prospective Students

Current Students

Resources

Contact Us


Undergraduate Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies

24 Required Hours

The certificate program in paralegal studies is designed to provide the theoretical and practical education needed by those who work or desire to work as paralegals or legal assistants. The certificate is different from the major in respect to required grades. Therefore, the student must complete the certificate with a C or better, not just the successful completion (C- or better). All core courses must be taken at Webster University. Since core courses are generally taught at the advanced level, students must have earned at least 84 credit hours, including the 24-credit-hour core in paralegal studies, before a certificate can be issued.

Requirements - 24 credit hours including:

LEGL 2400 Introduction to Law (or Polt 2400) 3 hours
LEGL 3000 Legal Ethics 3 hours
LEGL 3490 Civil Litigation 3 hours
LEGL 4460 Methods of Legal Research & Writing I 3 hours
LEGL 4470 Methods of Legal Research & Writing II 3 hours
LEGL 4480 Computerized Legal Research 3 hours
LEGL 4800 Advanced Topics in Law
(May be repeated for credit if content differs)
6 hours

Special Note

A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals or Legal Assistants may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. Webster University's St. Louis area paralegal programs have been approved by the American Bar Association. The Kansas City program is not approved by the American Bar Association.



Copyright © 2008 Webster University
470 East Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63119