Marymount University
Graduate Catalog 2012-13
Legal Administration/Paralegal Studies
Students graduating from one of the Legal Administration or Paralegal Studies programs will be prepared for careers as paralegals or legal assistants.
Upon successful completion of these programs, graduates 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.
Legal Administration (M.A.)
Students in this program may choose from two tracks, depending upon their career goals. These tracks are approved by the American Bar Association. Graduates of ABA-approved programs may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
Minimum Grade Requirements: Students in the Legal Administration program must meet the University’s academic standards for graduate students and achieve a minimum grade of B- in all Legal Administration (LA) courses. All SBA graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Sequence of classes: Students are encouraged to take LA 590 and LA 591 early in the course sequence in Track I and II, and LA 550 toward the end of the Track I program. Students should also make note of course prerequisites and when courses are offered while planning their schedules. Prerequisite course information can be found in the Course Description section of this catalog and online.
Track I – Legal Specialty Training
Track I prepares graduate students in master’s-level specialty law courses to qualify as practicing paralegals or paralegal administrators.
Degree Requirements
Students without prior paralegal or criminal justice experience must complete LA 500 Introduction to the Legal System, in addition to the following:
36 credits
LA 501 Civil and Criminal Procedure
LA 505 General Legal Procedures
LA 509 Public Law and Administrative Procedures
LA 550 Law Office Management
LA 561 Law and the Business Environment
LA 562 Law, Computers, and the Internet
LA 590 Supervising Legal Research and Writing
LA 591 Advanced Legal Research and Writing/Computerized Legal Research
1 LA 500-level elective course
MBA 515 Organizational Behavior
2 Business 500-level elective courses
Students enrolled in this track may also qualify to receive a Paralegal Studies graduate certificate if they complete the requirements as described under the certificate.
Track II – Paralegals Moving into Paralegal Administration
Track II prepares graduate students for administrative responsibilities as paralegal supervisors or for administering paralegal departments within law firms, corporate law departments, or law-related agencies.
Degree Requirements
Students without prior paralegal or criminal justice experience must complete LA 500 Introduction to the Legal System, in addition to the following:
36 credits
FIN 500 Finance for Nonfinancial Managers
HRM 530 Human and Organizational Development in Health Care
LA 509 Public Law and Administrative Procedures
LA 550 Law Office Management
LA 561 Law and the Business Environment
LA 562 Law, Computers, and the Internet
LA 590 Supervising Legal Research and Writing
LA 591 Advanced Legal Research and Writing/Computerized Legal Research
MBA 512 Accounting for Managers
MBA 515 Organizational Behavior
2 Business 500-level elective courses
Students enrolled in this track may also qualify to receive a Paralegal Studies graduate certificate if they complete the requirements as described under the certificate.
Legal Administration Track under the M.B.A.
See Business Administration (M.B.A.).
Paralegal Studies (Graduate Certificate)
This certificate is offered for those students who have a bachelor’s degree. The certificate may be earned either independently or in conjunction with a Master of Arts in Legal Administration. This program 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.
Minimum Grade Requirements: Students in this certificate program must meet the University’s academic standards for graduate students and achieve a minimum grade of B- for each course required in the degree. All SBA graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Certificate Requirements
18 credits
Students enrolling in this certificate program who have no prior paralegal or criminal justice experience must complete LA 500 Introduction to the Legal System in addition to the following courses:
LA 501 Civil and Criminal Procedure
LA 505 General Legal Procedures
LA 509 Public Law and Administrative Procedures
LA 562 Law, Computers, and the Internet
LA 590 Supervising Legal Research and Writing
LA 591 Advanced Legal Research and Writing/Computerized Legal Research
24 hours of approved pro bono legal service to the community
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