The St. John’s Associate’s Degree in Legal Studies prepares students for entry-level work in law and for the further study of law by teaching foundational skills in the practice of law: close reading of legal texts; legal research; legal writing; and legal analysis. The St. John’s Legal Studies Program is an American Bar Association-approved Paralegal Education Program. And, graduates of the legal studies program are given a paralegal credential that can be used to obtain work after college. Legal assistants and paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. The Legal Studies Associate’s Degree is 60 credits, including 30 credits in the liberal arts and including at least 21 credits (7 courses) in law. All legal studies students take the five following required courses: LES 1100, Introduction to Legal Studies, which is an introduction to the close reading of legal texts, to legal analysis and to basic litigation procedure. LES 1101, Legal Research and Writing I, which aims to teach students to report on legal sources in writing in a way that is customary in the legal profession and to teach students to report legal analyses in writing in a way that is customary in the legal profession. LES 1102, Legal Research and Writing II, which teaches students to perform simple legal research. LES 1004, Litigation Practice (Civil), which teaches the rules of procedure in civil actions. LES 1015, Legal Ethics, which teaches the law governing the practice of law. In addition to these five required courses, legal studies associate’s degree students take at least two electives in substantive areas of law. The elective courses that students choose from include: Tort Law (Personal Injury Law), Family Law, Real Estate Law, Bankruptcy Law, Insurance Law, Probate Law, Elder Law, Corporate Law, Contracts, Intellectual Property Law, Employment Law, Immigration Law, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, and Trial Advocacy.
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