Legal Analysis (M.A.)
Locations
The M.A. in legal analysis is offered at the following locations:
Continental United States
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 M.A. 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.
Program Curriculum
The 36 credit hours required for the M.A. 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 M.A. 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. For the purposes of the
guidelines, the terms "legal
assistant" and "paralegal" are used interchangeably.
Therefore, paralegals are prohibited from practicing law. Webster University's
St. Louis area paralegal programs have been approved by the American
Bar Association. The Kansas City program has not applied for and, therefore,
is not currently 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 M.A. 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 5300 Ethics for the Legal Professional
LEGL 5260 Methods of Legal Research and Writing I
LEGL 5270 Methods of Legal Research and Writing II
LEGL 5470 Civil Actions
Two LEGL 5490 Advanced Topics in Law courses (6 credit hours)
(For LEAN students, one of the LEGL 5490 courses must be either LEGL
5490 Computers in the Law or LEGL 5490 Law on the Net)
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. For the purposes
of the guidelines, the terms “legal
assistant” and “paralegal” are used interchangeably.
Therefore, paralegals are prohibited from practicing law. Webster University’s
St. Louis area paralegal programs have been approved by the American
Bar Association. The Kansas City program has not applied for and, therefore,
is not currently approved by the American Bar Association.
A graduate
certificate in paralegal studies is offered at the St. Louis campuses
and at the Kansas City metropolitan campus. Webster's paralegal certificate
program in Webster Groves and downtown St. Louis has been approved
by the American Bar Association (ABA). The Kansas City certificate
program has not applied for, and therefore is not currently approved
by, the ABA.
Course Descriptions
LEAN 5010 Introduction to the American Legal System (3) (Requisite
Course)
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.
