Department of Legal Studies
We have an excellent program that offers the student a solid legal education. The program offers small classes with the best of instruction and resources. The program includes a full complement of legal courses designed to offer the student a well-rounded education and the utmost opportunity to succeed. Further, this concentration provides an excellent foundation for further legal study in graduate and professional programs.
Nationally Recognized Majors
The W offers a comprehensive four-year baccalaureate degree in Legal Studies. The B.S. or B.A. degree program is one of only two programs in Mississippi approved by the American Bar Association. It is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of legal concepts and analytical skills to enable graduates to perform as efficient members of a legal team.
Legally-Minded Minors
The department offers two minors—Legal Studies and Pre-Law—for students of any major in fields closely related or impacted by law such as business, political science, nursing, and communication. Further, it provides a legal foundation for those intending to go to law school.
Student Organizations
The Department of Legal Studies sponsors the Mock Trial team, a competitive intercollegiate team open to students of all majors. The program also sponsors Bench & Gavel, a club open to all Legal Studies students, and Lambda Epsilon Chi, a national honorary fraternity for paralegals.
Program Objectives:
- To train students as paralegals to assist attorneys in law offices, legal services corporations, banks, corporations, and various government agencies by providing instruction and experience in general education, business, and law.
- To provide students with a basic understanding of legal concepts and terms of subjects which are vital to practicing paralegals. To provide students with legal writing and research skills to enable graduates to perform as efficient members of a legal team.
- To support the general principles of ethical and professional responsibilities and to support the prohibitions against the unauthorized practice of law by lay persons.
- To provide knowledge of the principles of ethical and professional responsibilities as these relate to lawyers, legal assistants, and clients and to the legal profession.
- To provide a broad background in general education for the development of a well-rounded individual.
- To constantly improve and adjust the program to meet the needs of the community by seeking input from judges, local attorneys, legal assistants, and students.
- To maintain equality of opportunity in the education program without discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, natural origin, or gender.
The W’s legal studies program is designed for the education of paralegals. Paralegals shall not provide legal services directly to the public, unless otherwise permitted by law. The legal studies minor and the pre-law minor are not approved by the American Bar Association and not intended to prepare students as paralegals.
