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Paralegal Studies


2023-2024 GRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG

Effective 1 June 2023 through 31 May 2024

Please see the Graduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.

Graduate Certificate
24 Credit Hours

This program is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is available online, at the St. Louis main campus, the Gateway campus, online (asynchronous), and via Live Virtual (100% synchronous modality).

For information on the general requirements for a certificate, see Certificate Program Policies and Procedures under the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Program Description

The graduate paralegal certificate is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is the only ABA program in the St. Louis area. The coursework for the graduate paralegal certificate is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the legal environment in which individuals, businesses and the judiciary operates. This certificate should be attractive to those individuals who need additional legal knowledge to function more effectively (for example, managers, teachers, government employees and legal assistants).

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Utilize critical thinking strategies for legal reasoning and analysis.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the Code of Professional Responsibility to guide professional behaviors and decision-making.
  • Integrate the skills and knowledge necessary for understanding legal issues working from both theoretical and practical applications.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the essential goals of legal researching, problem solving and logic as applied to legal writing.
  • Evaluate legal information to be used in effective written communication for practical problems encountered in a legal environment.
  • Analyze the significant role that legal assistants have in the legal world.
  • Apply advanced legal knowledge and skills in legal practice.

Requirements

The 24 credit hours required for the graduate certificate in paralegal studies must include the following courses:

  • LEGL 5000 Introduction to Legal Studies (3 hours)
  • LEGL 5260 Methods of Legal Research and Writing I (3 hours)
  • LEGL 5270 Methods of Legal Research and Writing II (3 hours)
  • LEGL 5300 Ethics for the Legal Professional (3 hours)
  • LEGL 5470 Civil Actions (3 hours)
  • LEGL 5490 Advanced Topics in Law (6 hours)
  • LEGL 5800 Computerized Legal Research (3 hours)

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

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119