With a degree in Legal Studies from the Montgomery campus of Faulkner University, graduates are ready to work as paraprofessionals, assisting lawyers and specialists throughout the legal field. This program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), and graduates will receive an ABA-approved paralegal certificate along with the legal studies degree. Furthermore, students who plan to pursue a legal studies degree find that the Legal Studies program provides them with the experience and education they need to make a strong application to law school. Students can received one of the following: A.S. in Legal Studies, B.S. in Legal Studies, Associate in legal Studies (ALS)*, or Bachelor in Legal Studies (BLS)*.
*These degrees are designed for adult students.
Guidelines for Transferring Credits
Students who plan to transfer existing credits when applying to the Legal Studies degree program should be aware of the following:
- The ABA-approved program is available only at the Montgomery campus of Faulkner University.
- At least 9 hours of Legal Specialty courses must be taken in the traditional or synchronous classroom setting (not online).
- A minimum residency of 40 percent at the Montgomery campus is required for all transfer students.
- Faulkner University requires at least 36 upper-level credits for all bachelor’s degree programs.
In addition, the Legal Studies degree program accepts no more than 50 percent of legal specialty courses in transfer. These must be from regionally accredited institutions. Transfer students also must complete a handful of other requirements. See our student handbook for complete information.
Objectives:
- To offer a curriculum in which Legal Studies students demonstrate a broad understanding of substantive law and procedural law.
- To prepare Legal Studies students to apply non-complex legal concepts to factual situations, compose basic legal arguments, and produce basic legal documents such as pleadings, contracts, discovery, briefs, motions, settlement and closing forms, and wills.
- To prepare Legal Studies students to demonstrate the ability to conduct basic legal research of primary and secondary sources, validate research results, and cite primary and secondary sources using Bluebook citation form and use appropriate legal terminology that is common in written and oral legal communication.
- To prepare Legal Studies students to demonstrate the personal and professional ethics that are expected in the workplace, identify appropriate work ethics for a law office or other legal environment, and demonstrate application of these ethics.
- To prepare Legal Studies students to demonstrate interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace.
- To graduate Legal Studies students who have an understanding of the paralegal career, skills needed, and employment opportunities available in private practice, government agencies, and corporate legal department.
Start Your Career with a Legal Studies Degree in Montgomery, AL
For students who are attracted to a career in law, whether as a paraprofessional or a lawyer, the Legal Studies degree at Faulkner University is a great choice. The program at the Montgomery campus is approved by the American Bar Association, and graduates also receive an ABA-approved paralegal certificate. With an ethical course of study, solidly based on Christian values, students are prepared to uphold equal justice and social responsibility in the AL legal system. Apply now or request more information about our legal studies degree today.
*Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
View Curriculum:
Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies (BSLS)
AY 24-25 Undergraduate Course Catalog
| Category | Course | Hours | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Lit. | BI 1315 Biblical Worldview I | 3 | |||
| BI 1316 Biblical Worldview II | 3 | ||||
| BI 2318 Understanding Biblical Literature | 3 | ||||
| BI 2319 Christian Ethics | 3 | ||||
| BI 3311 Marriage and Family Relations | 3 | ||||
| BI 4311 Christian Cultural Heritage | 3 | ||||
| Total | 18 | ||||
| Cultural Heritage Literacy | HU 2315 Western Tradition I | 3 | |||
| HU 2325 Western Tradition II | 3 | ||||
| HY 2320 American Cultural Heritage | 3 | ||||
| Total | 9 | ||||
| Information and Communication Literacy | EH 1301 English Composition I | 3 | |||
| EH 1302 English Composition II | 3 | ||||
| EH 2301 OR EH 2303 OR EH 2304 Survey of English Literature OR Survey of American Literature I OR Survey of American Literature II | 3 | ||||
| Total | 9 | ||||
|
Mathematics Requirement: MH 1338 Finite Math (or higher) (3) Natural or Physical Science Requirement: |
|||||
| Mathematical and Scientific Literacy | |||||
| Total | 7 | ||||
| Personal and Social Literacy | PE 1300 Lifetime Fitness | 3 | |||
| FAF 1111 OR FAF 2111* Faulkner Foundations - Transfer | 1 | ||||
| CJ 1300 Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 | ||||
| Total | 7 | ||||
|
CA 1302 Computer Apps (3) EH 1303 Speech Communication (3) |
|||||
| Departmental Requirements | |||||
| Total 6 | |||||
| Professional Literacy | LS 1300 Introduction to Paralegalism I | 3 | |||
| LS 1310 Legal Research and Writing | 3 | ||||
| LS 1320 Law Office Management | 3 | ||||
| LS 2304 Paralegal Ethics | 3 | ||||
| LS 2370 Tort Law | 3 | ||||
| LS 3340 Principles of Litigation | 3 | ||||
| LS 3341 Evidence for Paralegals | 3 | ||||
| LS 3350 Advanced Legal Writing | 3 | ||||
| LS 4391 Seminar in Professionalism | 3 | ||||
| LS/CJ 3305 Constitutional Law | 3 | ||||
| LS/CJ 4303 Interview and Interrogation | 3 | ||||
| LS/CJ 4360 Internship | 3 | ||||
| LS 4370 Trial Preparation | 3 | ||||
| Total Professional Literacy | 39 | ||||
| Major Field Electives (Choose 3 for 9 hours) | |||||
| BCJ 3311 CJ Professional | 3 | ||||
| BCJ 3324 Crisis Management | 3 | ||||
| BCJ/CJ 3304 Juvenile Justice | 3 | ||||
| BCJ/CJ 3309 First Line Supervision | 3 | ||||
| BCJ/CJ 3314 Community Based Policing | 3 | ||||
| CJ 3316 Introduction to Criminal Justice Writing | 3 | ||||
| BCJ/CJ 4301 Criminalistics | 3 | ||||
| BCJ/CJ 2332 Biblical Law | 3 | ||||
| CJ 2340 Fingerprinting | 3 | ||||
| CJ 2351 Criminal Investigations | 3 | ||||
| BCJ 3306 Private Security | 3 | ||||
| General Electives | 18 | ||||
| Total Hours | 122 |
Bachelor of Legal Studies (BLS)
AY 24-25 Undergraduate Course Catalog
|
Bachelor of Legal Studies (BLS) Degree Plan |
||||||
|
Total Core Curriculum |
66 |
hours |
||||
|
General Education Requirements |
15 |
hours |
||||
|
BCJ 3311 |
CJ Professional |
3 |
||||
|
BCJ 3324 |
Crisis Management |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2304 |
Paralegal Ethics |
3 |
||||
|
EH 1301 |
English Composition I |
3 |
||||
|
EH 1302 |
English Composition II |
3 |
||||
|
Mathematics Core Requirement (choose 1) |
3 |
hours |
||||
|
MH 1300 |
College Mathematics |
3 |
||||
|
MH 1335 |
Intermediate Algebra |
3 |
||||
|
MH 1338 |
Finite Math |
3 |
||||
|
MH 1340 |
Precalculus Algebra |
3 |
||||
|
Science Core Elective (choose 1) |
3 |
hours |
||||
|
BIO 1300 |
Perspectives of Biology |
3 |
||||
|
BIO 1301 |
Principles of Biology I |
3 |
||||
|
BIO 1302 |
Principles of Biology II |
3 |
||||
|
BIO 2320 |
Man and His Environment |
3 |
||||
|
BIO 2393 |
Human A & P I |
3 |
||||
|
BIO 2394 |
Human A & P II |
3 |
||||
|
CHM 1300 |
Chemistry and Society |
3 |
||||
|
CHM 1311 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
||||
|
CHM 1312 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
||||
|
PHY 1304 |
Prin. of Physical Science I |
3 |
||||
|
PHY 1305 |
Princ. Of Physical Science II |
3 |
||||
|
PHY 2311 |
University Physics I |
3 |
||||
|
PHY 2312 |
University Physics II |
3 |
||||
|
Social Science Options (choose 4 from history, political science, economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, library science, geography, literature, or humanities) |
12 |
hours |
||||
|
Departmental Requirements |
6 |
hours |
||||
|
EH 1303 |
Speech Communication |
3 |
||||
|
CA 1302 |
Computer Apps |
3 |
||||
|
General Electives |
27 |
hours |
|||
Total Core Curriculum 66 hours
|
Professional Literacy |
54 |
hours |
||||
|
Legal Studies |
54 |
hours |
||||
|
LS 1300 |
Introduction to Paralegalism I |
3 |
||||
|
LS 1310 |
Legal Research and Writing |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2370 |
Tort Law |
3 |
||||
|
LS 3340 |
Principles of Litigation |
3 |
||||
|
LS 3341 |
Evidence for Paralegals |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2320 |
Real Property Law* |
3 |
||||
|
LS 1320 |
Law Office Management |
3 |
||||
|
LS 3350 |
Adv Legal Research and Writing |
3 |
||||
|
LS 4380 |
Bus Org & Contracts* |
3 |
||||
|
LS 4310 |
Family Law* |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2330 |
Probate, Wills, Estate* |
3 |
||||
|
BCJ 4303 |
Interview and Interrogation |
3 |
||||
|
BCJ 3305 |
Constitutional Law |
3 |
||||
|
LS 4370 |
Trial Preparation for Paralegal |
3 |
||||
|
LS 4360 |
Legal Studies Internship |
3 |
||||
|
LS 4391 |
Seminar in Professionalism |
3 |
||||
|
LS 4350 |
Directed Study: Legal Studies* |
3 |
||||
|
LS 3360 |
Administrative Law* |
3 |
||||
|
Total Hours |
120 |
hours |
||||
*These courses are LS electives; substitutions may be made among LS electives. |
||||||
|
At least nine hours of Legal Specialty courses must be taken in the traditional classroom setting or via synchronous instruction. |
||||||
|
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 40% in residency at Faulkner to Graduate. |
||||||
|
The university requires at least 36 upper-level credits for all bachelor’s degrees. Some programs may require more. |
||||||
Associate of Science in Legal Studies (ASLS)
AY 24-25 Undergraduate Course Catalog
|
A.S. in Legal Studies Degree Plan |
||||||
|
Core Curriculum |
46 |
hours |
||||
|
Christian Literacy |
12 |
hours |
||||
|
BI 1315 |
Biblical Worldview I |
3 |
||||
|
BI 1316 |
Biblical Worldview II |
3 |
||||
|
BI 2318 |
Understanding Biblical Literature |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2304 |
Paralegal Ethics |
3 |
||||
|
Cultural Heritage Literacy |
9 |
hours |
||||
|
HU 2315 |
Western Tradition I |
3 |
||||
|
HU 2325 |
Western Tradition II |
3 |
||||
|
HY 2320 |
American Heritage |
3 |
||||
|
Information and Communication Literacy |
6 |
hours |
||||
|
EH 1301 |
English Composition I |
3 |
||||
|
EH 1302 |
English Composition II |
3 |
||||
|
Mathematical and Scientific Literacy |
7 |
hours |
||||
|
Mathematics |
||||||
|
MH 1338 |
Finite Math (or higher) |
3 |
||||
|
Natural Science |
||||||
|
BIO 1319 |
Environmental Science |
3 |
||||
|
BIO 1119 |
Laboratory |
1 |
||||
|
Personal and Social Literacy |
6 |
hours |
||||
|
Personal |
||||||
|
PE 1300 |
Lifetime Fitness |
3 |
||||
|
Social Science |
||||||
|
LS 1300 |
Introduction to Paralegalism I |
3 |
||||
|
Departmental Requirements |
6 |
hours |
||||
|
EH 1303 |
Speech Communication |
3 |
||||
|
Choose 1 of the following: |
||||||
|
CIS 1301 |
Introduction to Computer and Information Science |
3 |
||||
|
CS 1305 |
Computer Programming I |
3 |
||||
|
Professional Literacy |
30 |
hours |
||||
|
Legal Studies |
||||||
|
LS 1310 |
Introduction to Legal Research and Writing |
3 |
||||
|
LS 1320 |
Law Office Management |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2370 |
Tort Law |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2340 |
Principles of Litigation |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2341 |
Evidence for Paralegals |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2190 |
Paralegal Portfolio |
1 |
||||
|
Electives (choose four of the following): |
||||||
|
LS 2330 |
Probate Law |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2310 |
Family Law |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2320 |
Real Property Law |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2346 |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2350 |
Directed Study (CLA Exam) |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2360 |
Internship |
3 |
||||
|
LS 2380 |
Business Law |
3 |
||||
|
Total Hours |
74 |
|||||
At least nine hours of Legal Specialty courses must be taken in the traditional classroom setting or via synchronous instruction.
*These courses are LS electives; substitutions may be made among LS electives.
At least nine hours of Legal Specialty courses must be taken in the traditional classroom setting or via synchronous instruction.
Associate of Legal Studies (ALS)
AY 24-25 Undergraduate Course Catalog
*These courses are LS electives; substitutions may be made among LS electives.At least nine hours of Legal Specialty courses must be taken in the traditional classroom setting or via synchronous instruction.
| Associate of Legal Studies (ALS) Degree Plan | ||||||||
| Core Requirements | 33 | hours | ||||||
| General Education Requirements | 9 | hours | ||||||
| BCJ 3311 | CJ Professional | 3 | ||||||
| BCJ 3324 | Crisis Management | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2304 | Paralegal Ethics | 3 | ||||||
| Mathematics Core Requirement (choose 1) | 3 | hours | ||||||
| MH 1300 | College Mathematics | 3 | ||||||
| MH 1335 | Intermediate Algebra | 3 | ||||||
| MH 1338 | Finite Math | 3 | ||||||
| MH 1340 | Precalculus Algebra | 3 | ||||||
| Science Core Elective (choose 1) | 3 | hours | ||||||
| BIO 1300 | Perspectives of Biology | 3 | ||||||
| BIO 1301 | Principles of Biology I | 3 | ||||||
| BIO 1302 | Principles of Biology II | 3 | ||||||
| BIO 2320 | Man and His Environment | 3 | ||||||
| BIO 2393 | Human A & P I | 3 | ||||||
| BIO 2394 | Human A & P II | 3 | ||||||
| CHM 1300 | Chemistry and Society | 3 | ||||||
| CHM 1311 | General Chemistry I | 3 | ||||||
| CHM 1312 | General Chemistry II | 3 | ||||||
| PHY 1304 | Prin. of Physical Science I | 3 | ||||||
| PHY 1305 | Prin. of Physical Science II | 3 | ||||||
| PHY 2311 | University Physics I | 3 | ||||||
| PHY 2312 | University Physics II | 3 | ||||||
| Social Science (6 hours your choice) | 6 | hours | ||||||
| Information and Communication Literacy | 6 | hours | ||||||
| EH 1301 | English Composition I | 3 | ||||||
| EH 1302 | English Composition II | 3 | ||||||
| Departmental Requirements | 6 | hours | ||||||
| EH 1303 | Speech Communication | 3 | ||||||
| CA 1302 | Computer Applications | 3 | ||||||
| Professional Literacy | 29 | hours | ||||||
| Legal Studies | ||||||||
| LS 1300 | Introduction to Paralegalism | 3 | ||||||
| LS 1310 | Intro Leg Research & Writing | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2370 | Tort Law | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2340 | Principles of Litigation | 3 | ||||||
| LS 3341 | Evidence for Paralegals | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2330 | Probate, Wills, Estate* | 3 | ||||||
| LS 1320 | Law Office Management | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2346 | Criminal Law and Procedure* | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2310 | Family Law* | 3 | ||||||
| LS 2290 | Paralegal Portfolio | 2 | ||||||
| Total Hours | 62 | |||||||
*These are LS electives.; substitutions may be made among LS electives.
At least nine hours of Legal Specialty courses must be taken in the traditional classroom setting or via synchronous instruction.
Contact Us:
Cathy Davis
Chair of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies/ Program Director for Legal Studies
334-386-7304
Lauren James
Assistant Professor and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies
334-386-7529
