Legal Studies for the Paralegal: AAS

Legal Studies for the Paralegal: AAS

Associate in Applied Science | 60 credit hours minimum

Area of Interest: Education, Public Service, and Social Sciences

Program Website

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Program Description:

The Associate in Applied Science in Legal Studies for the Paralegal degree at St. Louis Community College is the oldest Paralegal degree program in the United States.  It prepares and enhances student knowledge and skills for careers in the paralegal profession. Students develop a basic legal vocabulary and gain an understanding of Federal and Missouri statutes, cases, regulations and court systems.  Students will be able to describe the legal process as well as study concepts from various specific areas of law.  Students develop skills in analyzing legal problems, drafting/preparing legal documents and enhancing their professional development.  

Persons interested in this program should have an interest in the law. They should be self-motivated, able to work without supervision and have good oral and written communication skills.

Graduates are qualified for positions as paralegals in private law firms, corporations, government agencies, and other businesses.

Locations. This program is offered at Meramec by taking a mixture of face-to-face and online courses.

Related Programs. The Legal Studies Department offers a certificate in the following area:

Legal Studies for the Paralegal, Certificate of Proficiency

Cost of Attendance.  For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES

Program Career and Salary Information.  Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest. 

The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.

Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.   

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

  1. draft legal documents while demonstrating appropriate grammar.
  2. analyze legal documents as well as other case matter resources to identify and summarize relevant materials for the case.
  3. examine case matter and identify appropriate research resources as well as analyze research results to support case matter while demonstrating appropriate grammar.
  4. identify and assemble legal documents and court forms required for case matter.
  5. implement appropriate management of clients and case matters including calendar control, file management and billing.
  6. formulate an action plan to facilitate the resolution of the case matter and implement plan to conclusion of the case.
  7. select opportunities to pursue professional development while demonstrating appropriate communication skills.
  8. describe fundamental elements involved in the conduct of business.
  9. demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

Program of Study

General Education
ENG 101College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3
ENG 103Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110) (recommended)3
or ENG 102 College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)
XXX xxxCORE 42 Natural Science or MTH 140 or higher3
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3
COM xxxCORE 42 Communications Elective 13
Program Requirements
PSY 200General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100)3
or SOC 103 Work and Society
BUS 101Small Business Management (recommended)3
or BUS 104 Introduction to Business Administration
BUS xxxBusiness Electives 26
LGL 110Introduction to Law3
LGL 111Law Office Management3
LGL 113Computers and the Law3
LGL 217Legal Research3
LGL 218Legal Writing3
LGL 235Civil Litigation3
LEGAL ELECTIVES
Select 15 credit hours of the following:15
Group I Electives (select at least two courses from the Group I Electives)
Contract Law
Wills, Trusts, and Probate
Tort Law
Family Law
Group II Electives
Real Estate Law
Administrative Law
Employment Law
Topics in Law
Advanced Civil Litigation
Paralegal Clinical Studies 3
Workplace Learning: Paralegal 3
Total Credit Hours60
1

 Select from COM 101, COM 107 or COM 201.

2

Select from ACC 100, IS 116, MGT 120, MKT 104 or MKT 203.

3

 Student cannot receive credit for both LGL 280 and LGL 290 (or LGL 219).

Full-Time Academic Plan

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements.  Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
ENG 101 College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
PSY 200 General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100)
or Work and Society
3Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
LGL 110 Introduction to Law3Reading Proficiency
LGL 113 Computers and the Law3Reading Proficiency
MOTR Natural Science or MTH 140 or higher3  
Credit Hours15
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
ENG 103 Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)
or College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)
3ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyENG 103 is recommended.
LGL 235 Civil Litigation3LGL 110 or LGL 108 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3  
LGL 111 Law Office Management3Reading Proficiency
COM 101 Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)
or Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)
or Interpersonal Communication (MOTR COMM 120)
3Concurrent enrollment in ENG 070 or Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours15
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL 217 Legal Research3LGL 110 or LGL 108 with a minimum grade of "C", ENG 100 or ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyTake first 8 weeks
LGL 218 Legal Writing3LGL 217 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyTake second 8 weeks
BUS 101 Small Business Management
or Introduction to Business Administration
3Reading ProficiencyBUS 101 is recommended.
ACC 100 Applied Accounting
or Managerial Leadership
or Principles of Selling
or Principles of Marketing
or Computer Literacy
3Reading Proficiency
LGL 112 Contract Law
or Wills, Trusts, and Probate
or Tort Law
or Family Law
3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours15
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL Elective3 Apply for graduation
ACC 100 Applied Accounting
or Managerial Leadership
or Principles of Selling
or Principles of Marketing
or Computer Literacy
3Reading Proficiency
LGL Elective3  
LGL 112 Contract Law
or Wills, Trusts, and Probate
or Tort Law
or Family Law
3Reading Proficiency
LGL Elective3 LGL 280 or LGL 290 is recommended.
Credit Hours15
Total Credit Hours60

*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.

**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.

*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice.  Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor. 

Part-Time Academic Plan

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements.  Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
ENG 101 College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
LGL 110 Introduction to Law3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours6
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
ENG 102 College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)
or Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)
3ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyENG 103 is recommended.
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics3  
LGL 112 Contract Law
or Wills, Trusts, and Probate
or Tort Law
or Family Law
3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours9
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL 217 Legal Research3LGL 110 or LGL 108 with a minimum grade of "C", ENG 100 or ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyTake first 8-week.
LGL 218 Legal Writing3LGL 217 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyTake second 8-week.
BUS 101 Small Business Management
or Introduction to Business Administration
3Reading ProficiencyBUS 101 is recommended.
Credit Hours9
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL 112 Contract Law
or Wills, Trusts, and Probate
or Tort Law
or Family Law
3Reading Proficiency
LGL 235 Civil Litigation3LGL 110 or LGL 108 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours6
Third Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
PSY 200 General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100)
or Work and Society
3Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
COM 101 Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)
or Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)
or Interpersonal Communication (MOTR COMM 120)
3Concurrent enrollment in ENG 070 or Reading Proficiency
LGL 113 Computers and the Law3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours9
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL 111 Law Office Management3Reading Proficiency
ACC 100 Applied Accounting
or Computer Literacy
or Managerial Leadership
or Principles of Selling
or Principles of Marketing
3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours6
Fourth Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL Elective3  
ACC 100 Applied Accounting
or Computer Literacy
or Managerial Leadership
or Principles of Selling
or Principles of Marketing
3Reading Proficiency
MOTR Natural Science or MTH 140 or higher3  
Credit Hours9
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
LGL Elective3 Apply for graduation
LGL Elective3 LGL 280 or LGL 290 is recommended.
Credit Hours6
Total Credit Hours60

*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.

**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.

*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice.  Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.