Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services
Description and Outcomes
The Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services program is designed to offer a broad-based foundation in the knowledge of the law and other related practical study areas, in conjunction with the practical and technical skills and competencies required of various professions in the legal field. Comprehensive study in areas such as legal research and writing, American justice system, legal ethics, legal philosophy, and various legal disciplines help prepare you for diverse career opportunities.
If you are interested in pursuing occupational advancement or seeking employment in legal support environments, including private law firms, corporations, and government agencies, consider this program. Duties may include providing support during legal proceedings, investigation, preparing various documents, managing technology, and researching and assessing legal issues.
Concentration
The bachelor's degree program offers you the opportunity to personalize a degree with a concentration in the paralegal profession.
Accelerated Master's Degree Options
If you are interested in earning a master's degree in human services, legal studies, psychology, or public administration, consider an accelerated master's degree option. Refer to the Progression Requirements section for details.
Program Length
The Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services program consists of a minimum of 180 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a bachelor of science degree.
Program Outcomes
Discipline-Specific Outcomes
- Theory and Principles: Explain the elements of specific areas of law.
- Research: Apply relevant primary and secondary legal sources to specific fact scenarios.
- Investigation: Investigate using exploratory techniques in the legal profession.
- Communications: Draft communications using legal sources from specific areas of law.
- Critical Thinking: Argue legal theories and the practices of various societal institutions.
General Education Literacies and Professional Competencies
In addition to the discipline-specific outcomes, general education literacies and professional competencies are integrated throughout your academic program. You can review the general education literacies and professional competencies associated with your academic program in the General Education and Professional Competency Requirements section of this Catalog.
Program Availability
For program availability, please refer to the U.S. State and Other Approvals section and Program Availability Information.
Policies
Please refer to school-specific policies and the Policy Information section for general Purdue Global policies.
Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams
Certain state certification and licensure boards have specific educational requirements for programs to lead to a license or nongovernmental certification that is a precondition for employment in a recognized occupation.
Unless otherwise specified, Purdue Global's programs are not designed to meet any specific state’s licensure or certification requirements. If certain licensed occupations, vocations, or professions are not explicitly listed, Purdue Global has not reviewed the licensure or certification requirements of those occupations, vocations, or professions, nor intended the program to meet such requirements. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please see Purdue Global’s Program Availability Information to determine enrollment eligibility.
You are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. Such requirements may change during the course of your program. You are not automatically certified in any way upon program completion. Although certain programs are designed to prepare you to take various optional certification exams, Purdue Global cannot guarantee you will be eligible to take these exams or become certified. Your eligibility may depend on your work experience, completion of education and/or degree requirements, not having a criminal record, meeting other certification requirements, or the program or the University itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure.
The 🌐 icon appears in the title of traditional courses that are also available as a set of module courses. Module course availability may be limited to certain academic calendars. See Course Types for information about module courses.
Program Requirements
Students in this program are not required to select a concentration.
Standard Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CM107 | 🌐 College Composition I | 5 |
| CM220 | 🌐 College Composition II | 5 |
| CS212 | 🌐 Communicating Professionalism | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Mathematics Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Arts and Humanities Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Science Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Social Science Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | General Education Electives | 10 |
| Total Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CM206 | 🌐 Interpersonal Communications | 5 |
| IT133 | 🌐 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand 2,3 | 5 |
| or PA230 | Introduction to Legal Technology | |
| LS100 | Introduction to the Law and Legal Profession 3 | 5 |
| LS185 | Introduction to American Jurisprudence 3 | 5 |
| LS204 | Legal Research and Writing | 5 |
| LS244 | Advanced Legal Research and Writing | 5 |
| PA253 | Legal Ethics 3 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Major Elective | 5 |
| LS308 | Law and Society | 6 |
| LS311 | 🌐 Business Law | 6 |
| LS312 | Ethics and the Legal Environment | 6 |
| LS490 | Legal Philosophy | 6 |
| PA412 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 6 |
| 300/400 Level | Major Electives (see below) | 12 |
| LS495 | Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services Capstone | 6 |
| Total Major Requirements | 88 | |
| Open Elective Requirements | ||
| Open Electives 4 | 47 | |
| Total Open Elective Requirements | 47 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 180 | |
| 1 | For options to fulfill this requirement, see the corresponding literacy in General Education and Professional Competency Requirements. |
| 2 | Online students will take PA230 Introduction to Legal Technology. |
| 3 | These degree requirements can be waived for students who are eligible for advanced start credit with a prior degree. See Advanced Start Credit in Bachelor’s Degrees in the Prior Learning Assessment section for details. |
| 4 | Eligible students who choose to complete an accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives. |
Concentration Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CM107 | 🌐 College Composition I | 5 |
| CM220 | 🌐 College Composition II | 5 |
| CS212 | 🌐 Communicating Professionalism | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Mathematics Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Arts and Humanities Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Science Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | Social Science Requirement 1 | 5 |
| 100/200 Level | General Education Electives | 10 |
| Total Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CM206 | 🌐 Interpersonal Communications | 5 |
| IT133 | 🌐 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand 2,3 | 5 |
| or PA230 | Introduction to Legal Technology | |
| LS100 | Introduction to the Law and Legal Profession 3 | 5 |
| LS185 | Introduction to American Jurisprudence 3 | 5 |
| LS204 | Legal Research and Writing | 5 |
| LS244 | Advanced Legal Research and Writing | 5 |
| PA253 | Legal Ethics 3 | 5 |
| LS308 | Law and Society | 6 |
| LS311 | 🌐 Business Law | 6 |
| LS312 | Ethics and the Legal Environment | 6 |
| LS490 | Legal Philosophy | 6 |
| PA412 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 6 |
| 100/200 Level | Major Electives (see below) | 10 |
| 300/400 Level | Major Electives (see below) | 12 |
| LS495 | Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services Capstone | 6 |
| Total Major Requirements | 93 | |
| Open Elective Requirements | ||
| Open Electives 4 | 42 | |
| Total Open Elective Requirements | 42 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 180 | |
| 1 | For options to fulfill this requirement, see the corresponding literacy in General Education and Professional Competency Requirements. |
| 2 | Online students will take PA230 Introduction to Legal Technology. |
| 3 | These degree requirements can be waived for students who are eligible for advanced start credit with a prior degree. See Advanced Start Credit in Bachelor’s Degrees in the Prior Learning Assessment section for details. |
| 4 | Eligible students who choose to complete an accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives. |
Paralegal
Concentration courses are completed within the major electives requirement of the degree plan.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PA110 | 🌐 Civil Litigation | 5 |
| PA260 | Criminal Law | 5 |
| PA301 | Administrative Law | 6 |
| PA305 | Law Office Management | 6 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 22 | |