Marymount University
Undergraduate Catalog 2012-13
Paralegal Studies
Paralegal Studies (B.A.)
This program prepares students to work as paralegals in corporate law departments, law firms, and law-related agencies.
This program is approved by the American Bar Association, providing students with paralegal certification, if earned. Certification requires the successful completion of coursework and 24 hours of approved pro bono legal service to the community. Graduates of ABA-approved paralegal programs may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
Students graduating from this program will be prepared for careers as paralegals or legal assistants.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to
- understand the sources of law, as well as federal and state court systems and their powers;
- conduct basic legal research, using print and computer sources;
- analyze a set of facts relating to a legal dispute to determine what further information is required to prepare for resolution of the dispute and where this information can be obtained;
- draft documents and prepare legal forms typically used in areas of general practice;
- understand the various types of documentation generated in legal cases and identify methods for information processing/document management with a computerized emphasis; and
- understand the ethical considerations affecting the practice of law.
Internship Prerequisites: A minimum of 90 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all Business Law/Paralegal Studies courses are required in order to register for the internship (LA 490).
Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C- is required in every course that serves as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered legal specialty course in the Paralegal Studies major.
Degree Requirements
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
ACT 201 Principles of Accounting I
ACT 202 Principles of Accounting II
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics
FIN 301 Financial Management
IT 110 Information Technology in the Global Age
LA 248 Business Law I
LA 249 Business Law II
LA 280 Introduction to the Legal System
LA 301 Civil Litigation
LA 302 Criminal Litigation
LA 303 Litigation Support Technology or HRM 336 Labor Relations
LA 305 General Practice I
LA 306 General Practice II
LA 391 Legal Research and Writing
LA 409 Public Law and Procedure or Business elective
LA 430 Current Issues in Employment Law
LA 490 Internship
LA 491 Computerized Legal Research
MA 155 Finite Mathematics (Students needing preparation for this course should plan to complete that preparation during the freshman year)
MGT 123 The Business Experience
MGT 304 Organizational Management
MGT 385 International Business or MGT 485 International Management
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
PH 305 Business Ethics
POL 104 American Government
POL 335 Constitutional Law or Business elective
24 hours of approved pro bono legal service to the community
Sample Degree Plan — Paralegal Studies
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
IT 110 Information Technology in the Global Age §
MGT 123 The Business Experience §
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
MA 155 Finite Mathematics (MT core course) § *
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
POL 104 American Government (SS-1 core course) § *
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1) core course*
Year Two — Fall
ACT 201 Principles of Accounting I §
LA 248 Business Law I §
LA 280 Introduction to the Legal System § *
LA 302 Criminal Litigation §
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
Year Two — Spring
ACT 202 Principles of Accounting II §
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (SS-1 core course) § *
LA 249 Business Law II §
LA 301 Civil Litigation §
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
Year Three — Fall
FIN 301 Financial Management §
LA 305 General Practice I §
LA 409 Public Law and Procedure § or Business elective
MGT 304 Organizational Management §
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Year Three — Spring
LA 306 General Practice II §
LA 430 Current Issues in Employment Law §
MGT 385 International Business or MGT 485 International Management §
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing §
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Year Four — Fall
LA 391 Legal Research and Writing § *
PH 305 Business Ethics (PH-2 core course) § *
POL 335 Constitutional Law or Business course §
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Four — Spring
LA 303 Litigation Support Technology or HRM 336 Labor Relations §
LA 490 Internship § *
LA 491 Computerized Legal Research § *
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
Paralegal Studies (Undergraduate Certificate)
This certificate is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). When a student receives a Paralegal Studies certificate from an ABA-approved program, the student may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. To receive the undergraduate paralegal certificate, a student must successfully complete coursework and 24 hours of approved pro bono legal service to the community.
Admission Requirement: This program is offered only for those Marymount students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Contact the program director for enrollment information and procedures.
Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C- is required in every course that serves as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered legal specialty course in the Paralegal Studies certificate.
Certificate Requirements
30 credits
LA 280 Introduction to the Legal System
LA 301 Civil Litigation
LA 302 Criminal Litigation
LA 305-306 General Practice I and II
LA 391 Legal Research and Writing
LA 409 Public Law and Procedure or LA 430 Current Issues in Employment Law
LA 490 Internship (6 credits)
LA 491 Computerized Legal Research
(LA 248 Business Law I and LA 249 Business Law II are recommended, though not required.)
Business Law Specialty Under the B.B.A.
Catalog Contents
Academic Information and Policies
Credit Acquisition Opportunities
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Student Academic Policies
Students Pursuing a Double Major or Dual Degrees
Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core
Undergraduate Pre-professional Studies
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Catalog Links