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Paralegal Studies

This program aims to provide a breadth of coverage for students to succeed as paralegals within any environment and allow for continued learning in workplace settings. Lander's curriculum will also prepare a student for graduate education - including, but not limited to, law school.

 

A Successful Career Begins Here

Earning a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies is an excellent option for anyone wishing for a successful career as a paralegal - in a business, law firm or government agency.

Attorneys realize that persons with a bachelor's degree have greater writing, research, and critical thinking skills, so employers now prefer this credential, and some even require a bachelor's degree. This shift continues the professionalization of this field by state bar associations for many years. This program will prepare graduates to work in the legal profession in private enterprises such as law firms, insurance companies, banks and mortgage companies, or government agencies as a paralegal.

 

Earn Your Degree Quickly

For students who have earned an associate's degree, this program will take just two years to complete. (If less than 60 hours of coursework has been earned, more time is needed.) Classes are offered in fall, spring, and summer terms, and the time to degree depends upon how much coursework a student takes each term.

We are currently planning 16-week schedules for fall and spring courses and 6-week schedules for summer courses. Lander has the ability to offer 8-week courses during fall and spring as well as courses across the entire summer. If there is sufficient demand for these options, they will be provided.

 

Online, On Campus or Hybrid Delivery

This program is offered on Lander's main campus in Greenwood, at the University Center of Greenville (UCG), as well as online.

Most students will pursue this program at the University Center of Greenville (UCG) and online, but all three options are available. Courses at the UCG are in a hybrid mode, but a full course load of 12-15 hours would likely involve some online courses for progress toward completing the degree in two years. Many more courses have face-to-face options on the main campus, but hybrid and online courses are offered as well.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

The program will admit new applicants on an on-going basis and new students can start the program each August, January, or June.
No, but this is preferred. LEG courses offered by technical colleges cover many areas of the law, so Lander's program is designed to add to this and supplement it with courses that build writing, research, and critical thinking skills. The admissions requirement is a minimum of 12 hours of LEG coursework at the 100- or 200-level with preferences for courses in legal writing; law and ethics, and legal research or legal bibliography. If an applicant has coursework focusing on a liberal arts discipline or business, please contact Lander for guidance on how to proceed toward a path of being admitted for this degree program.
Up to 64 credit hours can be transferred into Lander from an accredited two- or four-year institution. Students with an associate's degree have typically complete 60 or more hours of coursework. Lander has worked with specific technical colleges for a four-year plan that is a pathway to earn this B.S. degree. Contact Lander for more information on pathway opportunities.
No. The Paralegal Studies program is designed for those who bring coursework in the law from a technical college. Instead, you are best advised to pursue the Pre-Law Minor as well as the law classes in Political Science that are a part of it. It would be in your best interest to take more of these law-related POLS classes than required in the Pre-Law Minor to expand your knowledge of the law. If you do these things, you would be permitted to take LEG 499: Advanced Legal Research to have more exposure and training in Westlaw, the premier legal research tool. This recommended path would prepare you to go to law school or to pursue a Paralegal degree from a technical college. If you hold a bachelor's degree, you will qualify for an accelerated Paralegal program. The legal field increasingly desires paralegals with a bachelor's degree and formal paralegal training. Reach out to Dr. Ashley Woodiwiss at awoodiwiss@lander.edu for more information about law school and this curricular options.​
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS1 CREDIT
HOURS
A. Core Skills

 
  ENGL 101 Writing and Inquiry I 3
  ENGL 102 Writing and Inquiry II 3
Approved Mathematics 3

B. Humanities and Fine Arts
  PHIL 103

Logic

 3
   

Approved Humanities and Fine Arts elective

 3
C. Behavioral and Social Perspectives
(6 hours selected from 2 different disciplines)		 6
D. Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning
    Approved Science or Mathematics 3
    Approved Lab Science 4
E. Founding Documents of the United States
  POLS 101

American National Government

 3
F. World Cultures 3
G. LINK 101 1
University Requirement
  FALS 101 15 FALS-approved events (Temporarily suspended)

0
Total General Education Requirements 35

1 For approved courses see the General Education section

 

MAJOR PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS CREDIT
HOURS
ACCT 201 Financial Accounting Principles 3
BA 251 Business Law 3
WRIT 275 Business Communications 3
PHIL 302 Ethics 3
LEG 308 Law, Politics, & Society 3
LEG 499 Advanced Legal Research 3
POLS 386 State & Local Government 3

 

MAJOR PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS CREDIT
HOURS
Law (select three)
LEG 311, LEG 312, LEG 313, LEG 366, LEG 371		 9

Technical Writing (select one)
ENGL 350, ENGL 373, ENGL 450		 3

 

MAJOR PROGRAM ELECTIVES* CREDIT
HOURS
  200-level LEG electives

12
   
Total Major Program Requirements 45
Additional Electives 40
TOTAL FOR BS DEGREE 120

 

*These four courses will be offered by an accredited Associate's degree program in Paralegal Studies (preferably with endorsement by the American Bar Association). Three specific courses are recommended: Introduction to Law & Ethics, Legal Writing, and Legal Bibliography/ Legal Research.

  • Coursework must include at least 30 credit hours earned at 300-level or above, of which 12 credit hours must be in the major.
  • Students must earn a "C" or better for coursework to be transferred into Lander, and a maximum of 64 hours of coursework can be transferred into Lander from a regionally accredited institution that offers two-year degrees.
  • See the 4-year major guide for recommended order in which to take courses