Bay Path’s Legal Studies program prepares graduates for careers in law by providing a strong undergraduate education emphasizing communication, leadership, technology, and ethics. Students graduate knowing that paralegals work under the supervision of an attorney and are not authorized to engage in the practice of law. By challenging students to a rigorous curriculum of theory and practical application, the legal programs prepare them for law or graduate school as well as for professional opportunities in a wide variety of legal settings including: law firms; legal service agencies; courts; corporations; financial institutions; and city, state, and federal government agencies and offices. An undergraduate education in law also prepares students for careers in business, education, law enforcement, public administration, and public service. Upon completion of this degree, students earn a Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Policy on Transfer of General Education and Legal Specialty Course Credits

Students seeking a legal studies degree must complete at least 18 credits of general education course work in at least three disciplines, such as social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, languages, and English.

Under normal circumstances, a student must complete at least 18 credit hours of legal specialty courses at Bay Path in order to receive a degree from the institution. Generally, Bay Path will accept course credits in transfer as legal specialty courses, only if those courses were taken at another ABA approved program. Requests to accept transfer credits as legal specialty courses are reviewed on an individual basis by the Program Chair and Registrar. If necessary, the Registrar and the Chair will review the course description and syllabus from the originating college. A student wishing to transfer credits into one of the college's legal programs as a legal specialty course bears the burden of proving the course is a legal specialty course.

Students seeking to transfer credits taken online from an ABA approved program must notify the Registrar and Legal Studies Department Chair that the course was taken online. The decision to accept credits earned online rests with the Legal Studies Department Chair in consultation with the Registrar. Legal specialty credit will not be granted for online courses that were earned in a program that is not ABA approved.

Final determination of the acceptance of transfer credit for legal specialty courses taken at other institutions, including ABA approved programs, is made by the Program Chair and is not appealable. Credits for college-level courses taken at other accredited institutions that are not accepted as legal specialty credits may be accepted as general education credits.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Legal Studies program, graduates will be able to:

• Understand, analyze, produce, evaluate, and present (orally) appropriate solutions to legal challenges of the working legal professional within the context of delivery of legal services.
• Apply legal research skills using a full range of materials, both print and electronic.
• Perform legal writing for different audiences, purposes, and kinds of documents.
• Exhibit an understanding of substantive issues and legal procedures by identification and analysis of legal issues.
• Think critically and write competently and persuasively about legal issues.

Possible Career Options for B.A. Legal Studies Graduates

• Paralegal in Law Firm
• Paralegal in Financial Institution
• Paralegal in Insurance Company
• Paralegal in Corporate Law Department
• Paralegal in State or Federal Government
• Court Officer
• FBI Agent
• Government Relations Director
• Non-Profit Legal Worker
• Legislative Aide
• Investigator
• Public Service Administrator
• Real Estate Professional
• Law School or Graduate Study

Please see the Legal Studies web page for more information.