Legal Studies at Syracuse University
Frequently Asked Questions

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Question 1: Why enroll in a Legal Studies program as an undergraduate?
Question 2: What credentials does the Legal Studies program offer and are they approved or accredited?
Question 3: Will having a Legal Studies degree or minor help with law school admission?
Question 4: Is the Legal Studies minor appropriate for pre-law students?
Question 5: What is the Legal Studies curriculum like?
Question 6: Are the Legal Studies courses only "applied" courses?
Question 7: Are the Legal Studies courses only for paralegals?
Question 8: Is the paralegal profession rewarding?
Question 9: Is there a demand for paralegals?
Question 10: Do paralegals need a bachelor's degree?


Question 1: Why enroll in a Legal Studies program as an undergraduate?
Legal Studies programs come in all forms, from the very practical meant to prepare students for employment in legal settings, to those with a business emphasis, to those more theoretical in nature that would be appropriate for any liberal arts curriculum.  Legal Studies programs are by nature interdisciplinary and cut across many subject areas.

Law impacts every aspect of life, from cradle to grave.  The study of law and legal institutions is fundamental to understanding our society and our place as citizens within our form of government.  The role of the “Rule of Law” in the social order is essential to understanding our democratic institutions.  Studying the law as an undergraduate can broaden your horizons and provide a solid foundation for effective functioning in today’s world.  It need not duplicate the experience of law school, where students are exposed to a very specific type of legal scholarship, and there is rarely time for exploring how law fits into society, concepts of right and wrong, and questions of how legal institutions affect the individual.

Question 2: What credentials does the Legal Studies program offer and are they approved or accredited?
Students may choose from the following credentials:

1. a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies
2. a credit certificate in Legal Studies
3. a postbaccalaureate Paralegal certificate
4. a 19-credit Legal Studies minor

Syracuse University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  The Legal Studies degree and certificate are registered with the New York State Department of Education, Office of Higher Education.  The program is one of approximately 260 programs approved nationally by the American Bar Association (ABA) for the education of paralegals.  The Legal Studies minor is not intended to prepare students to work as paralegals and has not been approved by the ABA as appropriate for paralegal preparation. Rather, the minor allows students to acquire a broad liberal arts understanding of law.

In setting up the various programs, faculty members from other well known schools and colleges within the University such as the College of Law, the Maxwell School, the Whitman School, the Newhouse School, and the College of Human Services and Health Professions are regularly consulted.  Individual faculty members from various schools and colleges continue to be consulted as new courses are developed.

Question 3: Will having a Legal Studies degree or minor help with law school admission?
As a threshold, a great many law school admissions offices look primarily to two indicators: GPA and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores.  A number of law schools create an index through a percentage weighting of the two.  The Law School Admission Council web site shows the impact of these two indicators, by percentile, for each law school in the country.

Admissions officers and admissions committees also consider the quality of the college or university, rigor of the major(s), extra-curricular and community activities, recommendations from faculty, and other intangibles.  Specific degrees or minors are often not a consideration in admissions decisions.  A degree or minor in legal studies is not likely to have a deciding impact, either way, on admission to law school.

Question 4: Is the Legal Studies minor appropriate for pre-law students?
Numerous scholars think it is useful to study the law at the undergraduate level to learn practical skills or gain a greater understanding of the role law plays in citizenship and public life.  There are many informed debates on this issue and many types of minors can be found around the country.  The Legal Studies minor at Syracuse offers more than 40 courses drawn from many subject areas, and was designed to be interdisciplinary, recognizing that law cuts across a multitude of subject areas.

By studying the law prior to law school, you may learn (1) what subjects you may encounter in law school, (2) certain techniques for approaching the subject matter [such as legal research and writing and the IRAC method], (3) some familiarity with the terminology you will encounter, (4) a broader understanding of the interplay of law and society, and (5) whether you are suited to the study of law.

Question 5: What is the Legal Studies curriculum like?
With more than 20 rigorous courses at primarily the 300 and 400 levels, the legal studies curriculum is a challenging and specialized program of study.  The core courses are similar to those in a first year law curriculum; and in subject matter the electives resemble courses found in the second and third year of law school.  The major difference is that in the Legal Studies program the courses are taught at the undergraduate level; there is less reliance on the “case study” methodology employed in law school; there are more quizzes, assignments, and papers than is common in law school; and practical application of the theories discussed is usually part of class work or assignments.  Several courses that might be two semesters in law school are covered in one semester at the undergraduate level.

Question 6: Are the Legal Studies courses only "applied" courses?
The courses in the Legal Studies program are designed for paralegals, and thus are practical in nature; however, the study of law and legal processes is no different for paralegals than it would be for law or any other kind of students.  If you study contracts you need to understand "offer" and "acceptance", if you study torts you need to know concepts such as "negligence" and "proximate cause", and if you study introduction to law you need to understand the American Legal System and the role of the courts.  Theoretical and practical aspects are interspersed and compliment each other throughout the entire curriculum.

For someone who understands the study of law and its application, incorporating practical elements into the curriculum enhances understanding and increases assimilation of the material.  Most professional programs use realistic examples to drive home the importance of the theoretical concepts in the discipline.  In fact, a recent Carnegie Foundation study called for the introduction of more ethical and practical skills in law schools.

Question 7: Are the Legal Studies courses only for paralegals?
While the Legal Studies degree is designed to educate paralegals for a meaningful career in the law, many of the legal courses are applicable to students in a variety of other disciplines.

• An understanding of Legal Research and Writing would be highly desirable for seniors headed to law school
• A Contracts course would be ideal for anyone entering any kind of business
• An Intellectual Property course would be desirable for people entering the sports or entertainment industry
• A student in any of the helping professions could benefit from a Family Law or Healthcare Law course
• Environmental Law could be important for science students.

The fundamental areas of study and the concepts to be absorbed do not change based on what profession you may pursue.

Question 8: Is the paralegal profession rewarding?
The 2007 Annual Compensation Survey for Paralegals / Legal Assistants and Managers was released this summer by Altman Weil, Inc., a major legal consulting firm, in conjunction with the International Paralegal Management Association.  Average annual cash compensation nationally for paralegal managers was $109,303, for senior paralegals $84,000 and for paralegals $59,963. Legal Assistant Today, a national magazine for paralegals, listed the average paralegal salary for the Northeast in 2006 as $59,729.  The N.Y.S. Department of Labor listed the 2006 mean wage for paralegals in New York at $49,430, with experienced paralegals earning $57,350.

Members of the general public often misunderstand the role of paralegals, but they are respected and well compensated members of the legal profession.  As the legal profession continues to stratify and expand, paralegals are increasingly assuming many higher level tasks once performed by lawyers.  All major law firms, corporations, and government entities employ paralegals in a variety of ways to perform complicated and demanding tasks.

Question 9: Is there a demand for paralegals?
Employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to increase 27 percent or more through 2014, according to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Also, within New York State, employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to increase 14.9% between 2002 and 2012, as stated in the N.Y.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook.

Syracuse University has operated its paralegal program for more than 25 years and has more than 1000 graduates employed regionally and nationally in a myriad of legal settings. The University works closely with the local Bar Association and legal administrators from the area’s top firms to ensure career opportunities for program graduates.  In addition, graduates have moved all over the country and have been hired in major law firms in New York City, Washington, DC, Florida, and California.

Question 10: Do paralegals need a bachelor's degree?
For those students who do elect the degree or certificate program the question often comes up, “what do I need to be a paralegal?”  While very few states have moved to regulate the profession, there are some strong trends that can be identified. 

The International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA), whose members consist of managers of legal support staff at the worlds’ largest law firms and Fortune 500 Corporations, answers in the affirmative.  “The IPMA's position is that a baccalaureate degree should be the minimum requirement for employment as a paralegal.  Paralegals have assumed many responsibilities formerly handled by lawyers.  Working with complex legal issues requires that a paralegal possess clear writing, researching and critical thinking abilities.  Because a strong academic background is essential, a baccalaureate degree should be the minimum requirement for employment as a paralegal.”  In their 2005 Utilization survey, 75% of all the respondents indicated a bachelor’s degree was a minimum requirement for employment. 

In 2001 the American Association for Paralegal Education had 84 members issuing bachelor’s degrees.  That number has now climbed to 110 institutions with baccalaureate programs.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA), one of the major professional organizations in the field, agrees.  “Current trends across the country, as illustrated through various surveys, indicate that formal paralegal education has become a requirement to secure paralegal employment, and a four-year degree is the hiring standard in many markets. Consequently, NFPA recommends that future practitioners should have a four-year degree to enter the profession, and individuals receiving a formal paralegal education should have 24 semester hours or the equivalent of legal specialty courses to enhance their ability to practice as paralegals.”

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