Legal Studies

The program emphasizes analytical and conceptual thinking, legal research and writing, legal theories, substantive areas of law, and paralegal training.

Texas State’s Master of Arts (M.A.) in Legal Studies was the first degree of its kind in Texas and one of only a few in the United States, providing students interested in law at the graduate level with an understanding of the American legal system, theories, analysis, research and writing.

Course Work

The non-thesis, 36-credit-hour program consists of 27 hours of required core courses and nine hours of electives. The core curriculum, which includes a cumulative research project and internship, provides training in essential paralegal skills, such as legal research, legal writing, rules of procedure, case management, law office technology and legal ethics. Elective course work covers substantive areas of the law. Students may choose three different areas of law for further study from elective course offerings covering as many as ten different areas of the law, including family law, criminal law, intellectual property, real estate, contract law and many others. Through choice of electives, students may also earn a mediation certificate issued by the department.

Program Details

The Master of Arts in Legal Studies is the only graduate degree paralegal program in Texas and one of a select few nationally that are approved by the American Bar Association.

Program Mission

The legal studies program’s mission is to provide students with the opportunity to study law at the graduate level and receive practical paralegal training in state-of-the-art facilities. The program accomplishes its mission through the work of a talented faculty and staff who are dedicated to the success of each student.

Career Options

Graduates can pursue career opportunities in law, government or business, enhance career mobility in law-related fields and establish groundwork for further graduate work in law or related fields. The majority of program graduates work as paralegals in law firms. Others work as paralegals or in other law-related capacities in government and corporate offices or continue graduate study in law school or in a Ph.D. program.

Program Faculty

All of the program’s faculty, including both full-time and part-time members, have substantial experience practicing law and working with paralegals. Faculty members have published books such as The Texas Paralegal, Texas Real Estate Contracts, and The Paralegal Handbook, as well as numerous law review and journal articles in the areas of environmental law, intellectual property, real estate, contract law, and alternative dispute resolution.