Please Note: As of the Spring 2009 term, new students will not be accepted into this program.
Program Description
The goal of the legal analysis major is to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for understanding legal issues working from both theoretical and practical applications. A legal analysis degree would be attractive to those individuals with positions in a business organization, law office, or government operation where a working knowledge of the law is desirable. In addition to an MA in legal analysis, a student may also earn a paralegal certificate by making specific course selections. A degree in legal analysis and/or a paralegal certificate does not prepare students for the practice of law, and its graduates are not eligible for admission to the bar.
The coursework in legal analysis is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the legal environment in which individuals, businesses, and the judiciary operate. Because most of the professors are practicing attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, and paralegals, this gives the student the distinct advantage of the latest legal theory and real world practice.
Learning Goals for the Legal Analysis Program
Upon completion of the program, students should:
- Understand the fundamentals of legal reasoning and analysis.
- Gain insight into some of the ethical dilemmas faced by lawyers and legal assistants.
- Master the skills and knowledge necessary for understanding legal issues working from both theoretical and practical applications.
- Learn the essential goals of legal researching, legal and logical reasoning and begin to develop legal writing skills.
- Be able to apply the theory of legal research and writing to practical problems encountered in a legal environment.
- Gain insight into the significant role that legal assistants have in the legal world and the practical skills necessary to function in it.
The 36 credit hours required for the MA degree must include the following courses for a major in legal analysis.
- LEAN 5010 Introduction to the American Legal System or LEGL 5000 Introduction to Legal Studies (Requisite Course)
- LEAN 5260 Methods of Legal Research and Writing I
- LEGL 5450 American Constitutional Law or LEGL 5100 Jurisprudence
- LEGL 5470 Civil Actions
- LEAN 5620 Applied Legal Decision Making
- LEAN 5640 Legal Aspects of Managing Technology or LEAN 5510 Computers in the Law or LEAN 5520 Law on the Net
- LEGL 5800 Computerized Legal Research
- LEAN 6000 Integrated Law Project
- One course from the Legal Ethics Cluster
- Two courses from the Legal Topics Cluster
- One course from the Employment Law Cluster
Legal Ethics Cluster
- LEGL 5300 Ethics for the Legal Professional
- HRDV 5680 Ethics, Values, and Legal Issues in Human Resources Development
- MNGT 5910 Ethical and Legal Issues in Management
- SECR 5010 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management
Legal Topics Cluster
- BUSN 5630 Business Law
- HLTH 5140 The Law and Health Services
- INTB 5630 International Law and Business
- INTL 5530 International Law
- INTL 5860 Issues in International Politics (with law-related subtitle)
- LEAN 5270 Methods of Legal Research and Writing II
- LEGL 5490 Advance Topics in Law (excludes Computers and Law and Law on the Net)
- PADM 5830 Administrative Law and Processes
- PROC 5810 Acquisitions Law
- PROC 5890 Government Procurement Law
Employment Law Cluster
- HRDV 5710 Diversity in the Workplace
- HRMG 5700 Employment Law
- LEAN 5610 Legal Aspects of Human Resources Management
- LEAN 5630 Legal Aspects of Intercultural Management
Not all of the courses listed above will be available to students at all locations.
If the requisite course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major. Required courses with the prefix LEAN or LEGL may be taken as directed studies, subject to the conditions stated in the Directed Studies section under Academic Policies and Procedures. Courses with all other prefixes are subject to the terms and conditions listed in this catalog by their respective programs.
Students who wish to pursue both an MA in legal analysis and a paralegal certificate within 36 credit hours must make specific course selections within the clusters listed above.
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.
Graduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
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 (legal assistants). It is important to note that, at present, there is no state or federal licensure of paralegals, and that successful completion of Webster’s certificate program should not be construed to imply state, federal, or board certification.
All certificate courses must be taken at Webster University. Students may pursue the certificate by itself or integrate their certificate studies with their MA degree program.
The 24 credit hours required for the graduate certificate in paralegal studies must include the following courses:
- LEGL 5000 Introduction to Legal Studies
- LEGL 5260 Methods of Legal Research and Writing I
- LEGL 5270 Methods of Legal Research and Writing II
- LEGL 5300 Ethics for the Legal Professional
- LEGL 5470 Civil Actions
- Two LEGL 5490 Advanced Topics in Law courses (6 credit hours)
- LEGL 5800 Computerized Legal Research
Areas of law offered in Topics courses include:
- Torts
- Contracts
- Probate
- Business Organizations
- Juvenile
- Products Liability
- Consumer
- Environmental
- Insurance
- Bankruptcy
- Property
- Computers and Law
- Family
- Real Estate
Students seeking the paralegal certificate should consult the Admission, Enrollment, Academic Policies, and Graduate Certificates sections of this catalog for information regarding application, admission, registration, and the academic policies of Webster University.
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.
LEAN 5010 Introduction to the American Legal System (3)
This requisite course provides a historical background into the American legal system with emphasis on legal structure and organization. The course content will focus on an overview of substantive areas, such as criminal law, administrative law, torts, contracts, and the like.
LEAN 5260 Methods of Legal Research and Writing I (3)
This course is designed to develop the student's research and writing skills, including legal citations. Methods of Legal Research and Writing I introduces the student to the skills necessary for identifying, locating, and using legal resources, including: primary sources of statutory and case law; secondary authority; and research reference tools commonly located in a law library which are used to navigate the primary and secondary sources. In addition, the students will be introduced to the process of computer-aided legal research. This class also explores the process of legal analysis through the incorporation of the results of legal research into legal argument and legal memoranda. Prerequisite: LEAN 5010 or LEGL 5000.
LEAN 5270 Methods of Legal Research and Writing II (3)
This course is a continuation of LEAN 5260. Methods of Legal Research and Writing II is designed to build upon the research skills learned in Methods of Legal Research and Writing I and to enhance the student's legal analytical and writing skills. The course includes several legal issue writing projects, at least two of which will combine both research and writing skills. Prerequisite: LEAN 5260.
LEAN 5510 Computers in the Law (3)
This course provides direct exposure to the principal law-related computer applications including: litigation support (full text and content-coded), word processing, time and billing, docket control, and conflict of interest. Prerequisites: LEAN 5010 and LEAN 5260.
LEAN 5520 Law on the Net (3)
Students will be introduced to the information highway through the use of emerging technology. Particular emphasis will be placed on accessing resources of interest to legal researchers through the Internet. Prerequisites: LEAN 5010 and LEAN 5260.
LEAN 5610 Legal Aspects of Human Resources Management (3)
This course provides an overview of legal issues affecting human resources management. It focuses on the dynamic impact federal and state law exert on organizations with regard to employment issues, including labor relations, employment discrimination, wages and hours, and workers' compensation. The course emphasizes some of the legal problems associated with the management of human resources and the legal impact of human resources decisions.
LEAN 5620 Applied Legal Decision Making (3)
This course is designed to help the student understand the decision-making process as it relates to legal issues. Students will focus on identifying legal issues, discerning the applicable law, applying the pertinent facts, and engaging in escalating degrees of legal analysis. Students will apply these skills to a variety of topics, including the formation, continuation, and termination of business entities, potential personnel problems, contractual relationships, and the fiduciary duties inherent to professional positions.
LEAN 5630 Legal Aspects of Intercultural Management (3)
Students examine the cultural aspects of managing businesses and other entities within the United States and in other countries. Among the topics students will examine is the impact of culture, ethnicity, gender, and other factors on the legal management of a U.S. entity, the conflict of laws in international management, and trends affecting national and international law pertaining to management.
LEAN 5640 Legal Aspects of Managing Technology (3)
Students examine the implications of managing technology and the products of technology, including e-mail, wireless telephones, surveillance, employee records, and employee tracking devices. Civil law, criminal law, regulations, and ethical rules will be studied.
LEAN 6000 Integrated Law Project (3)
The student is expected to apply the legal principles learned in this program, along with current research to produce a project with theoretical and/or practical application to typical legal issues relative to the legal environment in which the student functions or plans to function. Prerequisite: completion of all other required courses in this major.
470 East Lockwood Avenue